Surface Water Resources of Lake County and the Flora and Fauna Within
Recap of March 1, 2010 General Meeting - Speaker: Mark Pfister
Mark Pfister, Interim Director of Environmental Health Services, Lake County Health Dept &
Community Health Center
Water quality monitoring became a responsibility of Lake County Health Department over 50 years ago. The
Lake County Board decided that many of the sewage treatment plants were discharging into local lakes and
water quality needed to be monitored. Today treatment plants no longer discharge into the lakes but Lake
County Health Dept. continues to monitor Lake County lakes, streams and creeks.
A few Lake County facts:
The 3 deepest lakes: Third, Gages and Deep.
Best Water Quality of the 3: Deep Lake
Largest Watershed: Third Lake
Longest tributary in Illinois that flows into Lake Michigan: Waukegan River:
Four (4) watersheds in Lake County: Lake Michigan, DesPlaines River, Fox River, North Branch of the
Chicago River
Number of Lakes 6 acres or more: 260
Most of the lakes are glacial lakes created by the last glacier that covered northeastern Illinois. They are
"perched” lakes meaning they lie above the aquifer, separated from the aquifer by a clay layer, and fed by
surface water. Water quality is slow to improve once degraded in “perched” lakes.
State Endangered Fish: Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Pugnose Shiner.
State Threatened Fish: Blackchin Shiner, Banded Killifish, Star Head Top Minnow
All of the fish are small, about 3 inches in length. Shiners prefer weedy habitat while the darter prefers
sand/gravel bottoms. All fish prefer a habitat that breaks wave action and is easy to swim through. Aquatic
plants such as Illinois pondweed, large leaf pondweed, lily pads, and pickelweed are examples of desirable
aquatic plants for fish.
State Endangered Submerged Vegetation: White stemmed pondweed, water marigold, and Fern pondweed.
Variable leaved pondweed is a state threatened plant.
State Endangered and Threatened Animals: Blandings turtle, Black tern, Black crowned night heron.
Plankton are small organisms that are abundant at different times of the year depending on the nutrients in the
water (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus) and water temperature. Plankton are further divided into zooplankton and
phytoplankton. Filter feeding fish such as the Asian carp feed on plankton. Asian carp are such efficient filter
feeders that there may not be food left for young native fish to feed on.
Thermoclines are temperature and oxygen stratifications in lakes. The most oxygenated areas of a lake lie in the
top 12 feet of water. The greater the depth the less oxygen. In the spring and fall the lakes "turn over" when
surface water temperatures reach about 40 degrees F and water is densest. At 40 degrees the water at the top
of the lake sinks to the bottom and is replace by water from the bottom.
Threats to Aquatic Diversity – Land Development & Invasive Species
All aquatic plants need clear water in order to produce food and survive. Invasive plant species such as
buckthorn, purple loosestrife, Eurasian milfoil, and animal species such as carp and zebra mussels threaten native
species of plants and animals
• Invasive Animals -The common carp is a bottom and shoreline feeder can produce 40 - 80000 eggs per
year. It feeding habits of rooting in the bottom for food keeps the water turbid and prevents plants from growing.
• Invasive Plants - Eurasian milfoil is extremely invasive because it can reproduce from cuttings as well as
seeds. It is found in almost every lake in Lake County. Curley pondweed grows on the surface but shades the
area beneath it preventing other plants from growing. Brazilian elodea was found in a Libertyville lake and not
expected to survive the winter but was found actively growing under the ice and 8" of snow.
• Shoreline Restoration - Many lake front landowners plant turf grass and mow their lawns to the water's edge.
Turf grass has short roots and is impacted by wave action which causes shoreline erosion. A buffer zone of
native plants with longer root systems are needed along shorelines to stabilize the shoreline and provide habitat
for wildlife.
• Waterfowl - Feeding waterfowl encourages them to stay in an area or not to migrate. Golf courses ponds,
detention ponds and retention ponds provide good habitat for geese. Non-native plants and grasses are planted
along shorelines, ponds are aerated to keep them open over winter, and shorelines are mowed which provides
good visibility for the geese for predators. Because of habitat loss sea gulls feed at landfills and rest on
swimming beaches contaminating beaches and forcing beach closings.
