Powerton Cooling Lake

Powerton Cooling Lake is a 1,426-acre cooling reservoir located in Tazewell County, Illinois, approximately 10 miles southeast of Pekin and 12 miles northwest of Bloomington. The lake is owned and operated by the Illinois Power Company and is used to cool water that is used at the Powerton Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant that produces electricity for the central Illinois region. The lake is a popular destination for boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, and hunting. Fish species found in the lake include bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish, carp, and bullhead. The lake is also home to a variety of birds, including bald eagles, pelicans, herons, and geese. In recent years, there have been concerns about the environmental impact of the Powerton plant on the lake and the surrounding area. In 2018, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued a violation notice to the power company for excessive levels of toxic metals in the lake, and there have been calls for the plant to transition to cleaner energy sources.