August 17, 2026 by Becky Sawle

Lake County, Illinois earned its name by having more lakes than any other county in the state. Yet beneath that natural abundance lies a troubling reality: more than 70% of Lake County’s 173 lakes are impaired by nutrient pollution, far above the national average of 50%. Lakes often feel like “orphans”—beautiful, longstanding features of the landscape that seem self‑sustaining. But the data tells a different story. Excess phosphorus and nitrogen fuel algae blooms, degrade ecosystems, and threaten recreation, wildlife, and public health. And unlike roads or bridges, lake restoration rarely receives dedicated funding. No “magic lake fairy” is coming to fix them. They need us.

World Lake Day is an international observance established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 12, 2024, and first celebrated on August 27, 2025. It is held annually on August 27 to highlight the ecological, social, and economic value of lakes, promote sustainable management, and encourage global action to protect freshwater ecosystems‍. ‍

Global Context

There are over 117 million lakes on Earth, covering nearly 4% of the planet’s land surface. Lakes provide 90% of the world’s freshwater, supporting drinking water, agriculture, industry and recreation. Notable lakes include:

• the Caspian Sea, Europe and Asia (largest by surface area)

• Lake Superior, North America (largest freshwater lake by surface area)

• Lake Baikal, Russia (deepest and largest by volume of freshwater, also the oldest lake

From United Nations site:

Lakes: the lifeblood of our planet

Lakes are one of the most vital natural resources on our planet. They serve as a crucial source of fresh water, supporting drinking water supplies, agriculture, and industry.

Lakes also play a key role in maintaining biodiversity, offering a habitat for countless species of fish, plants, and wildlife.

Beyond their ecological significance, lakes contribute to climate regulation by keeping the planet cool, absorbing the floodwater and storing carbon.

Additionally, they provide recreational and economic opportunities, attracting tourism, fishing, and other activities that support local communities.

But lakes are affected by a combination of overuse, pollution and climate change. Lake pollution is frequently caused by inflows from fertilizers, contaminants and solid waste being dumped directly, or flushed into lakes via rivers, and this is worsened by global warming – leading, for instance, to more frequent and intense floods.

The water levels of lakes are also changing dramatically. Rising temperatures and changes to cloud cover, which are leading to decreasing ice cover, are increasing the rate of water evaporation.

We need to act now.

This 2nd World Lake Day, let's be aware of the problem lakes are facing.

Let's protect them today for a sustaining life tomorrow.

Harvard-bound Libertyville High School graduate partners with Lake County Lake Lovers to build first-of-its-kind internal phosphorus calculator

Serendipity has a way of showing up at just the right moment. For Shubh Varshney, a 2026 Libertyville High School graduate preparing to enter Harvard College this fall, a chance meeting with leaders from Lake County Lake Lovers sparked a summer project that will benefit lake communities across Lake County for years to come.

Hach, a global water company, offered Lake County Lake Lovers a deeply discounted opportunity to purchase a Photometer and Thermoreactor to conduct Total Phosphorus tests, achieving a long-awaited goal for our Water Quality Monitoring Program!

ILMA Point of Discussions (PODs) are informal get togethers, usually in the evenings to discuss specific topics in lake management. This POD will focus on lake aeration and showcase a shoreline restoration project.

The POD will be on Tuesday, July 14th from 6:00 pm to 8:00pm at Pebble Beach Park in Wildwood on Gages Lake.

Questions? Contact ILMA at ilma@ilma-lakes.org

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Volunteer-driven lake stewardship org achieves remarkable growth

What began as a conversation among neighbors seeking solutions to harmful algae blooms has grown into one of Lake County's most active volunteer lake stewardship organizations.

On 30 June 2026, Global Water Works announced the successful evolution of Lake County Lake Lovers into an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, allowing both organizations to focus more effectively on their distinct missions while continuing to collaborate in advancing water stewardship and education.