Welcome...
LAKE STATUS : LAKE IS "OPEN" USE CAUTION
Please use caution on the water and watch for debris. Lake users should be aware of erosion control barriers and avoid them.
When is Lake Ice Safe? Review Satey Tips: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/index.html
MASTER PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, (M.P.O.A.)
WELCOME to the Master Property Owners Association (MPOA) in Wonder Lake, Illinois 60097. The MPOA owns and manages Wonder Lake, a private 830 acre recreational lake located northwest of Chicago. The MPOA office is located at 7602 Hancock Drive, at the northwest corner of Hancock Drive and E. Wonder Lake Road, roughly two miles north of IL Route 120. Do you have a question about the Lake, or need information about the Wonder Lake area? E-mail: office@wlmpoa.org, Phone: (815) 653-1000
LAKE ACTIVITY DURING LAKE CLOSURES
The two primary reasons watercraft are prohibited from using the lake during lake closure is to protect the shoreline from wakes and protect the people and watercraft from floating debris. The Lake Use Commission reviewed this procedure and concluded that non-motorized vehicles, canoes, kayaks, etc. do not make a wake and travel slow enough that they should be able to see and avoid floating debris. It is therefore the recommendation of the Lake Use Commission that future Lake Closure notices will prohibit the use of motorized vehicles.
GOOSE HUNTING SEASON
October 23 2022 through January 20 2023
BOAT SAFETY CLASS
You can take boat safety classes online, at anytime: Boater Exam.com, and Boat-Ed.com are fast and easy and certification cost is $29.95. Persons at least 12 years of age and less than 18 years, without an Adult are required to have a certificate. As lake use on Wonder Lake is largely governed by Illinois Department of Natural Resources regulations, it may be useful to periodically review information related to those regulations. Information can be downloaded at: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/boating/Documents/BoatDigest.pdf
LAKE RESTORATION
Fun fact: 516,265 cubic yards of sediment were removed from shallow areas of the lake. This is the equivalent of about 29,000 dump truck loads!
• NEW LATEST UPDATE → Lake Managers Report
• Read about the History of Wonder Lake's Restoration
• EROSION CONTROL BARRIERS: Read 2012 Notice to Lake Users
• THE FIGHT AGAINST INVASIVE SPECIES: Learn More
MPOA WATERCRAFT DECAL REMINDER
Lake users are reminded that MPOA Lake Use Decals MUST be permanently affixed to the watercraft / snowmobile / ATV to which they are registered, and that they are NOT transferable. The Wonder Lake Police Department Marine Patrol is provided with a list of all MPOA Decal registrants, and the specific type and description of the unit each decal number was issued to. Failure to have your MPOA decal permanently affixed is a ticketable offense. 2023 Decal application will be mailed in March.
ALL NON-MOTORIZED WATERCRAFT $13-
ALL WATERCRAFT 1- 39 HP $30-
ALL WATERCRAFT 40 -99 HP $50-
ALL WATERCRAFT 100 -249 HP $70-
ALL WATERCRAFT 250 HP -AND OVER $100-
ALL PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (JET SKI'S) $50-
WINTER DECALS (SNOWMOBILES, ATV's, etc) $5-
GUEST PASS $50-
Engine Cut-Off Switch (ECOS) FEDERAL LAW - EFFECTIVE APRIL 1st 2021
On April 1, 2021 a new federal law went into effect that requires the operator of a boat with an installed Engine Cut-Off Switch (ECOS) to use the ECOS link. The link is usually a coiled bungee cord lanyard clipped onto the operator's person, Personal Floatation Device (PFD) or clothing and the other end attached to the cut-off switch, but there are plenty of variations on the market, including electronic wireless devices. The law applies on all "Navigable Waters of the US". When an operator is wearing a link while underway, the engine will cut-off if the operator is separated from the operating area, an occurrence that can happen if the operator is ejected from the vessel or falls within the vessel. The shutdown of the engine is essential for safety reasons. If the operator is ejected from the vessel, the shutdown may prevent the operator from impacting the vessel's spinning propeller, and may aid the operator in safely returning to the drifting vessel. The law applies to "Covered Recreational vessels" which means any motorized boat with 3 or more horsepower that is less than 26 feet in length. LEARN MORE
BOATING REGULATIONS - EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1st 2015
• Senate Bill 3434 allows for the seizure of a watercraft used in the commission of certain offenses related to operating under the influence. The new rules bring penalties for boating under the influence more in line with those for operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs or alcohol.
• Senate Bill 3433 requires all persons born after Jan. 1, 1998 to take and pass a boating safety course validated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and hold a valid boating safety certificate before they can operate a motorboat with an engine over 10 horsepower.
• Senate Bill 2731, mandates that the operator of any watercraft that is towing a person, such as a water skier or tuber, must display a bright orange flag measuring not less than 12 inches per side. The flag must be displayed from the time the person to be towed leaves the boat until that person returns to the boat at the conclusion of the activity. Under the law, flying the flag for purposes other than towing is prohibited, so be sure to only display the flag when towing.
MPOA OFFICE HOURS:
SEPTEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY:
TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 10AM TO 2PM
The MPOA Office will allow in-person processing of MPOA watercraft decal sales.
Please note that anyone who had acquired MPOA watercraft decal(s) in 2022 will have their 2023 Decal application mailed to them in March, 2023. Bringing that paperwork in will greatly expedite your decal purchase. If not available, and if requested by sending an email to office@wlmpoa.org a duplicate application will be USPS mailed, To avoid crowds / delays, it is still strongly recommended to apply for your decal(s) by US mail.
DIRECTORS MEETING
The MPOA Board of Directors meets at 7:00 p.m., the second Wednesday of each month. Meetings are held at 7602 Hancock Drive in Wonder Lake.
SUBDIVISION DUES INFORMATION
With the exception of properties located in the Oakwood Shores subdivision,the MPOA does not collect annual dues from the individual owners of properties with deeded access to Wonder Lake. READ MORE >