New lease approved for public recreation at Powerton Lake in Illinois

IDNR, Midwest Generation Approve New Lease

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and Midwest Generation, LLC today announced a new lease agreement that will allow continued public recreational access to the company’s Powerton Generating Station cooling lake in Tazewell County.

“Public access to recreation opportunities is a top priority for IDNR, and thanks to this agreement Illinois citizens and visitors to our state will continue to enjoy fishing and waterfowl hunting at Powerton,” said Marc Miller, Director of the IDNR. “Midwest Generation is a valued partner in recognizing how important agreements like this are to enhancing recreation in Illinois.”

The new long-term lease extends the recreational partnership between the IDNR and Midwest Generation through June 30, 2020, which has allowed fishing and other recreation on the 1,426-acre lake at Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area since 1984.

The agreement outlines management and maintenance obligations of the IDNR and Midwest Generation for Powerton Lake. IDNR manages and maintains the public recreational facilities at the site for fishing and waterfowl hunting. Management responsibilities include fish sampling, monitoring and stocking to enhance sport fishing on the lake, as well as maintaining the lake’s waterfowl refuge and waterfowl hunting areas.

Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area is located just off of Illinois Rt. 29 approximately one mile south of Pekin, adjacent to the Illinois River.