Loveless Lake
Macoupin County, IllinoisView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #3 of 3 in the county
- 29 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Loveless Lake in Macoupin County, Illinois has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 82 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 37.3 µg/L.
- Typical in September
- 73°F
- Max depth
- ~29 ft est.
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 82 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 37.3 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Loveless Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Loveless Lake in Macoupin 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Loveless Lake are listed below.
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Loveless Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Macoupin County, Illinois with an estimated average depth of about 29 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. 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 EPA, last sampled 2021-10-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Loveless Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pesticides. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 82 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 37.3 µg/L. TSI 67. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 82 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 37.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Temperature
Loveless Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 70°F. 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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~29 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~8 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Illinois has not published bathymetry for Loveless Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Loveless Lake
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)
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Macoupin County
Nearby Lakes in Macoupin County
Frequently asked questions about Loveless Lake
Where is Loveless Lake?
- Loveless Lake is a lake in Macoupin County, Illinois. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Loveless Lake?
- Loveless Lake in Macoupin County, Illinois has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 82 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 37.3 µg/L.
Is Loveless Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Loveless Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pesticides. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Loveless Lake?
- Loveless Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in September, from 341 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2014–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Loveless Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Loveless Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 29 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Loveless Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Illinois's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Hypereutrophic Lakes in Illinois
Where this data comes from
54 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- illinois epa
IL_EPA_WQX54 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)