The report summaries Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program data for 9 lakes in the Southwestern Illinois Region (Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, Washington, Clinton, Randolph and Bond Counties). A statewide summary (Hawes, 1988) is also available for the 134 lakes monitored for four or more periods in 1987. Section 2 of the report provides a summary of 1987 regional results, discussion of lake characteristics, volunteer participation, ranking of lakes on a regional basis and comparison to statewide statistics. Lake assessment information from the Illinois Water Quality Report, 1986-1987 is provided. Regional transparency trends from 1981 to 1987 are presented and analyzed, and regional problems, causes, patterns and management strategies are discussed. Section 3 contains individual lake summaries for those VLMP lakes that were monitored for nine or more periods during the 1987 season. For each lake, transparency and field observations data are presented and discussed in terms of comparison to other lakes, spatial and seasonal variations, relationship to lake use, and relationship to prior data collection efforts. Management strategies/recommendations are also provided for each lake.