Wauconda, IL

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.

ResponsibilitiesThe Village monitors the water level in the lake and oversees the weed control efforts, including weed harvesting. 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 through September. 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 Patrol Unit page.

For beach closures, please visit the Lake County Health Department Beach Advisory page. 

• 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 1 of the 7 sentinel lakes in the county that the Lakes Management Unit selected to monitor annually for 5 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 5-year report is expected in 2010. Reports are available on the Lake County Health Department Lake Reports page.

Bangs Lake Alliance, NFPGo to the Bangs Lake Advisory Committee page to see meeting information, agendas and minutes, and about the committee.