Dredging to begin in channel leading to Wauconda's Bangs Lake
Public and private groups are teaming to dredge one of the channels that feeds into Wauconda's Bangs Lake, a move proponents say could improve access for boaters and boost water quality.
The mouth of the privately owned Circle Channel is "ridiculously" shallow, village Trustee Chuck Black said.
Once deep enough to allow two boats to pass by easily, it's dropped to less than 1 foot in spots.
Additionally, an odor caused by decay and muck in the channel has worsened as more of that material has become exposed since a drought two years ago, nearby residents have said.
A volunteer group called the Bangs Lake Alliance formed last year to tackle the problem. After spending more than a month studying the issue and getting grants and other funding, the group is ready to begin work Nov. 17.
The mouth of the channel will be deepened, to as much as 5 feet, according to plans.
Boulders will be added to the sides of the channel to prevent erosion, and vegetation with deep root systems will be planted nearby to further strengthen the land alongside the waterway.
"So this doesn't fill in through Mother Nature - rain or whatever," said Black, who leads the village board's environmental committee.
Bangs Lake is a major attraction for the town. Most of the shoreline around the 306-acre lake is privately owned, but the Wauconda Park District maintains a public beach and facilities.
The three channels that feed into the lake - Circle, Washington and Kimball - are on its north side. All are privately owned.
The cost of the restoration project was estimated at $32,010 earlier this year.
Funding or equipment are coming from the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission, Wauconda Township, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the village, individuals and private groups, including the Lakeview Villa homeowners association, village documents indicate.
"We're very fortunate to be able to build this alliance," said Ken Siwieck, a member of the Bangs Lake Alliance. "The stars just lined up for us."
The village is donating equipment and the cost of permits and helping with promotion, documents indicate.
Even though the channel isn't owned or maintained by the village, Black thinks it is important for town leaders to chip in.
"No one entity can afford to have this done," he said. "This is the partnership of the future."
The dredging should take about one week, Siwieck said, and the planting will be done in spring 2015.
If the project is a success and more funding becomes available, future lake improvements could include floodplain improvements in nearby wetlands and the addition of rain gardens and water retention areas, documents indicate.