• Chemicals - Chemicals enter water through a variety of ways. Phosphorus levels in lakes and ponds are
increasing because of detergents, fertilizers and removal of aquatic plants which absorb phosphorus. Cascade
dishwashing detergent contains 1 gram of phosphorus in every tablespoon of detergent. 454 grams or 1 lb of
phosphorus can produce 300 - 500 lbs of algae. One of the 3 main ingredients in fertilizer is phosphorus. The
soil in Lake County contains enough phosphorus for adequate plant growth that no additional phosphorus
containing fertilizer is needed. Lawn care companies should be asked not to use phosphorus containing
fertilizers. Aluminum sulfate may be used to remove phosphorus from lakes but the effectiveness may be short
lived. Minnesota has a ban on phosphorus use and Wisconsin has one pending. Dane County (WI) has had a
ban for some time. Due to legal issues in Illinois there probably won't be a ban.
• Road Salt - Road salt or sodium chloride is an increasing concern. Chlorides and sodium levels are
increasing in lakes and ponds which impact aquatic plants and animals. For each mile of a one lane road in
Lake County the previous practice has been to apply 500 - 800 lbs of salt per snow event. Since most roads in
Lake County are 2 lanes that is 1000 to 1600 lbs of salt per mile of road. With the next 20 years Lake County
is planning on doubling the amount of roads. Salt reduces the dissolve oxygen in lakes, reduces the diversity of
plants and animals, and impacts the food chain. A concentration of 220 - 240 mg/L could kill 10% of the
aquatic species after 30 days. Homeowner's use an even greater amount of salt per surface area than highway
departments. New alternatives are being used which include a combination of beet juice, salt brine and calcium
chloride. This "cocktail" is applied before the snow starts and prevents freezing on road surfaces. Sodium and
chloride concentrations are also increasing in ground water, aquifers, and shallow wells. Increasing
concentrations of salt in wells can impact humans, especially those with blood pressure and/or heart conditions.
Although salt is relatively cheap salt is also corrosive to roadways and bridges making it more costly to use than
initially thought.
Community Health Center
Water quality monitoring became a responsibility of Lake County Health Department over 50 years ago. The
Lake County Board decided that many of the sewage treatment plants were discharging into local lakes and
water quality needed to be monitored. Today treatment plants no longer discharge into the lakes but Lake
County Health Dept. continues to monitor Lake County lakes, streams and creeks.
A few Lake County facts:
The 3 deepest lakes: Third, Gages and Deep.
Best Water Quality of the 3: Deep Lake
Largest Watershed: Third Lake
Longest tributary in Illinois that flows into Lake Michigan: Waukegan River:
Four (4) watersheds in Lake County: Lake Michigan, DesPlaines River, Fox River, North Branch of the
Chicago River
Number of Lakes 6 acres or more: 260
Most of the lakes are glacial lakes created by the last glacier that covered northeastern Illinois. They are
"perched” lakes meaning they lie above the aquifer, separated from the aquifer by a clay layer, and fed by
surface water. Water quality is slow to improve once degraded in “perched” lakes.
State Endangered Fish: Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Pugnose Shiner.
State Threatened Fish: Blackchin Shiner, Banded Killifish, Star Head Top Minnow
All of the fish are small, about 3 inches in length. Shiners prefer weedy habitat while the darter prefers
sand/gravel bottoms. All fish prefer a habitat that breaks wave action and is easy to swim through. Aquatic
plants such as Illinois pondweed, large leaf pondweed, lily pads, and pickelweed are examples of desirable
aquatic plants for fish.
State Endangered Submerged Vegetation: White stemmed pondweed, water marigold, and Fern pondweed.
Variable leaved pondweed is a state threatened plant.
State Endangered and Threatened Animals: Blandings turtle, Black tern, Black crowned night heron.
Plankton are small organisms that are abundant at different times of the year depending on the nutrients in the
water (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus) and water temperature. Plankton are further divided into zooplankton and
phytoplankton. Filter feeding fish such as the Asian carp feed on plankton. Asian carp are such efficient filter
feeders that there may not be food left for young native fish to feed on.
