Wayne City Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wayne County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Wayne County, Wayne City Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2021-11-08. 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
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 34.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 34.5 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Wayne City Lake
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Fishing Wayne City Lake
Water Temperature
Wayne City Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 83°F) and coldest in Nov (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 104 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Wayne City Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Wayne County
Nearby Lakes in Wayne County
Explore Wayne City 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)
Wayne City Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Wayne City Perched Reservoir Dam (completed 1983), built primarily for water supply on the SKILLET FORK-OFFSTREAM; earth-type dam, 22 ft tall and 3,050 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 167 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 201 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- VILLAGE OF WAYNE CITY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL50018 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.05 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Wayne 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_RCT · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.14 km)
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: 2021-11-08
Monitoring stations: 1