Canton Lake (Illinois)
| Canton Lake | |
|---|---|
 View from North Boat Dock Road | |
  Canton Lake  Canton Lake | |
| Location | Fulton County |
| Coordinates | 40°33′48″N 89°58′23″W / 40.56333°N 89.97306°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 251 acres (102 ha) |
| Average depth | 15–20 ft (4.6–6.1 m) |
| Max. depth | 35 ft (11 m) |
| Shore length1 | 13 mi (21 km) |
| Surface elevation | 571 ft (174 m) |
| Islands | none |
| Settlements | Canton, Illinois |
| Website | www |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Canton Lake is a freshwater reservoir located in Fulton County, Illinois.[1] It is located east of Canton on Illinois Route 27.[2]
Natural features
[edit]Canton Lake is a 250 acres (100 ha) lake constructed in 1939.[3] The lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet and an average depth of 14 feet.[3] The reservoir holds approximately 3,500 acre feet of water with 7.1 - 13 miles of shoreline.[3][4][5] It has no rooted aquatic vegetation.[3]
It was the primary potable water source for Canton since April 1940.[3][6] In 2012, the city switched to aquifer water due to the need for less chemical treatment.[6]
According to a report by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, "Canton Lake is impaired with respect to aesthetic quality, fish consumption, and public water supply use."[7] In 2015, a court case regarding a North Canton coal mine's permit was resolved; the Sierra Club claimed that this would help protect Canton Lake's quality.[8]
In 2019, many upgrades were completed, such as three buildings demolished, the bathhouse renovated with paint and a new roof, and a repaved road.[9]
Fauna
[edit]Known for its trophy sized largemouth bass and its abundant channel catfish, the lake's major fish species are largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, yellow bass, channel catfish, carp, and gizzard shad.[3][10]
Recreation
[edit]The City of Canton has various user fees for boat use and an 85 horse power motor limit. The lake had a large number of channel catfish, largemouth bass, and tiger muskie stocked over the last decade. Nine tournaments were held on the lake in 2022.[3]
A seasonal campground with cabin rental and picnic areas are available.[2] Hiking trails and a lake view observation deck are other features of the area.[2] The Lake Canton Nature Trails are 1.92 mi (3.09 km) of wooded paths along the shoreline.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "Canton Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b c d "Lake Canton". City of Canton. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Lake Profile -- CANTON LAKE". www.ifishillinois.org. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ^ "Canton Lake". Illinois River Road. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ^ "Canton Lake -". Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ^ a b Froehling, John (2012-06-30). "Canton switches water supply from lake to aquifer". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ^ Bibo, Terry (2012-12-11). "IEPA, Illinois Water Survey and local stakeholders at Canton Lake will work to improve water quality". Canton Daily Ledger. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ^ Skrukrud, Cindy (2015-01-20). "Citizens Win Eight-Year Battle to Stop Coal Strip Mine". Illinois Sierra Club Blog. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ^ Robinson, Deb (2019-06-16). "Many improvements this year at Canton Lake". Galesburg Register Mail. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ^ ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (2007). "STATUS OF THE CATFISH FISHERY" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-10-19.