Lake Information

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Four lakes are in the subdivision: Goose Lake (not to be confused with a lake called Goose Lake that was north of Lorenzo/Pine Bluff Rd. in Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area), Beaver Lake, and Lincoln Lake (the largest and only water skiing lake).

GLA is proud of their lakes and strives to keep them as clean as possible. The lakes are maintained and stocked by GLA, and shoreline permits are issued when any new work is being done. The work is reviewed by a committee to help maintain aesthetics and the natural balance of chemicals in the water as well as to control erosion. Said to be one of the cleanest lakes in the Midwest, Lincoln Lake has a visibility of about 25 feet of depth.

Several marinas where boats can enter the lakes with gate keys are located throughout the subdivision.

Safety is enforced on the lakes at the expense of GLA.

Note: Lincoln Lake Estates, a subdivision with 53 properties in the southwest corner of the subdivision, has access to Lincoln Lake. That subdivision has its own Association separate from GLA.

In addition, GLA participates in the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's, "Illinois Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program" under the Illinois Clean Lakes Program. The following is a description of the program from the IEPA website page under Partners for Conservation:

"There are 3,256 lakes with a surface area of six acres or more in Illinois and more than 87,000 ponds. In addition to being valuable recreational and ecological resources, these waterbodies serve as potable, industrial and agricultural water supplies; as cooling water sources; and as flood control structures.

Lakes serve as traps for materials generated within their watersheds. The trapped material generally impairs water quality and may severely impact beneficial uses and significantly shorten the life of the lake. Suspended and deposited sediments can affect certain lake uses. Excessive aquatic macrophyte (plant) growth and/or algal blooms often result from the addition of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. An overabundance of plant life may tend to limit recreational and public water supply usage. Lakes may also collect heavy metal and organic contamination from urban, industrial, and agricultural sources. Dissolved oxygen deficiencies may limit biological habitat or result in taste and odor problems for public water supplies.

Lakes are important resources that will continue to provide beneficial uses only if certain protective and educational steps are taken. In recognition of this need, in 1981, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency established the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP). The program provides a service to the Agency by harnessing the time and talent of citizen volunteers to help gather fundamental information on more Illinois' inland lakes than could otherwise be possible with existing staff. This program also serves its volunteers and the general public by opening a path for citizen involvement with the environment and providing environmental education and outreach opportunities for Illinois citizens to learn about lake ecosystems. This program also serves as a cost-effective method for gathering fundamental information on inland lakes, which ultimately leads to making better lake management decisions."

Results of the lake monitoring that is submitted to this program may be available upon request or found on the IEPA website. Note that Lincoln Lake is considered the second clearest lake in the state, Goose Lake is third and Beaver Lake is the fifth clearest. These ratings are figured on the 170 private lakes in the state who are in the program (out of 3000 lakes total).

The lakes provide world class water activities such as:

1. Previous state record fishing for walleye. Other fish in the lakes include muskie, northern pike, large mouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish.
2. Water skiing, wake boarding and tubing.
3. Leisure cruising, sightseeing, and riding personal watercraft.
4. Birdwatching: goose, duck, heron, cranes, eagles, hawks, kingfishers and others.
5. Swimming in crystal clear waters.
6. Winter activities include fishing, skating, sledding, and snowmobiling. There is also a hill designated for sleds and toboggans.

The area is a wildlife habitat for coyotes, several kinds of fox, deer, turtles, groundhogs, possum, raccoons, and other animals.