Thermoclines are temperature and oxygen stratifications in lakes. The most oxygenated areas of a lake lie in the
top 12 feet of water. The greater the depth the less oxygen. In the spring and fall the lakes "turn over" when
surface water temperatures reach about 40 degrees F and water is densest. At 40 degrees the water at the top
of the lake sinks to the bottom and is replace by water from the bottom.
Threats to Aquatic Diversity – Land Development & Invasive Species
All aquatic plants need clear water in order to produce food and survive. Invasive plant species such as
buckthorn, purple loosestrife, Eurasian milfoil, and animal species such as carp and zebra mussels threaten native
species of plants and animals
• Invasive Animals -The common carp is a bottom and shoreline feeder can produce 40 - 80000 eggs per
year. It feeding habits of rooting in the bottom for food keeps the water turbid and prevents plants from growing.
• Invasive Plants - Eurasian milfoil is extremely invasive because it can reproduce from cuttings as well as
seeds. It is found in almost every lake in Lake County. Curley pondweed grows on the surface but shades the
area beneath it preventing other plants from growing. Brazilian elodea was found in a Libertyville lake and not
expected to survive the winter but was found actively growing under the ice and 8" of snow.
• Shoreline Restoration - Many lake front landowners plant turf grass and mow their lawns to the water's edge.
Turf grass has short roots and is impacted by wave action which causes shoreline erosion. A buffer zone of
native plants with longer root systems are needed along shorelines to stabilize the shoreline and provide habitat
for wildlife.
• Waterfowl - Feeding waterfowl encourages them to stay in an area or not to migrate. Golf courses ponds,
detention ponds and retention ponds provide good habitat for geese. Non-native plants and grasses are planted
along shorelines, ponds are aerated to keep them open over winter, and shorelines are mowed which provides
good visibility for the geese for predators. Because of habitat loss sea gulls feed at landfills and rest on
swimming beaches contaminating beaches and forcing beach closings.
• Chemicals - Chemicals enter water through a variety of ways. Phosphorus levels in lakes and ponds are
increasing because of detergents, fertilizers and removal of aquatic plants which absorb phosphorus. Cascade
dishwashing detergent contains 1 gram of phosphorus in every tablespoon of detergent. 454 grams or 1 lb of
phosphorus can produce 300 - 500 lbs of algae. One of the 3 main ingredients in fertilizer is phosphorus. The
soil in Lake County contains enough phosphorus for adequate plant growth that no additional phosphorus
containing fertilizer is needed. Lawn care companies should be asked not to use phosphorus containing
fertilizers. Aluminum sulfate may be used to remove phosphorus from lakes but the effectiveness may be short
lived. Minnesota has a ban on phosphorus use and Wisconsin has one pending. Dane County (WI) has had a
ban for some time. Due to legal issues in Illinois there probably won't be a ban.
• Road Salt - Road salt or sodium chloride is an increasing concern. Chlorides and sodium levels are
increasing in lakes and ponds which impact aquatic plants and animals. For each mile of a one lane road in
Lake County the previous practice has been to apply 500 - 800 lbs of salt per snow event. Since most roads in
Lake County are 2 lanes that is 1000 to 1600 lbs of salt per mile of road. With the next 20 years Lake County
is planning on doubling the amount of roads. Salt reduces the dissolve oxygen in lakes, reduces the diversity of
plants and animals, and impacts the food chain. A concentration of 220 - 240 mg/L could kill 10% of the
aquatic species after 30 days. Homeowner's use an even greater amount of salt per surface area than highway
departments. New alternatives are being used which include a combination of beet juice, salt brine and calcium
chloride. This "cocktail" is applied before the snow starts and prevents freezing on road surfaces. Sodium and
chloride concentrations are also increasing in ground water, aquifers, and shallow wells. Increasing
concentrations of salt in wells can impact humans, especially those with blood pressure and/or heart conditions.
Although salt is relatively cheap salt is also corrosive to roadways and bridges making it more costly to use than
initially thought.
Don Wilson
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