MPOA Fishing Regulations

Wonder Lake, and the Nippersink Creek stream channel downstream (east) of the Thompson Road Bridge, are owned by the Wonder Lake Master Property Owners Association (MPOA). Fishing is only allowed in these areas for those landowners holding deeded lake rights to Wonder Lake, or their guests, who must be accompanied by someone holding deeded lake rights. Fishing in these areas is governed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), as summarized below, with IDNR fishing licenses required for anyone 16 years of age or older.

About the MPOA

Lake Levels

Wonder Lake was designed with a “run-of-the river” dam spillway, where all flow leaving the lake cascades over a concrete spillway with a fixed (non-adjustable) weir. This weir elevation is fixed at 803.0 feet above sea-level.
Lake Status

The Fight Against Invasive Species

The Wonder Lake Master Property Owners Association is reminding boaters, anglers, and water skiers to remove, drain, and dry after a day on the water to prevent the spread of invasive species. These Be a Hero—Transport Zero™ steps can now be found at 14 boat ramps around the Illinois private lake.
Lake Status

Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge

The Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge is a newly established United States national wildlife refuge that will include noncontiguous properties, especially tallgrass prairie patches, wetland properties, and oak savanna parcels, located in the northwestern region of the Chicago metropolitan area and the southern part of the Milwaukee area.
Lake Status

Managing Dead Carp

Subdivision and lakefront properties can experience a significant die-off of carp in the spring or early summer, which can occur on other area lakes as well.

Lake Status

Newsletters

About the MPOA

Monthly newsletters will keep you up to date on the activities on and around Wonder Lake.

July 2025 newsletter

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.

Read more

Newsletter Sign up

* indicates required

 

turn off tracking protection *Firefox browser users may have to disable tracking protection to subscribe

M.P.O.A. Bylaws

ARTICLE I  
Section 1. The name of this corporation shall be MASTER PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC. FOR THE WONDER LAKE, ILLINOIS AREA. (Revised 9/13/2023) Section 2. This Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the M.P.O.A.) is an Illinois not for profit corporation, chartered by the Secretary of State on September 18, 1965, as provided by the General Not For Profit Act of Illinois, approved July 17, 1943, in force January 1, 1944.

About the MPOA
Subscribe to