Charleston Side Channel Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Coles County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Coles County, Charleston Side Channel Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2021-10-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 61.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 61.5 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Charleston Side Channel Lake
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Fishing Charleston Side Channel Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Charleston Side Channel Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in Apr (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 156 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Charleston Side Channel Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Coles County
Nearby Lakes in Coles County
Explore Charleston Side Channel Lake across LakeGrade
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Illinois
Eutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Charleston Side Channel Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Charleston Dam (completed 1981), built primarily for water supply on the TRIB EMBARASS RIVER; earth-type dam, 29 ft tall and 4,400 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 2,360 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,775 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- CITY OF CHARLESTON
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL01240 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.33 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Charleston Side Channel Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_RBC · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.25 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Charleston Side Channel Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Charleston Stp, City OfCharleston · 3.8 mi away · NPDES IL0021644MajorRecent violation
- Illinois Department Of Natural Resources - Fox Ridge State Park StpCharleston · 4.5 mi away · NPDES IL0051250
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2021-10-13
Monitoring stations: 3