Newton Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jasper County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2022-10-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 1.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 82.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.7 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 82.5 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Newton Lake
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Fishing Newton Lake
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Jasper County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Newton Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- COlney East Fork LakeRichland County · 16.2 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- DSara LakeEffingham County · 24 mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Jasper County
Explore Newton Lake across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Newton Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Newton Station Ash Pond, built primarily for other on the NEWTON LAKE, 22 ft tall and 2,400 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 0 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Significant
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL50719 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.8 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Newton Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_RCR · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Newton Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Illinois Power Generating CompanyNewton · 1.5 mi away · NPDES IL0049191MajorRecent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-10-20
Monitoring stations: 4