Mayor Colin McIntyre
lily Lake
Lake observations by citizens scientists and satellites program
Lily Lake not only defines the Village of Lakemoor, but it is also an important environmental feature for the region. Lily Lake is approximately 89.3 acres in size and has a maximum depth of approximately 14 feet. Since the time the community was established, Lily Lake has been a popular destination for active and passive recreational activities such as swimming, fishing and small engine boating. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has identified Lily Lake as a glacial lake and as an Advanced Identification (ADID) wetland. An ADID is defined by IDNR as an aquatic resource of exceptional biological value and/or a wetland demonstrated to provide critical functional value for storm water management.
Given Lily Lake's importance to both the community and region, the Village of Lakemoor is participating in a scientific program called the Lake Observations by Citizen Scientists and Satellites (LOCSS). This program, which is funded by NASA, and sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Washington, Tennessee Technological University, the US Forestry Service, the National Wildlife Refuges, and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) to monitor how the amount of water in lakes is changing over time. A water gauge was recently installed in Lily Lake near the fishing pier. Residents, otherwise known as "citizen scientists' are encouraged to participate by monitoring and submit via text messaging the water level on the lake gauge to the LOCSS coordinators. This information along with lake surface area data acquired from satellites will be used to; 1) see if Lily Lake is gaining or losing water over time, 2) how it is connected to other lakes within the region, and 3) what effects major weather events have on our water resources.
For more information on this program, please click the following link: