Lake Shelbyville Conditions
Track the latest lake metrics before heading out. Values can be updated manually or refreshed from official data sources.
Last update: May 20, 2026 6:09 am
Current conditions and essential information at a glance.
Inundation Maps
602.51 ft (Normal risk)
flood threshold 720.0 ft
Good
Dynamic flood-risk derivation from CWMS elevation and 720.0 ft flood-pool threshold.
Water Temperature at Depth (Thermocline)
15-25
ft
Normal
Discharge Rates (Outflow)
520
cfs
Caution
7-day average: 1,211 cfs. 14-day forecast avg: 1,330 cfs (peak: 1,550 cfs).
Boat Ramp Status
Closed
Closed
Derived from current pool elevation (602.51 ft): >706.0 ft Open, <=706.0 ft Closed.
General facts and technical data for planning fishing and camping trips.
Surface Area
50,320,149
acres
Maximum Depth
65
feet
Normal Pool Level
708
feet above sea level
Primary Fish Species
Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Crappie
Lake Shelbyville is a major central Illinois reservoir that supports flood control, recreation, and water supply. Use current conditions with local safety guidance before planning water activities.
A quick angler snapshot with the most useful planning points.
Lake Shelbyville offers year-round opportunities for bass, crappie, walleye, catfish, and white bass. Focus on structure, fish seasonal windows, and adapt bait to target species.
Discharge Rates (Outflow)
520
cfs
Caution
7-day average: 1,211 cfs. 14-day forecast avg: 1,330 cfs (peak: 1,550 cfs).
Water Temperature at Depth (Thermocline)
15-25
ft
Normal
Turbidity / Clarity (Secchi)
4-8
ft
Normal
Semi-static metric; update manually using periodic Secchi sampling from Water Quality Portal.
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
9.4
mg/L tailwater
Good
Tailwater DO proxy (below dam), not in-lake DO. Use as context only.
Submerged Structure Maps
Fish attractors, timber, old roadbeds
Normal
Static reference metric. Maintain map links/notes manually (USACE and local map resources).
Boat Ramp Status
Closed
Closed
Derived from current pool elevation (602.51 ft): >706.0 ft Open, <=706.0 ft Closed.
Beach & Swimming Status
Open
Good
Static/manual metric. Update from Illinois EPA or local advisories (E. coli/algae).
Wind Speed & Wave Height
11.6 / N/A
mph / ft
Normal
Dynamic wind from Open-Meteo. Wave height is currently unavailable for this location.
Inundation Maps
602.51 ft (Normal risk)
flood threshold 720.0 ft
Good
Dynamic flood-risk derivation from CWMS elevation and 720.0 ft flood-pool threshold.
Josephine Cochrane (sometimes spelled Cochran) invented the first commercially successful dishwasher in 1886 in Shelbyville, Illinois, to protect her fine china. Motivated to stop servants from chipping dishes, she designed a machine using water pressure rather than scrubbers. She patented it on Dec. 28, 1886.
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