Paradise Lake is a 174-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Coles County, Illinois. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Coles County, Paradise Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2021-10-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 139 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 75.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 139 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 75 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 174 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Paradise Lake
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Fishing Paradise Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Paradise Lake averages about 80°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Apr (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 230 field readings (2012–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Paradise Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Coles County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Paradise Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Coles County
Explore Paradise Lake across LakeGrade
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
Illinois's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Illinois Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Illinois
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Illinois
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Paradise Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Paradise Lake Dam (completed 1929), built primarily for recreation on the LITTLE WABASH RIVER; earth-type dam, 46 ft tall and 1,400 ft long.
- Surface area
- 174 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,350 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,834 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 16.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF MATTOON
All listed purposes: Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00710 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Paradise Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_RCG · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.81 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Paradise Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Koch Fertilizer, Llc-Trilla TerminalMattoon · 4.2 mi away · NPDES IL0077461Recent violation
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: 2021-10-07
Monitoring stations: 3