This west floodplain lake receives overflow waters from the Illinois River.[2][3] The lake has a surface area of 1,134 acres (459 ha) with an average depth of 4 ft (1.2 m) and a maximum depth of 6 ft (1.8 m).[2] 9.1 mi (14.6 km) shore is surrounded by bottomland forest of silver maple, cottonwood, and willow trees.[3]
A levee constructed in 1980 separates Anderson Lake from Carlson Lake, a smaller 231 acres (93 ha) lake to the south that serves as a waterfowl refuge area.[2][3] Carlson Lake is drained in the spring to plant food for ducks, then flooded in the fall during migration season to attract waterfowl.[2]