| Canton Lake | |
| Location: | Fulton County |
| Coords: | 40.5633°N -89.9731°W |
| Type: | reservoir |
| Basin Countries: | United States |
| Area: | 251acres |
| Depth: | 15feet-20feetft (-ft) |
| Max-Depth: | 35feet |
| Shore: | 13miles |
| Elevation: | 571feet |
| Islands: | none |
| Cities: | Canton, Illinois |
| Pushpin Map: | Illinois#USA |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Location of Canton Lake in Illinois, USA. |
Canton Lake is a freshwater reservoir located in Fulton County, Illinois. It is located east of Canton on Illinois Route 27.[1]
Canton Lake is a 250acres lake constructed in 1939.[2] The lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet and an average depth of 14 feet. The reservoir holds approximately 3,500 acre feet of water with 7.1 - 13 miles of shoreline.[3] [4] It has no rooted aquatic vegetation.
It was the primary potable water source for Canton since April 1940.[5] In 2012, the city switched to aquifer water due to the need for less chemical treatment.
According to a report by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, "Canton Lake is impaired with respect to aesthetic quality, fish consumption, and public water supply use."[6] In 2015, a court case regarding a North Canton coal mine's permit was resolved; the Sierra Club claimed that this would help protect Canton Lake's quality.[7]
In 2019, many upgrades were completed, such as three buildings demolished, the bathhouse renovated with paint and a new roof, and a repaved road.[8]
Known for its trophy sized largemouth bass and its abundant channel catfish, the lake's major fish species are largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, yellow bass, channel catfish, carp, and gizzard shad.[9]
The City of Canton has various user fees for boat use and an 85 horse power motor limit. The lake had a large number of channel catfish, largemouth bass, and tiger muskie stocked over the last decade. Nine tournaments were held on the lake in 2022.
A seasonal campground with cabin rental and picnic areas are available. Hiking trails and a lake view observation deck are other features of the area. The Lake Canton Nature Trails are 1.92miles of wooded paths along the shoreline.