Condition of Illinois Lakes
Understanding the Charts
The charts below show the overall condition of lake acres in Illinois. They also show the most common types of pollution in Illinois lakes and the major sources of this pollution.
Top Problems
Here is a rundown on the major types of pollution:
- Too many nutrients refer to excess plant food such as nitrogen and phosphorus.
- Soil moving into water is also known as “siltation.”
- Suspended solids include soil floating in the water.
- Too much organic matter is rotting animal and plant material.
- Too much growth of aquatic plants refer to weeds growing in the water.
Major Sources of Pollution
Two categories under “Major Sources of Pollution” may need an explanation:
- Habitat changes include the removal of vegetation along streambanks and the draining of wetlands.
- Contaminated soil is soil that moves into lakes, carrying materials such as pesticides or lead.
Where Do These Numbers Come From?
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency monitored 181 lakes and evaluated another 188 lakes in Illinois for its 2001 report. These lakes totaled 156,994 acres.
By the way, an acre is a little bit smaller than the size of a football field.
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