Where is Dawson Lake?

Dawson Lake is a lake in McLean County, Illinois. Its water-quality measurements are published by Illinois EPA and shown on this page as reported.

How deep is Dawson Lake?

Dawson Lake has a maximum depth of 25.6 feet and an average depth of 9.3 feet. The lake covers 155 acres.

Are there boat ramps on Dawson Lake?

Dawson Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Dawson Lake, Dawson Lake. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Dawson Lake?

Dawson Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Illinois's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

Dawson Lake

McLean County, Illinois155 acresView map Directions

No nutrient or algae sampling on record from Illinois EPA for this lake.

Max depth

25.6 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

155 acres

Surface area

Shoreline

4.7 mi

Measured length

Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
26 ft max depth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Dawson Lake in McLean County, Illinois has water-quality measurements published by Illinois EPA, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 25.6 ft. Surface area: 155 acres.

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Dawson Lake is a 155-acre lake in McLean County, Illinois with a maximum depth of 26 feet (9-foot average). Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois EPA. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Dawson Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Boat launch2 documented ramps

Swimming conditions

No reading

Not rated

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Dawson Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Dawson Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

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Water quality measurements for Dawson Lake

These are the measurements Illinois EPA publishes for Dawson Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

No clarity data. TSI undefined.

Ask about Dawson Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Lake Details

Max depth

25.6 ft

Average depth

9.3 ft

Surface area

155 acres

Shoreline

4.7 mi

Public access

Yes

Listed by Illinois EPA

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Dawson LakePublic
Dawson LakePublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

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Stays near Dawson Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dawson Lake in McLean County, Illinois — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near Dawson Lake

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Fishing Dawson Lake

→ Dawson Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

EPA Impairment Status

Dawson Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

Designated uses not supporting: Other.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_REE · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in McLean County

Lake Bloomington19.1 miView →Evergreen Lake22 miView →Spin Lake29.8 miView →Lake Clinton17.8 miView →Weldon Springs Lake22.6 miView →Spring Lake21.3 miView →

Frequently asked questions about Dawson Lake

Where is Dawson Lake?: Dawson Lake is a lake in McLean County, Illinois. Its water-quality measurements are published by Illinois EPA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Dawson Lake?: Dawson Lake in McLean County, Illinois has water-quality measurements published by Illinois EPA, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 25.6 ft. Surface area: 155 acres.
Is Dawson Lake safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Dawson Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Dawson Lake?: Dawson Lake has a maximum depth of 25.6 feet and an average depth of 9.3 feet. The lake covers 155 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Dawson Lake?: Dawson Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Dawson Lake, Dawson Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Dawson Lake?: Dawson Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Illinois's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.