Vernor Lake is a 45-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Richland County, Illinois. 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, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2022-10-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 |
Where to stay near Vernor Lake
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Fishing Vernor Lake
Water Temperature
Vernor Lake averages about 72°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Oct (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 217 field readings (2014–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Vernor Lake water temperature breakdown →
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
Explore Vernor Lake across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
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
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Vernor Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Olney Stp, City OfOlney · 3.2 mi away · NPDES IL0048755MajorRecent violation
- Kincaid Acres Mhp StpOlney · 0.2 mi away · NPDES IL0056146Recent 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: 2022-10-25
Monitoring stations: 3