Sara Lake is a 586-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Effingham County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2022-10-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Sara Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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 |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Sara Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sara Lake in Effingham 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 Sara Lake
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 trip to Sara Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Sara Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Illinois’s top lakes →
Fishing Sara Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Sara Lake averages about 70°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 72°F) and coldest in Apr (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 261 field readings (2011–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sara Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Effingham County
Nearby Lakes in Effingham County
Explore Sara Lake across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
Compare Sara Lake With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
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
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
10 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Sara Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 8 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Lee Kaufman Private Sewage Disposal SystemEffingham · 0.3 mi away · NPDES IL0080277Recent violation
- Debra Holschbach Private Sewage Disposal SystemEffingham · 0.4 mi away · NPDES IL0080276Recent violation
- Austin J And Megan C Parr Private Sewage Disposal SystemEffingham · 0.4 mi away · NPDES IL0080264Recent violation
- Tony Stevens Private Sewage Disposal SystemEffingham · 0.5 mi away · NPDES IL0080267Recent violation
- Cole Koester Private Sewage Disposal SystemEffingham · 0.9 mi away · NPDES IL0080281Recent violation
- Lake Sara Car WashEffingham · 2.1 mi away · NPDES IL0075922Recent 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: 2022-10-26
Monitoring stations: 3