The Changing Environment
A variety of factors influenced the fate of the Skokie Lagoons after the Civilian Conservation Corps departed. The growth of the suburbs after World War II had a significant impact on the lagoons' environment. The success of the Skokie Lagoons’ flood control capabilities allowed for more development on the west sides of Winnetka and Glencoe. As the North Shore suburbs expanded, more pollution found its way into the Skokie River watershed. The influx of pollution and sediment caused algae blooms, lowered the water level, and slowed the flow of the stream. This change in the ecology of the lagoons threatened the local fish and wildlife populations.
Just as turn-of-the-century conservationists advocated for the preservation of the Skokie Marsh, modern environmentalists called for the clean up of the Skokie Lagoons at the end of the 20th century. The federal government again provided funding for several projects to restore the Skokie Lagoons to their CCC-era functionality. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, workers dredged one million cubic yards of sediment from the bottom of the lagoons. Biologists improved the fisheries by killing off exotic species, such as carp, and restocking the lagoons with native fish, including bass and walleye. They also worked to restore the shoreline and eliminate invasive species of plants. More recently, in 2007, engineers reconfigured the main dam at Willow Road. The three culverts that had allowed water to pass through the dam frequently became clogged with logs and other debris, preventing floodwaters from flowing downstream. Crews altered the mechanics of the dam by blocking the culverts and cutting a spillway into the dam to permit a constant flow of water and a greater capacity during floods.
The improvements made over the last 30 years reveal the ways that the Skokie Lagoons are continuously changing due to both human involvement and natural processes. Despite these changes, the lagoons still provide flood control and recreational opportunities. Visitors today can hike the same trails and fish in the lagoons as visitors did when the park opened in 1939.
