Powerton Cooling Lake is a 1,426-acre cooling reservoir located in Tazewell County, about two miles southwest of Pekin, Illinois. Built in 1971 by Commonwealth Edison Company to provide cooling water for a fossil fuel-fired electric generation facility, this uniquely designed rectangular lake has become a premier fishing destination in central Illinois. With a maximum depth of 18 feet and an average depth of 8 feet, the lake features an engineered water flow system where water moves from the power plant discharge on the east side toward the west through a series of baffles, with complete water turnover occurring approximately every 48 hours. The warming effect from the power plant creates exceptional fish growth rates, though it can limit natural reproduction. Since 1984, when the Illinois Department of Natural Resources signed a cooperative agreement with Commonwealth Edison Company to open the lake for fishing and waterfowl hunting, Powerton has developed into one of the state's most productive trophy fisheries.