Lake Decatur
Encyclopedia
Lake Decatur is a 2800 acre (11 km²) reservoir
located in the city of Decatur, Illinois
, east of downtown. The city and lake both share the name of U.S. Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur
. The lake is 613 feet (187 m) above sea level. Lake Decatur has a watershed
of 925 square miles (2,396 km² or 592,000 acres) spanning 7 counties. The largest lake on the Sangamon River
, it was created in 1920-1922.
and high-fructose corn syrup, which Staley's successor firm Tate & Lyle
, and its local competitor Archer Daniels Midland
, carry on to this day, is a water-intensive industrial process. Lake Decatur water is also used in the process of refining corn into ethanol
. As of 2007, about 76 percent of Lake Decatur's water was used for commercial and industrial purposes.
As the largest artificial lake in Illinois at the time of construction, with a 30 miles (48 km) shoreline, Lake Decatur quickly became a focus of local recreation. The invention of the gasoline-powered speedboat had made sheltered reservoir waters attractive to many inland Americans.
problems. It was designed to sit atop relatively flat prairie
land, and is vulnerable to deposits of silt eroded from farm fields in the 925 square miles (2,396 km²) upper Sangamon River drainage area. From 1923 through 1983, Lake Decatur lost an estimated 35% of its designed storage volume. Although this trend has since been slowed by ongoing dredging, as of 2004 Lake Decatur was described as having an average depth of only 8 feet (2.4 m).
2008 rainfall replenished lake levels although the dredging operations have failed to stem the loss of reservoir storage capacity; city officials considered, but ultimately decided against, constructing a second reservoir for water storage purposes.
Lake Decatur borders two of Decatur's largest parks, Faries Park and Nelson Park, as well as Scovill Zoo. The Decatur Park District was founded in 1924 to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the creation of the lake.
Lake Decatur can be seen from U.S. Highway 36, which crosses the lake on a causeway bridge located on Decatur's southeast side. U.S. Route 51
also crosses the lake on the south side of the city.
City registration is required to boat on the lake: as of April 2010, day passes can be purchased in the Lake Patrol office in Nelson Park. Lake Patrol can also provide maps to the lake, along with rules information and fishing regulations. The Lake Patrol office is only open during regular business hours Monday through Friday in off-peak months but is staffed 24/7 during peak summer months. Many people fish
on the lake, catching bass, crappie
, and walleye
. There are 5 public boat ramps located in Nelson Park, Faries Park, at the Sportsman's Club, on Lost Bridge and Country Club Roads.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
located in the city of Decatur, Illinois
Decatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
, east of downtown. The city and lake both share the name of U.S. Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur
Stephen Decatur
Stephen Decatur, Jr. , was an American naval officer notable for his many naval victories in the early 19th century. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, Worcester county, the son of a U.S. Naval Officer who served during the American Revolution. Shortly after attending college Decatur...
. The lake is 613 feet (187 m) above sea level. Lake Decatur has a watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of 925 square miles (2,396 km² or 592,000 acres) spanning 7 counties. The largest lake on the Sangamon River
Sangamon River
The Sangamon River is a principal tributary of the Illinois River, approximately long, in central Illinois in the United States. It drains a mostly rural agricultural area between Peoria and Springfield...
, it was created in 1920-1922.
History
The lake was constructed as a source of water for Decatur, especially the local corn refining industry. Corn refiner A.E. Staley led the campaign to persuade Decatur to borrow the $2.0 million necessary for the project. Staley was not being altruistic; the manufacture of corn syrupCorn syrup
Corn syrup is a food syrup, which is made from the starch of maize and contains varying amounts of maltose and higher oligosaccharides, depending on the grade. Corn syrup is used in foods to soften texture, add volume, prevent crystallization of sugar, and enhance flavor...
and high-fructose corn syrup, which Staley's successor firm Tate & Lyle
Tate & Lyle
Tate & Lyle plc is a British-based multinational agribusiness. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index as of 20 June 2011...
, and its local competitor Archer Daniels Midland
Archer Daniels Midland
The Archer Daniels Midland Company is a conglomerate headquartered in Decatur, Illinois. ADM operates more than 270 plants worldwide, where cereal grains and oilseeds are processed into products used in food, beverage, nutraceutical, industrial and animal feed markets worldwide.ADM was named the...
, carry on to this day, is a water-intensive industrial process. Lake Decatur water is also used in the process of refining corn into ethanol
Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
. As of 2007, about 76 percent of Lake Decatur's water was used for commercial and industrial purposes.
As the largest artificial lake in Illinois at the time of construction, with a 30 miles (48 km) shoreline, Lake Decatur quickly became a focus of local recreation. The invention of the gasoline-powered speedboat had made sheltered reservoir waters attractive to many inland Americans.
Today
In the years since its completion in 1922, the aging Lake Decatur has suffered from extensive siltationSiltation
Siltation is the pollution of water by fine particulate terrestrial clastic material, with a particle size dominated by silt or clay. It refers both to the increased concentration of suspended sediments, and to the increased accumulation of fine sediments on bottoms where they are undesirable...
problems. It was designed to sit atop relatively flat prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
land, and is vulnerable to deposits of silt eroded from farm fields in the 925 square miles (2,396 km²) upper Sangamon River drainage area. From 1923 through 1983, Lake Decatur lost an estimated 35% of its designed storage volume. Although this trend has since been slowed by ongoing dredging, as of 2004 Lake Decatur was described as having an average depth of only 8 feet (2.4 m).
2008 rainfall replenished lake levels although the dredging operations have failed to stem the loss of reservoir storage capacity; city officials considered, but ultimately decided against, constructing a second reservoir for water storage purposes.
Lake Decatur borders two of Decatur's largest parks, Faries Park and Nelson Park, as well as Scovill Zoo. The Decatur Park District was founded in 1924 to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the creation of the lake.
Lake Decatur can be seen from U.S. Highway 36, which crosses the lake on a causeway bridge located on Decatur's southeast side. U.S. Route 51
U.S. Route 51
U.S. Route 51 is a north–south United States highway that runs for 1,286 miles from the western suburbs of New Orleans, Louisiana to within of the Wisconsin-Michigan border. Much of the highway in Illinois and southern Wisconsin runs parallel to or overlaps Interstate 39...
also crosses the lake on the south side of the city.
City registration is required to boat on the lake: as of April 2010, day passes can be purchased in the Lake Patrol office in Nelson Park. Lake Patrol can also provide maps to the lake, along with rules information and fishing regulations. The Lake Patrol office is only open during regular business hours Monday through Friday in off-peak months but is staffed 24/7 during peak summer months. Many people fish
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
on the lake, catching bass, crappie
Crappie
Crappie is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. The type species is P. annularis, the white crappie...
, and walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
. There are 5 public boat ramps located in Nelson Park, Faries Park, at the Sportsman's Club, on Lost Bridge and Country Club Roads.