Lake Bracken facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Bracken |
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 Lake Bracken
Location in Illinois
Lake Bracken
Location in the United States
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| Location | Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°51′27.14″N 90°20′55.46″W / 40.8575389°N 90.3487389°W |
| Type | reservoir |
Lake Bracken is a special kind of lake called a reservoir. It is located in Galesburg, a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. This lake was created in 1921 when a dam was built across Brush Creek.
Today, the Lake Bracken Country Club helps manage the lake. Lake Bracken is part of the larger Spoon River area, where water flows into many streams and rivers. The lake covers about 172 acres, which is a big area of water! Experts have studied the lake's health. In 1996, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency said its overall water quality was "fair." You can find fish like channel catfish, largemouth bass, and carp living in its waters.
Discover Lake Bracken: A Man-Made Lake
Lake Bracken is not a natural lake. It is a reservoir, which means it was built by people to store water. This important lake was created in 1921. It was formed by building a dam across a smaller stream called Brush Creek.
The lake is located near Galesburg, Illinois. It plays a role in the local environment and provides a home for different types of fish. The Lake Bracken Country Club helps take care of the lake and its surroundings.
How Lake Bracken Was Formed
Lake Bracken was originally built by a big railroad company. This company was called the CB&Q, which stands for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. Today, this railroad is part of Burlington Northern.
The company needed a lot of water for its large "Shops" and "Yards" in Galesburg, Illinois. These were places where they worked on steam locomotives and other big machines. These machines needed huge amounts of water to run properly. So, Lake Bracken was created to make sure they had enough water.
Wildlife and Water Quality at Lake Bracken
Lake Bracken is home to several types of fish. Some of the fish you might find here include channel catfish, largemouth bass, and carp. These fish are an important part of the lake's ecosystem.
The health of the lake's water is also important. In 1996, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency checked the lake's "overall resource quality." They found that the lake's health was "fair." This means the water is generally okay, but it's always good to keep an eye on it to make sure it stays healthy for the fish and other wildlife.
