Lake Carroll (Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Carroll |
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Aerial view
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 Lake Carroll
Location in Illinois
Lake Carroll
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lanark, Carroll County, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 42°10′48″N 89°53′24″W / 42.18000°N 89.89000°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | East fork of the Plum River |
| Primary outflows | leads to Mississippi River |
| Built | 1974 |
| Surface area | 635 acres (257 ha) |
| Average depth | 21 ft (6.4 m) |
| Max. depth | 60 ft (18 m) |
| Surface elevation | 740 ft (230 m) |
| Frozen | Winter |
| Settlements | Lake Carroll |
Lake Carroll is a private, man-made lake in Carroll County, Illinois. It's a great place for fun and relaxation! This lake was created in 1974. It was made by building a dam across the east fork of the Plum River. This river is close to the town of Lanark. The Lake Carroll Association owns and takes care of the dam. Lake Carroll is the biggest private lake in Illinois. Only members of the Lake Carroll Association can use the lake. These members are people who own property near the lake. The community around the lake is called Lake Carroll.
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Exploring Lake Carroll's Shoreline
The shoreline of Lake Carroll has many single-family homes. There are also two marinas, one on the west side and one on the east. These marinas are for Lake Carroll Association members. They are especially helpful for members who do not own property right on the lake.
The west marina offers a place to launch boats. You can also find parking and buy gas for your boat there. There's a small snack stand, a picnic area, and restrooms. A small beach is also available for swimming and relaxing.
Boat docks and lifts can be in the water from April 1 to October 31. In early November, the lake's water level is lowered. It goes down about 3 feet. This helps property owners work on their shorelines. It also protects the shoreline during the winter months.
Fishing Fun at Lake Carroll
Lake Carroll is home to many different kinds of fish found in Illinois. You can find sunfish like bluegill and redear. There are also yellow perch, black crappie, and white crappie. If you like bigger fish, you might catch walleye, bass (smallmouth, largemouth, and white), muskie, or northern pike. Channel catfish, flathead catfish, and carp also live here.
The lake even has its own fish hatchery for walleyes. They restock the lake with new fish every fall. This helps keep the fish population healthy.
Private bass fishing tournaments are held from spring through fall. In these tournaments, teams try to catch five fish. The total weight of these fish often goes over 18 pounds. Winning teams often catch over 20 pounds of fish! To help the fish grow, all smallmouth and largemouth bass must be released back into the lake.
How the Spillway Works
A spillway is like a special overflow system for the lake. It has a curved shape called an "ogee crest." This design helps control how extra water leaves the lake. It makes sure the water flows out smoothly.
Lake Carroll also has an emergency spillway. This is for when there's a lot of rain and the lake gets too full. The emergency spillway sends extra floodwater away from the dam. This keeps the dam safe during very heavy floods.
The local fishing club helps fish that accidentally leave the lake. Sometimes, fish swim over the spillway. The club rescues these fish from below the dam. They then return the fish to the lake.
Exciting Water Activities
Besides fishing, Lake Carroll offers many other fun water activities. You can go swimming on hot days. Boating is very popular, and you can enjoy water skiing. Wave running and jet skiing are also allowed. For a quieter time, you can go kayaking or canoeing.
