Olney East Fork Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Richland County, Illinois. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Richland County, Olney East Fork Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2022-10-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Very murky, less than 3.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 25.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 25.5 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Olney East Fork Lake
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Fishing Olney East Fork Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Olney East Fork Lake averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 84°F) and coldest in Oct (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 181 field readings (2012–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Olney East Fork Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Richland County
Nearby Lakes in Richland County
Explore Olney East Fork Lake across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Olney East Fork 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_RCC · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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: 2022-10-31
Monitoring stations: 3