A note from our Lake Manager Randy Stowe — The moderate drought across northern Illinois continues with less than two inches of rain recorded locally in the last month at the USGS stream gage on Nippersink Creek at Thompson Road up to yesterday. The volume of Nippersink stream flow coming into Wonder Lake currently is at only 12.4 cubic feet per second (cfs), while the long-term average for this time of year is 42 cfs; roughly a 70% decrease. USGS stream gage information for precipitation, discharge and stage is available below. 

The lack of rainfall has now caused the lake to no longer discharge flow over the dam spillway. With the hot summer we are experiencing, until we get consistent rainfall and flow resumes over the spillway, expect to see elevated levels of suspended algae and perhaps more frequent beach closings.