Sara Lake
Effingham County, WisconsinEutrophic
Sara Lake is a 586-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Effingham County, IL. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2022-10-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 48.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 48.5 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 586 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Effingham County
Nearby Lakes in Effingham County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Sara Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Sara Dam (completed 1957), built primarily for recreation on the BLUE POINT CREEK; earth-type dam, 65 ft tall and 1,625 ft long.
- Surface area
- 586 ac
- Normal storage
- 11,720 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 20,392 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 12.3 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- EFFINGHAM WATER AUTHORITY
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00607 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Sara 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_RCE · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-10-26
Monitoring stations: 3