Environmental Quality

Click here to view more about the following programs and services:

• Industrial Pretreatment
• Grease Abatement
• Stormwater Management
• Mosquito Control
• Hazardous Emissions

Bangs Lake is a natural glacial lake located in northeastern Illinois’ Lake County and is considered a popular destination for family recreation in the Chicagoland area. The lake is managed by the Village of Wauconda, in cooperation with the Lake County Health Department Lakes Management Unit and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Although the majority of property around the lake is privately owned, the Wauconda Park District maintains the community’s public beach and its facilities.

During the boating season, the Wauconda Police Department patrols the lake. Boating inspections are available either by appointment or on the lake itself. For more information on inspections and associated fees, please visit our Marine Safety Team website. The Environmental Quality Department monitors the water level in the lake. The Public Works Department operates the weed harvester. The Lake County Health Department Lakes Management Unit issues bathing beach licenses, conducts inspections, and collects water samples at the licensed beaches twice per month from May-September.

Lake Facts:

Normal Mean Water Elevation: 773.86 above sea level

Surface Area: 306.1 acres

Shoreline Length: 6.3 miles

Maximum Depth: 32 feet

Average Depth: 10.9 feet

Lake Volume: 3,323.6 acre-feet

Watershed: Fox River

Sub-Watershed: Slocum Lake Drain

Receiving Waterbody: Slocum Lake

In 2005, Bangs Lake was one of the seven sentinel lakes in the county that the Lakes Management Unit selected to monitor annually for five years. Each year, the lake was monitored for water quality and plant diversity/distribution. The conditions of the shoreline and fish/wildlife populations were also noted, although these were not the primary focus of the study. A report on the condition of the lake was prepared each year. The final year of the sentinel lake monitoring was 2009. A comprehensive five-year report is expected in 2010. Reports are available at http://www.lakecountyil.gov/Health/want/LakeReports.htm.

Bangs Lake Advisory Committee

The Bangs Lake Advisory Committee is an ad-hoc committee that was established by the Mayor in the 1990’s. The committee consists of area volunteer residents and a chairperson (or co-chairs) annually appointed by the Mayor. The committee meets to discuss issues affecting the lake and also sponsors several community lake events such as the Kids Fishing Derby. Please click here for more information the Bangs Lake Advisory Committee and other local partners.

Plant Harvest Management A weed harvester is used to cut and harvest aquatic plants and control invasive species on Bangs Lake. The dominant invasive plant species on Bangs Lake are Eurasian Water Milfoil and Curly-leaf Pondweed. The invasive species are a problem because they grow quickly and prevent the native plants that are an essential part of the lake ecosystem from growing. The Village of Wauconda Environmental Quality Department, in cooperation with the Lake County Health Department Lakes Management Unit and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, has developed a plan to manage the aquatic plants on Bangs Lake. The goals of the harvesting program are listed below:

Plant Harvester Goals:

• Improve navigation
• Improve recreational attributes of the lake
• Remove or limit exotic plants
• Manage without the use of chemicals
• Reduce nutrient load to lake
• Return native plants to lake
• Restore fish and wildlife habitat
• Improve quality of water resource for all to enjoy
• Implement plan with Lake County to leave sensitive areas undisturbed.

The Environmental Quality Department has received a bathymetric map from Lake County delineating sensitive areas of native plant species and locations of the invasive species. It also indicates the density of the invasive plants. It is essential that we do not over harvest native plants because the water quality of the lake is dependent on the native aquatic plants. Lanes for navigation will be harvested in sensitive areas to allow for boat traffic. In some sensitive areas the harvester blade will be lifted to allow for mowing rather than complete removal of aquatic plants. The harvester will also avoid fish spawning areas during May and June to allow the fish to reproduce. As you can see, the harvest program will be challenging, but our goal is to strike a balance between our recreational activities and the water quality of the lake.

