Sam Dale Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Wayne County, Illinois. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Wayne County, Sam Dale Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2021-10-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 137 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 75.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 137 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 75 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Sam Dale Lake
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Fishing Sam Dale Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Sam Dale Lake averages about 85°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 88°F) and coldest in Oct (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 96 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sam Dale Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Wayne County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Sam Dale Lake holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DWayne City LakeWayne County · 12.5 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DKinmundy New LakeMarion County · 22.2 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DForbes LakeMarion County · 16 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DCentralia LakeMarion County · 22.4 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Wayne County
Explore Sam Dale Lake across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Illinois's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Sam Dale Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Sam Dale Lake Dam (completed 1960), built primarily for recreation on the BOBBS CREEK; earth-type dam, 22 ft tall and 912 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 999 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,385 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00406 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Sam Dale 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_RBF · 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 Sam Dale Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Trunkline Gas CompanyJohnsonville · 3.4 mi away · NPDES IL0004294Recent 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: 2021-10-19
Monitoring stations: 3