Vernor Lake
Richland County, WisconsinEutrophic
Vernor Lake is a 45-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Richland County, IL. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Richland County, Vernor Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2022-10-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 4.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 96.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.8 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 96.5 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Richland County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Vernor Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Richland County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Vernor Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Vernor Lake Dam (completed 1924), built primarily for recreation on the TRIB FOX RIVER; earth-type dam, 42 ft tall and 820 ft long.
- Surface area
- 45 ac
- Normal storage
- 900 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 972 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.4 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- CITY OF OLNEY
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00793 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Vernor Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_RCA · 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: 2022-10-25
Monitoring stations: 3