Friends of Lake Mattoon

06/19/2026

Come out to Lake Mattoon and enjoy Free Fishing Days! No license required June 19-22!

Don't miss Illinois Free Fishing Days on June 19-22. Free Fishing Days are a great time to discover or rediscover the fun of fishing and introduce children to the activity. During these four days, anyone can fish in Illinois without purchasing a fishing license, salmon stamp or inland trout stamp. Visit ifishillinois.org for information on where to fish and local regulations.

06/19/2026

Did you know?

After several months of above-average rainfall and repeated severe weather across Central Illinois, many of us have seen firsthand how much water can move across the landscape during major storm events. When that happens, erosion can occur in several different ways:

• Sheet erosion – a thin layer of soil is carried away by runoff across the surface of the land.

• Rill erosion – small channels form as water begins to concentrate and flow downhill.

• Gully erosion – larger channels develop where water movement becomes more concentrated and powerful.

• Streambank erosion – soil is washed away from the banks of creeks and streams as flowing water gradually cuts into the channel.

• Shoreline erosion – waves, rainfall, fluctuating water levels, and runoff gradually wear away exposed shorelines.

Over time, soil from streambanks, roadside ditches, construction sites, lawns, eroding shorelines, agricultural land, and other parts of the watershed can be carried into creeks and streams that eventually flow into Lake Mattoon and Lake Paradise. Once sediment reaches the reservoir system, it settles out and accumulates over time. This gradual process can reduce reservoir capacity and create long-term management challenges.

The good news is that many conservation practices help keep soil where it belongs while also improving water retention, reducing erosion, and supporting long-term soil health.

That's one reason the new Lake Paradise / Lake Mattoon Watershed Planning effort is so important. Understanding how water moves through the watershed helps identify practical opportunities to reduce sediment loss and protect our reservoirs for future generations. Protecting our lakes starts long before water reaches the shoreline. The next meeting is July 8th at the Mattoon Water Treatment Plant at 6:00pm and we encourage everyone to attend and be part of the conversation.

Healthy lakes support strong communities, strong local economies, and future generations.

Clean Lake. Strong Economy.

06/14/2026

🎶 *"Tonight's gonna be a good, good night..."* 🎶

And it absolutely was!

What a fantastic evening at Lakeside Timbers RV Campground for Music Bingo with CODE 3 MUSIC! We sang along to songs we knew by heart, danced like nobody was watching (even though everybody was 😆), and celebrated plenty of lucky winners who took home some great prizes.

A huge thank you to our prize donors who helped make the night extra special:
🎁 Wesley & Donna McCoy
🎁 Jason & Krystal Little
🎁 Lakeside Timbers

We also want to thank Code 3 Music for bringing the fun and keeping the crowd entertained all night long. We highly recommend them for your next event - they do it all!

From "Sweet Caroline" moments to "Don't Stop Believin'" energy, it was a night filled with music, laughter, and great friends. Thanks to everyone who came out and made it such a memorable evening at Lake Mattoon!

06/13/2026

06/13/2026

🚤⚓ THE CAPTAIN’S KIT RAFFLE IS OFFICIALLY ON! ⚓🚤

Thanks to the generosity of our amazing community, every item has been donated — and this basket is STACKED! 🙌

🎟️ Raffle tickets are just $5 each, and all proceeds benefit Friends of Lake Mattoon.

🎵 FIRST CHANCE TO GRAB YOUR TICKETS — TONIGHT!

Join us for Music BINGO at Lakeside Timbers at 6:00 PM and pick up your raffle tickets while you’re there! It’s going to be a great time — bring your friends! 🎶

🏆 HERE’S WHAT’S IN THE BASKET:

💧 Owala FreeSip Insulated Water Bottle
🗑️ Gydoty Boat Trash Bag Can
🔥 First Alert Marine1 Fire Extinguisher
🧊 RTIC Ultra-Light 32 Qt Hard Cooler
🎒 HEETA Waterproof Dry Bag
🩹 VRIEXSD Premium First Aid Kit
📣 SeaSense Air Horn
🚩 Orange Boat Safety Flag w/ Suction Cup
🔧 Perwin 17-in-1 Multitool
🛟 Inflatable Cooler Raft
🎁 Gift Card to Lake Mattoon Marina ($20)

🎉 THE DRAWING:
📅 Saturday, August 1st
📍 Lake Mattoon Marina
🍖 End of Summer Cookout

You don’t want to miss this one — great food, great people, and one lucky winner walking away with the ultimate Captain’s Kit!

