Loveless Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Macoupin County, Illinois. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Macoupin County, Loveless Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2021-10-18. 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: 63.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 63.5 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Loveless Lake
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Fishing Loveless Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Loveless Lake averages about 70°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Sep (about 73°F) and coldest in Apr (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 341 field readings (2014–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Loveless Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Macoupin County
Nearby Lakes in Macoupin County
Explore Loveless 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)
Loveless Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Carlinville Lake II Dam (completed 1981), built primarily for water supply on the TRIB HONEY CREEK; earth-type dam, 50 ft tall and 645 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 1,785 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,400 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- CITY OF CARLINVILLE
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL50030 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.79 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Loveless Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_WDW · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.2 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Loveless Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Carlinville StpCarlinville · 4 mi away · NPDES IL0022675MajorRecent violation
- Macoupin Energy LlcCarlinville · 1.3 mi away · NPDES IL0056022Recent violation
- Lake Williamson Christian Center StpCarlinville · 1.7 mi away · NPDES IL0045373
- Carlinville Waterworks SystemCarlinville · 2.2 mi away · NPDES IL0051390
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: 2021-10-18
Monitoring stations: 3