Lake Jean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Jean |
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Lake Jean
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 Lake Jean
Location in Pennsylvania
Lake Jean
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fairmount Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; Colley Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 41°20′28″N 76°17′27″W / 41.34111°N 76.29083°W |
| Etymology | Jean Holberton Ricketts |
| Primary inflows | outlet of Ganoga Lake (main inflow) |
| Primary outflows | unnamed tributary of Kitchen Creek |
| Catchment area | 1,998 acres (809 ha) |
| Max. length | up to 10,560 feet (3,220 m) |
| Max. width | up to 1,980 feet (600 m) |
| Surface area | 245 acres (99 ha) |
| Average depth | 5.9 feet (1.8 m) |
| Max. depth | up to 20 feet (6.1 m) |
| Water volume | 486 million US gallons (1.84 hm3) |
| Residence time | 0.6 years |
Lake Jean is a beautiful lake located in Pennsylvania, spanning parts of Luzerne County and Sullivan County. It covers an area of about 245 acres (99 ha), which is roughly the size of 185 football fields! The lake is quite shallow, with an average depth of about 5.9 feet (1.8 m).
The lake gets its water mainly from Ganoga Lake. Its water then flows into a small stream that leads to Kitchen Creek. Lake Jean is an important part of the Ricketts Glen State Park, a popular spot for visitors. It was named in 1905 by Colonel R. Bruce Ricketts, honoring his oldest daughter, Jean Holberton Ricketts.
For a while, Lake Jean had a problem with being too acidic, but efforts have been made to fix this. Today, it's a great place for fishing and other fun outdoor activities.
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Exploring Lake Jean's Location and Size
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Lake Jean is found within the beautiful Ricketts Glen State Park. Its main outflow is a small stream that eventually joins Kitchen Creek. The lake also receives water from other small streams and direct rainfall.
The lake sits at an elevation of about 2,218 feet (676 m) above sea level. It has a very interesting, irregular shape, not perfectly round or oval. At its longest point, Lake Jean stretches for about 10,560 feet (3,220 m), and at its widest, it's about 1,980 feet (600 m) across.
While the lake is generally shallow, averaging 5.9 feet (1.8 m) deep, some spots can reach a depth of up to 19.5 feet (5.9 m). The land around the lake usually rises about 90 feet (27 m) above the water. You can find several small coves and inlets, especially on the western side, and even a few small islands.
How Lake Jean's Dam Works
Lake Jean is held back by an earthen structure called the Lake Jean Dam. This dam is 26 feet (7.9 m) tall and 780 feet (240 m) long. It's owned by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
The current dam was built in the 1950s. It replaced an older dam and helped combine a smaller body of water called Mud Pond with the original Lake Jean to create the larger lake we see today. In 2015, the lake was partly drained so that important repairs could be made to the dam's control tower. It was reopened for everyone to enjoy in May 2016.
Understanding Lake Jean's Water Quality
Lake Jean used to have a problem with its water being too acidic. This was mainly due to pollution in the air, called atmospheric deposition. In 1991, the water's pH was 5.8, which was too low for healthy aquatic life. Because of this, the lake was listed as an "impaired waterbody" in 1996.
Good news! By 2007, the lake's pH had improved a lot, rising to between 6.5 and 7.4, which is a healthy range for Pennsylvania's water standards. However, the lake still has some issues with mercury pollution, also from air pollution.
To help fix the acidity, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources started adding lime to the lake in 1995. They would add about 19 tons of lime each year, usually in the spring and fall, for several years.
Water Flow and Temperature
The water in Lake Jean stays for about 0.6 years before it flows out. The average amount of water flowing out of the lake is about 3.6 cubic feet per second.
In August 1974, the water temperature of Lake Jean was measured at 20.5 °C (68.9 °F) at a depth of 3 feet (0.91 m). The Secchi depth of the lake, which tells us how clear the water is, was about 69.0 inches (175 cm) in the 1970s.
Lake Jean's Surroundings and Land Use
The land area that drains into Lake Jean, called its watershed, covers about 1,998 acres (809 ha). This area includes the lake itself and is located in eastern Sullivan County and western Luzerne County.
Most of the land in the watershed, about 81 percent, is covered by forests. About 12.6 percent of the watershed is made up of open fields. A small part, 4.7 percent, consists of other lakes, and 1.7 percent is wetlands. Pennsylvania Route 487 also passes through the lake's watershed.
Wildlife and Plants in Lake Jean
Lake Jean is home to many different kinds of fish and other creatures. It's listed on the Luzerne County Natural Areas Inventory, which means it's recognized for its important natural features.
Fish and Other Animals
The lake is a great spot for fishing! It has both warmwater game fish and panfish. You can find trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and pickerel. Other fish like pumpkinseed and yellow perch also live here. The lake is regularly stocked with trout for anglers.
Historically, the lake's acidity meant it didn't have many different types of fish. But as the water quality improved, so did the variety of fish! In 1985, only seven fish species were found, but by 2007, that number grew to twelve. You might also spot Canada geese around the lake.
Plants and Trees
The forests around Lake Jean are mostly deciduous forests, meaning the trees lose their leaves in the fall. However, there are also some areas with conifer trees, like pines and hemlocks, especially on the western side of the watershed.
The shores of Lake Jean are lined with these beautiful hardwood forests, hemlocks, pine trees, and sedge plants. In the past, the lake used to have a lot of a plant called bladderwort, which sometimes covered the beaches. But as the lake became less acidic, the bladderwort population decreased, and the variety of other plants in the lake increased.
Fun Activities at Lake Jean
Lake Jean is a very popular place for fun and relaxation, especially for fishing and other recreational activities.
It's one of the main attractions for visitors to Ricketts Glen State Park. Many of the park's 330,000 yearly visitors come to enjoy Lake Jean.
Boating and Fishing
If you love boating, Lake Jean has two boat launches. You can use boats with electric motors or non-powered boats like canoes and kayaks. Jeff Mitchell's book, Paddling Pennsylvania, even calls Lake Jean "one of the finest lakes for paddling in Pennsylvania" because of its beauty.
Fishing is a big draw here. The lake is stocked with trout, and you can catch other fish like bass and crappie. In winter, when the lake freezes over, ice fishing is also allowed!
Other Activities
Lake Jean has a lovely beach that stretches for about 600 feet (180 m). It's open from late May to mid-September, perfect for swimming and sunbathing. There are also picnic areas along the lake, so you can enjoy a meal outdoors with family and friends.
For those who love to hike, the 0.8-mile-long Beach Trail in Ricketts Glen State Park runs right along Lake Jean. If you want to stay overnight, there are ten modern cabins located near the lake.