Phosphorus

Many fertilizers contain phosphorus as one of their components. In fact, the three numbers listed on the fertilizer container represent the percentage, by weight of the contents, of the three major nutrients required for healthy plant growth: nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium. It is commonly believed that fertilizing with phosphorus will help to “green up” lawns. However, it is the nitrogen that is responsible for making grass greener. Furthermore, most soils in the Midwest already have adequate amounts of phosphorus to grow healthy lawns.

It is estimated that 90% of properly applied fertilizers will be absorbed into the ground and 10% will leave the site of application through stormwater runoff. This stormwater runoff finds its way to lakes, streams, wetlands, ponds, retention areas, and detention/retention areas. It is in these areas that the excess phosphorus may have detrimental effects. Approximately 1/3 of the land area in the Village drains directly to Bangs Lake, either through direct piping or surface runoff. The remaining 2/3 drain to other areas, including the 40 or so detention basins/ponds located within the Village. On a larger scale, the Village of Wauconda lies in the Fox River Watershed. Much of the stormwater runoff in the Village eventually makes its way to the Fox River, unless it is absorbed into the ground, evaporates, or is otherwise contained in a basin or pond.

The Lake County Health Department Lakes Management Unit collects regular water samples from Bangs Lake and tests the levels of many water quality parameters. One of these parameters is phosphorus. In 2008, the level of phosphorus was 0.020 mg/L which was about a third of the county median (0.065 mg/L). Looking at data from 2000-2008, BangsLake has the 8th lowest phosphorus level among the 163 lakes in Lake County. Detrimental effects are likely to be seen at a phosphorus concentration of 0.030 mg/L. Even though the level of phosphorus in Bangs Lake is low, Lake County recommends that all municipalities adopt an ordinance banning the use of fertilizers that contain phosphorus.

The Village has decided to hold off on an ordinance and instead, continue to educate residents about phosphorus. The Village encourages all residents to look at the label and consider using fertilizers that do not contain any phosphorus. Although Bangs Lake has low levels of phosphorus, it is wise to keep as much phosphorus out of the area streams, wetlands, and stormwater detention/retention areas as possible. For a list of retailers that sell phosphorus-free fertilizers, please click here.

The Environmental Quality Department is always looking for ways in which the Village can become more green. The Village participates in the Clean Air Counts program, endorses the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Greenest Region Compact, supports the adoption of environmental programs that address environmental issues of global importance at the local level, and promote the annual World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour event.

SWALCO’s Reuse-a-Shoe program is one of the most popular, community-wide initiatives designed to raise awareness on the concept of sustainability. Through this program, athletic programs are used to create playground material.

The proper disposal of unwanted items is a goal that will benefit our community and region in many years to come. Wauconda continues to identify and support programs that address both the safety of our residents and the sustainability of our resources. The following information can assist in those efforts:

Personal Items

• Unwanted Medications and Personal Care Products
• SWALCO Guide to Proper Disposal of Household Waste

Electronics Recycling

The Village of Wauconda collects electronics for recycling! Items can be dropped off at the Public Works facility, 302 Slocum Lake Road, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. If weekday hours are inconvenient, Wauconda Township offers monthly collection of electronics at the Wauconda Township Highway Department, 505 West Bonner Road on the first Saturday of each month between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Illinois legislation banned the disposal of certain electronics in Illinois landfills takes effect on January 1, 2012. Many electronic products contain heavy metals and other materials that pose environmental and health risks that must be managed. Banned items include, but are not limited to televisions, monitors, printers, computers (including tablet computers), electronic keyboards, facsimile machines, videocassette recorders, portable digital music players, digital video disc players, video game consoles, small scale servers, scanners, electronic mice, digital converter boxes, cable receivers, satellite receivers, and digital video disc recorders. Because of this ban, if you put these items at the curb or in your waste can on or after January 1, 2012, your local waste hauler will not collect them. Click here for more about our program.

