Wayne City Lake
Wayne County, IllinoisView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↑ up from D at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Cause unknown
- #1 of 3 in the county
- Limited data
Wayne City Lake in Wayne County, Illinois has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 53 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 83°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 53 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 19.5 µg/L
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Watch Wayne City Lake’s letter
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Wayne City Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wayne County, Illinois. Water quality is graded C 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 EPA, last sampled 2021-11-08. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Wayne City Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for cause unknown, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 53 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 19.5 µg/L. TSI 62. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 53 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 19.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Wayne City Lake typically sits around 83°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 81°F. 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 →
Fishing Wayne City Lake
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)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Wayne County
Nearby Lakes in Wayne County
Frequently asked questions about Wayne City Lake
Where is Wayne City Lake?
- Wayne City Lake is a lake in Wayne County, Illinois. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Wayne City Lake?
- Wayne City Lake in Wayne County, Illinois has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 53 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.5 µg/L.
Is Wayne City Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Wayne City Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for cause unknown, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Wayne City Lake?
- Wayne City Lake typically sits around 83°F at the surface in August, from 104 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Wayne City Lake across LakeQuality
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
Where this data comes from
25 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- illinois epa
IL_EPA_WQX25 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- MEASURED IN FIELD
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database