Lake Springfield

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Lake Springfield
Location	Springfield, Illinois
Coordinates	39°45′34″N, 089°36′01″WCoordinates: 39°45′34″N, 089°36′01″W
Lake type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Lick Creek, Sugar Creek
Primary outflows	Sugar Creek
Catchment area	265 sq mi (690 km²)
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	4,260 acres (17.2 km²)
Water volume	17,500,000,000 US gal (0.066 km³)
Surface elevation	561 ft (171 m)
Settlements	Springfield

Lake Springfield is a 4,260 acre (17.2 km²) artificial lake located in the city of Springfield, Illinois, southeast of downtown. It is 561 feet (171 m) above sea level. It was formed in 1931-35 by building Spaulding Dam across Sugar Creek, a tributary of the Sangamon River.^[1]

The lake was created as a source of water for Springfield and to provide coolant for the City Water, Light & Power coal-fired electrical generating plant. It has also served as a focus of local recreation. Owners of high-powered motor boats enjoy the lack of a power limit on much of the lake, and the lake is known for warm-water fish such as bluegill and crappie.

Lake Springfield can be seen from Interstate 55. The limited-access highway crosses the lake on two bridges between mileposts 88 and 89. The lake in accessible from exit 88 (East Lake Shore Drive), exit 90 (Toronto Road), and exit 94 (Stevenson Drive).

Lake Springfield is close to the campus of the University of Illinois at Springfield. It also borders Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden, a local arboretum, and the Henson Robinson Zoo.