Paradise Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Pike County, Illinois. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2021-10-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Paradise Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 158 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 77.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 158 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Paradise Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Paradise Lake in Pike 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 Paradise Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Paradise Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Paradise Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Illinois’s top lakes →
Fishing Paradise Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Paradise Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 87°F) and coldest in Apr (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 34 field readings (2013–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Paradise Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Pike County
Nearby Lakes in Pike 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 Pittsfield Sediment Trap Dam (completed 1997), built primarily for debris control on the BLUE CREEK; earth-type dam, 11 ft tall and 548 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 0 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 254 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 7.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- CITY OF PITSFIELD
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL50391 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.42 km)
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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_RDP · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.9 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Paradise 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.
- Pittsfield StpPittsfield · 2.2 mi away · NPDES IL0030686MajorRecent violation
- The Maschhoffs Llc - GriggsvilleGriggsville · 2.3 mi away · NPDES IL0079359Recent violation
- Tate & LylePittsfield · 3.1 mi away · NPDES IL0076198
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: 1