| Wilcox Lake | |
|---|---|
| Wilcox Lake from Sunset Beach Park | |
| Location | Richmond Hill, Ontario |
| Lake type | Kettle lake |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 137 acres (55 ha) |
| Max. depth | 57 ft. (17.4 m) |
Wilcox Lake (or Lake Wilcox) is both a kettle lake and a community within Oak Ridges, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. The lake measures 1.5 kilometers across and covers 55.6 hectares, making it the largest kettle lake on the Oak Ridges Moraine.[1] Lake Wilcox, Lake St. George and their associated wetlands form a "provincially significant wetland".[2]
The lake is named after W. Wilcox Baldwin, a settler of the area who owned an estate situated on Yonge Street.[3] A community of the same name is established around the lake.
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Wilcox Lake is a local community located within Oak Ridges. The local community has an elementary school; Lake Wilcox elementary school, the Lake Wilcox Community Centre, as well as a number of local parks; Sunset Beach Park and Brickworks Parks being most popular. The local community has come together through a number of tragedies, including the death of a local mother, Terri Callaway on North Lake Road,[4] and two local teens who accidentally drowned in the lake in 2008.[5]
Housing developments began to boom around Wilcox Lake in the 1950s. Lake Wilcox, as a part of the annexation of Oak Ridges, became a part of Richmond Hill in 1971. The suburban housing developments did not continue until the mid to late 1980s. The developments affected the forests of the Oak Ridges Moraine which supplies water to the GTA. Which would cause environmental damage to Toronto. It continued for about two years. There were protests against the clear-cutting of forests of the Oak Ridges Moraine. In about 2001, Bayview began to expand to connect with the rest of Bayview. In 2002, the housing developments stopped.
Wilcox Lake is part of the Humber River drainage system, draining into the East Humber River. The drainage basin of the lake covers 260 hectares. The maximum depth of the lake is 17.4 meters.[1]
Wilcox Lake, Lake St. George, Swan Lake and Haynes Lake and their associated marshes, swamps and forests form a large wetland designated as a Provincially Significant Wetland.[6] The total complex has some ninety individually identified wetlands, covering 102 hectares. 57% of the complex is classified as swamp, 39% as marsh and 4% as bog.
Beginning in 1997, the town of Richmond Hill undertook a project to restore the lake's condition, which had degraded due to pollution and development. Septic systems which had previous drained into the lake were connected to sewers and lake lungs have been installed to increase oxygenation of the water. High phosphorus levels in the lake remain problematic.[7]
The native coniferous trees in Wilcox Lake's watershed include White Spruce, Eastern Hemlock, White Pine, Red Pine, Eastern White Cedar and Tamarack.[8] The native deciduous trees include Red Maple, Silver Maple, Sugar Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, Burr Oak, Balsam Poplar, Trembling Aspen, Large-Tooth Aspen, White Ash, Black Ash, Blue Ash, Green Ash, Basswood, Paper Birch, Pin Cherry and Black Cherry. The native wildflowers include Purple Coneflower, Yellow Coneflower, Flat-topped Aster, Heath Aster, Smooth Aster, Silky Aster, Ox-eyed Susan, Black-eyed Susan, Bluebeard Lily, Wood Lily, Trout Lily, Common Strawberry, Common Milkweed, Blazing Star, Fireweed, Star Flower, Wild Columbine and Wild Bergamot. Aquatic vegetation that is native to the lake itself include Bulrushes, cattails, Water Arums, Water Plantains, Water Lilies, Arrowheads, Blue Flag Irises, Smartweeds and Pickeral Weeds. Native shrubs found around the lake include Speckled Alder, Smooth Serviceberry, Allegheny Serviceberry, Nannyberry, Red Osier, Gray Dogwood, Silky Dogwood, Broad-leaved Meadowsweet, Swamp Rose, Spicebush, Buttonbush, Shining Willow, Slender Willow, Black Willow and Pussywillow.
Indigenous animal life includes Muskrats, Great Horned Owls and Painted Turtles.[7] Some fish and bird species also thrive in the lake, including largemouth bass, various sunfishes, yellow perch, crappie, perch, and northern pike.
The town of Richmond Hill maintains three recreational parks along the shores of Wilcox Lake. Jesse Venek Park, Sunset Beach Park and North Shore Parkette are small municipal parks with picnicing areas. The Fish & Wildlife Sanctuary/Pike Hatchery is left in a natural state. The lake itself is used for fishing, windsurfing, Kayaking, and boating. The lake also has float planes land there regularly.