Re-use A Shoe Program: Recycle Your Old Athletic Shoes

The Village of Wauconda is proud to continue their partnership with the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) in the athletic shoe recycling and reuse program. The program has been going strong for eight years. Athletic shoes are among the most popular types of shoes purchased today and millions of them, in addition to other types of shoes, end up in our landfills each year. Last year, SWALCO collected and transported more than 30,000 athletic shoes for recycling. Additionally, thousands of gently worn shoes of all types were donated to local charities, including Illinois’ own Share Your Soles Foundation. Old athletic shoes of any brand, are collected, and either donated to charity or processed and recycled into a material called “Nike Grind.” Once SWALCO collects the athletic shoes (sometime after Earth Day each year) from their school, community and business partners, they transport them to Nike’s facility to become “grind.” This material is then be used to create sports surfaces like basketball courts, tennis courts, athletic fields, running tracks and playgrounds that will be enjoyed by children of all ages, for many years to come.

Individuals or families with just a few athletic shoes they’d like to recycle from their home can stop by one of the year-round drop-off locations listed below:

• Wauconda Village Hall, 101 N. Main St., Wauconda, IL (847) 526-9600
• Wauconda Public Library, 801 N Main St., Wauconda, IL (847) 526-6225
• Wauconda Public Works, 302 Slocum Lake Rd., Wauconda, IL (847) 526-9610
• Wauconda District #118 Schools
• Wauconda Federated Church, 200 Barrington Rd., Wauconda, IL (847) 526-8471
• Wauconda Park District, 600 N. Main Street, Wauconda, IL (847) 526-3610

Groups who have a larger number of shoes or would like to collect should not drop off at these sites but should contact SWALCO directly at 847-336-9340 ext 4. Groups can register to collect any number of athletic shoes, as well as gently worn shoes of all types for donation.

Plastic Bag Recycling

Many retailers throughout Lake County have collected and recycled plastic bags and film for years in an effort to decrease waste streams and be more eco-friendly. With the enactment of the Plastic Bag Recycling Act (Public Act 095-0268), the Lake County Plastic Bag Recycling Task Force was formed by the Illinois General Assembly. Its mission was to develop a plastic bag recycling program. Earlier this month, the Task Force announced the beginning of a six-month pilot program that will enable Lake County residents to recycle plastic bags and film packaging at local stores. The Jewel-Osco in Wauconda is a participating retailer. The Task Force brought together retailers, legislators, industry, recyclers, and environmental groups to develop this program. This program is unique because film packaging is also accepted. Examples of film packaging include furniture wrap, electronics wrap, bread bags, produce bags, and Zip-Lock bags. Click here for a complete list of accepted items. Plastic bags and film packaging can be made into dozens of useful new products, such as building and construction products, low-maintenance fencing and decking, and of course, new bags. Click here for the American Chemical Council’s Plastic Bag Info Sheet.

For more information, please visit SWALCO’s website at http://www.swalco.org/Recycling/PlasticBagRecycling.

Curbside Recycling 

SWALCO has developed a common list of recyclable materials and guidelines for recycling in Lake County. This document was designed to be a simple one page, go-to recycling guide for the Lake County resident that will:

• Provide a list of acceptable/recyclable items commonly found in the home or workplace with special notations and guidelines that address related issues and questions,
• Address some of the more common and frequent questions related to recycling,
• Provide a list of some of the more common items that are not acceptable/recyclable.

These guidelines should serve as a definitive source of information for Lake County residents to assist in clarifying some of the misleading and/or outdated information and to try and address some of the more frequent questions and concerns that residents have with regards to curbside recycling. Please click here to view the guidelines.

The ongoing efforts of the Environmental Quality Department partners with the following agencies to protect our community’s natural resources:

• Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO)
• Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC)
• Lake County Lakes Management Unit (LMU)
• University of Illinois Lake County Extension Program
• United Partnership for a Better Community

Please visit the following websites for additional information:

• Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
• Illinois Department of Natural Resources
• The Nature Conservancy
• Midwest Invasive Plant Network (MIPN)
• Chicago Wilderness