Loch Lomond (Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loch Lomond |
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 Loch Lomond
Location in Illinois
Loch Lomond
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mundelein, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 42°16′45″N 88°00′37″W / 42.27917°N 88.01028°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 738 ft (225 m) |
Loch Lomond is a beautiful man-made lake in Mundelein, Illinois. It covers about 75 acres of land. A neighborhood, also called Loch Lomond, was built around this lake.
The lake is managed by the Loch Lomond Property Owners Association. Only people who live in the neighborhood and their guests can use the lake. This helps keep the lake special for the residents.
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Fun on Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond has two beaches for residents to enjoy. They are called North Beach and South Beach.
South Beach: Swimming and Play
South Beach is the bigger of the two beaches. It is the main spot for swimming. You can find a large pier and a swimming raft there. There is also a fun playground area. During the summer, swimming lessons are offered at South Beach.
North Beach: Fishing Fun
North Beach is a favorite spot for fishing. While swimming is allowed here, there are no lifeguards on duty. It's a quieter place to enjoy the water.
Boating on the Lake
Loch Lomond is a calm lake. It does not allow boats with motors. But you can still have fun on the water! Many people use row boats, kayaks, and pedal boats. Small sailing boats are also common.
The Lake's Story
Loch Lomond is a shallow lake, usually 5 to 8 feet deep. It has a very interesting history, especially with its fish and plants.
A Big Experiment
In the 1990s, something new was tried to help the lake. A type of carp fish was put into the lake. These carp were meant to eat too much algae. Algae can grow a lot when there are many nutrients in the water.
However, these carp ate almost all the plants at the bottom of the lake. This caused problems for the lake's health. When there were fewer plants, the oxygen levels in the water dropped. This made it hard for other fish to live. Sometimes, many fish would die because of low oxygen, especially in winter.
Today, the lake has many different kinds of fish. Even with its past challenges, the fish populations are strong.
How the Lake Was Made
Loch Lomond was created in 1955. A company built a dam across a part of Bull Creek. This dam helped form the lake. The idea was to make a beautiful center for the new neighborhood.
The dam is 550 feet long. It also has a 50-foot concrete spillway. This spillway was first planned to be a road. It would connect the north and south parts of the neighborhood.
The Loch Lomond Property Owners Association takes care of the dam. They follow a plan made by expert engineers. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources also checks the dam regularly. This makes sure the dam is safe and working well.
