Vermont City Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in McDonough County, Illinois. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2021.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2021-10-21. 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
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 103 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 71.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 103 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Vermont City Lake
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Fishing Vermont City Lake
Water Temperature
Vermont City Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 85°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 60 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Vermont City Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in McDonough County
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Explore Vermont City 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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Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Vermont City Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Vermont City Reservoir Dam (completed 1940), built primarily for recreation on the TRIB SUGAR CREEK; earth-type dam, 36 ft tall and 500 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 331 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 704 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- VILLAGE OF VERMONT
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00272 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Vermont City 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_RDM · 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 Vermont City Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Vermont Sd StpVermont · 2.6 mi away · NPDES IL0049654Recent 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
Most recent sample: 2021-10-21
Monitoring stations: 1