Baldwin Lake is a 2,018-acre perched cooling lake located in Randolph and St. Clair counties, Illinois, approximately 2 miles north of Baldwin off State Route 154. As a perched lake, it's formed by levees that rise above the surrounding land. The lake, owned by Illinois Power Company and leased to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, offers excellent recreational fishing opportunities with an average depth of 10 feet, though old creek channels and ponds provide deeper areas ranging from 20 to 50 feet. The lake is unique as a cooling lake, with power plant operations noticeably influencing fish activity and fishing success, creating a longer growing season than surrounding lakes and accelerating growth rates for certain species.