Vandalia Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Fayette County, Illinois. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2022-10-27. 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 1.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 93 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 72.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 93 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 72 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Vandalia Lake
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Fishing Vandalia Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | 0 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +28.75 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Vandalia Lake averages about 76°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 78°F) and coldest in Nov (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 218 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Vandalia Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Fayette County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Vandalia Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DKinmundy New LakeMarion County · 22.1 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DSara LakeEffingham County · 28.2 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Fayette County
Explore Vandalia Lake across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Vandalia 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_ROD · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Vandalia Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Vandalia StpVandalia · 3.8 mi away · NPDES IL0023574MajorRecent violation
- Danny George Private Sewage Disposal SystemVandalia · 0.1 mi away · NPDES IL0080180
- David Irwin Private Sewage Disposal SystemVandalia · 0.2 mi away · NPDES IL0080309
- Leskera Residence Private Sewage Disposal SystemVandalia · 0.3 mi away · NPDES IL0080294
- Vandalia Wtp, City OfVandalia · 4.1 mi away · NPDES IL0036897
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: 2022-10-27
Monitoring stations: 3