Dresden Cooling Lake

Dresden Cooling Lake is a reservoir located in Grundy County, Illinois, United States. The lake was created in 1960s as a cooling reservoir for the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant. The lake covers an area of about 1,200 acres and has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake is owned and operated by the Exelon Corporation. The Dresden Cooling Lake is a popular recreational destination for fishing, boating, and hiking. The lake is stocked with a variety of fish, including bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish. The lake also has several miles of hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, and a beach for swimming. Due to the cooling nature of the lake, the water temperature remains around 70°F year-round, making it an attractive place for cold-water sports like scuba diving. The lake is also used for research purposes, including aquatic ecology and water quality monitoring. The Dresden Cooling Lake is open to the public from sunrise to sunset from March to November. There is no admission fee to enter the park, but visitors must abide by the park’s rules and regulations.