Where is Old City Reservoir?

Old City Reservoir is a lake in Randolph County, Illinois. Its water-quality measurements are published by Illinois EPA and shown on this page as reported.

How deep is Old City Reservoir?

Old City Reservoir has a maximum depth of 16 feet and an average depth of 7.7 feet. The lake covers 26 acres.

Are there boat ramps on Old City Reservoir?

Old City Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sparta Reservoir (South). Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Old City Reservoir?

Old City Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Illinois's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

Old City Reservoir

Randolph County, Illinois26 acresView map Directions

No nutrient or algae sampling on record from Illinois EPA for this lake.

Max depth

16 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

26 acres

Surface area

Shoreline

1.2 mi

Measured length

Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
16 ft max depth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Old City Reservoir in Randolph County, Illinois has water-quality measurements published by Illinois EPA, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 26 acres.

Loading map…

Old City Reservoir is a 26-acre lake in Randolph County, Illinois with a maximum depth of 16 feet (8-foot average). Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois EPA. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Old City Reservoir is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Boat launch1 documented ramp

Swimming conditions

No reading

Not rated

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Old City Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Old City Reservoir is safe to swim in today is a call for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

Compare swimming lakes near St. Louis →

Get alerts for Old City Reservoir →

Water quality measurements for Old City Reservoir

These are the measurements Illinois EPA publishes for Old City Reservoir, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

No clarity data. TSI undefined.

Ask about Old City Reservoir

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Lake Details

Max depth

16 ft

Average depth

7.7 ft

Surface area

26 acres

Shoreline

1.2 mi

Public access

Yes

Listed by Illinois EPA

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Sparta Reservoir (South)Public

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

Stays via Stay22

Stays near Old City Reservoir

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Old City Reservoir in Randolph County, Illinois — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near Old City Reservoir

Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Illinois’s top lakes →

Follow Old City Reservoir’s readings

Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.

Or email

Fishing Old City Reservoir

→ Old City Reservoir fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

EPA Impairment Status

Old City Reservoir is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)pH / acidity

Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Other.

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_RIJ · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in Randolph County

New City Reservoir2 miView →Sparta Northwest Lake2.6 ft clear · Hypereutrophic2.6 miView →West C Streamline Lake6 miView →Coulterville Lake2.7 ft clear · Hypereutrophic7.7 miView →Randolph County Lake10.5 miView →Randolph Lake1.7 ft clear · Hypereutrophic10.6 miView →

Frequently asked questions about Old City Reservoir

Where is Old City Reservoir?: Old City Reservoir is a lake in Randolph County, Illinois. Its water-quality measurements are published by Illinois EPA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Old City Reservoir?: Old City Reservoir in Randolph County, Illinois has water-quality measurements published by Illinois EPA, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 26 acres.
Is Old City Reservoir safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Old City Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Old City Reservoir?: Old City Reservoir has a maximum depth of 16 feet and an average depth of 7.7 feet. The lake covers 26 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Old City Reservoir?: Old City Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sparta Reservoir (South). Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Old City Reservoir?: Old City Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Illinois's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.