Raccoon Lake is a 730-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Marion County, Illinois. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Marion County, Raccoon Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois DNR, last sampled 2021-11-09. 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
Very murky, less than 1.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 202.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 78.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 202.5 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 78 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 730 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Raccoon Lake
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Fishing Raccoon Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Raccoon Lake averages about 81°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in Nov (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 53 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Raccoon Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 6 lakes in Marion County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Raccoon Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- DKinmundy New LakeMarion County · 19.4 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DCentralia LakeMarion County · 5 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DForbes LakeMarion County · 21.7 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Marion County
Explore Raccoon 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
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Other Grade F Lakes in Illinois
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Illinois
Compare Raccoon Lake With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Raccoon Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Raccoon Lake Dam (completed 1943), built primarily for water supply on the RACCON CREEK; earth-type dam, 29 ft tall and 1,480 ft long.
- Surface area
- 730 ac
- Normal storage
- 4,709 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 6,700 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 48.5 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- CITY OF CENTRALIA
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID IL00242 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Raccoon 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_ROK · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Raccoon Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Centralia Stp, City OfCentralia · 4.9 mi away · NPDES IL0027979MajorRecent violation
- Sandoval Stp, Village OfSandoval · 4.4 mi away · NPDES IL0030961Recent violation
- Illinois Central Railroad - Centralia YardCentralia · 4.4 mi away · NPDES IL0000779Recent violation
- Centralia Wtp, City OfCentralia · 2.4 mi away · NPDES IL0001252
- United Parcel Service - CentraliaCentralia · 3.5 mi away · NPDES IL0071242
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: 2021-11-09
Monitoring stations: 3