Lake Mattoon

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Lake Mattoon
Location Coles County, Illinois; Cumberland County, Illinois; Shelby County, Illinois
Coordinates 40°09′22″N, 87°39′08″WCoordinates: 40°09′22″N, 87°39′08″W
Lake type reservoir
Primary inflows Little Wabash River
Primary outflows Little Wabash River
Basin countries United States
Max. length 4 mi (6.4 km)
Max. width 0.5 mi (0.8 km)
Surface area 1,050 acres (4.2 km²)
Average depth 10.5 feet (3 m)
Max. depth 35 feet (10 m)
Water volume 2.6 billion gallons (10 billion l)
Shore length1 55.5 miles (90 km)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Mattoon is a 1,050-acre (4.2 km²) reservoir located in Coles County, Illinois, Cumberland County, Illinois, and Shelby County, Illinois. Almost three-quarters of the lake, 765 acres (3.1 km²), is located in Shelby County. The reservoir was built to supply tap water to Mattoon, Illinois and Neoga, but also provides fishing and boating recreation. The lake is 4 miles (6.4 km) long and 0.5 miles (0.8 km) wide.[1]

The lake is owned by the city of Mattoon. Boaters must buy a permit to use the lake. There is no power limit on the lake, which welcomes waterskiers. The lake is stocked with bass, bluegill, catfish, and crappie.The nearest Interstate access is Exit 177 on Interstate 57.[2][3]

A large Reliant Energy electricity generating plant stands adjacent to the lake.

[edit] References

  1. ^ (1991) Illinois Atlas and Gazetteer. Freeport, Maine: DeLorme Mapping. ISBN 0-89933-213-7. 
  2. ^ "Lake Mattoon Map", Mattoon Chamber of Commerce (no date), accessed July 23, 2007. [1]
  3. ^ "Lake Mattoon", Illinois Department of Natural Resources, accessed July 23, 2007. [2]