💛 Every ticket sold goes directly toward supporting our beautiful lake community. Thank you for making this possible! 🌊

Tag a fellow lake lover so they don’t miss out! 🙌

06/12/2026

COME SEE US TOMORROW NIGHT AT LAKESIDE TIMBERS!

💵 CASH ONLY at the door🚪(ATM located at Lakeside Timbers)

🌊 Logistics & Launch Time

• Where: Lakeside Timbers RV Campground
• When: Saturday, June 13
• Bar & Pizza: Doors open at 5:00 PM
• First Game: Entertainment begins at 6:00 PM
• Entertainment By: Code 3 Music 🎶

🎟️ Tickets & Treasures

• Buy-In: $20 for 4 full games
• Main Rounds: 3 lucky winners take home prizes worth $50!
• Grand Finale: Cover All Jackpot 🏴‍☠️
• The Split: Winner takes 50% of the pot / 50% anchors back to Friends of Lake Mattoon!

06/11/2026

One of the things that makes Lake Mattoon special is that no two seasons look exactly the same.

In the spring and fall, migratory birds return to the reservoir system, including the American White Pelican—one of the most remarkable sights many visitors experience on the lake.

Summer brings boating, fishing, camping, and long evenings on the water.

Fall transforms the shoreline with color, while winter often brings opportunities to spot bald eagles and other wildlife.

For many people, some of the best moments at Lake Mattoon aren't planned at all. They're the unexpected wildlife sightings, the quiet sunsets, and the chance to enjoy the outdoors close to home.

Lake Mattoon means different things to different people, but it remains one of the region's most unique outdoor resources.

What is your favorite season at Lake Mattoon?

06/10/2026

⚓ WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SATURDAY! ⚓

06/08/2026

Did you know?

Lake Mattoon exists today because of a unique partnership between the City of Mattoon and the landowners whose property and easements made the reservoir possible. When the reservoir was created, hundreds of acres of land were acquired and flowage easements to flood private property were granted to allow the lake to serve the community for generations to come.

That shared history reminds us that Lake Mattoon has always been more than a reservoir. It is a community asset made possible through cooperation, long-term planning, and a commitment to future generations.

That spirit of partnership continues today.

Last week, local governments, conservation organizations, watershed stakeholders, and community members gathered for the first Lake Paradise / Lake Mattoon Watershed Planning stakeholder meeting to discuss the future of our reservoir system.

One important takeaway was that a completed watershed plan can improve competitiveness for future conservation and restoration grant opportunities. Teams are already collecting sediment cores, conducting lake surveys, and gathering data to better understand current conditions in both reservoirs.

Protecting water quality, reducing sedimentation, preserving recreation, and maintaining a reliable water supply are goals that benefit everyone who depends on the lakes.

Just as Lake Mattoon was created through partnership, preserving it for future generations will require partnership as well.

The next stakeholder meeting is expected to be held in early July at the Mattoon Water Treatment Plant. As soon as we have a date and time we will let you know. We encourage anyone who cares about the future of Lake Mattoon and Lake Paradise to attend, stay informed, and participate in the conversation.

If you believe in protecting water quality, preserving recreation, and supporting the long-term health of our reservoirs, we also invite you to consider joining Friends of Lake Mattoon and becoming part of the effort.

Healthy lakes support strong communities, strong local economies, and future generations.

Historical Sources: 1956 Lake Mattoon flowage easements recorded with the Cumberland County Clerk’s Office and City of Mattoon reservoir records.

WCIA Story: https://youtu.be/iptlifKdt3o?si=4l_Km8jS9SmkZRf2

06/07/2026