Governor Bond Lake TMDL
Final Report 9 September 2002
2.3 POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS, WILDLIFE RESOURCES, AND OTHER
RELEVANT INFORMATION
2.3.1 Population Characteristics
Current population of the city of Greenville and Bond County are 6,955 and 17,633, respectively (U.S.
Census Bureau, 2001). There are 175 farms in the Governor Bond Lake watershed and farm sizes
average 285 acres per farm. Although most of the area is in rural agriculture, 118 houses comprise
lakeshore developments.
According to the Governor Bond Lake Resource Plan (GBL Committee, 1998), there are no documented
sites of cultural significance in the Governor Bond Lake watershed. However, the Bond County area does
have some recorded pre-historic and historically significant sites. Consequently, a potential remains for
the existence of such sites in this watershed, especially since many historical sites are located close to
watercourses.
2.3.2 Biotic Resources
2.3.2.1 Aquatic Vegetation
The Governor Bond Lake Resource Plan (GBL Committee, 1998) notes that Illinois Department of
Natural Resources (IDNR) Fisheries Biologists report little aquatic vegetation in the northern end of the
lake. Some cattails are found at the tributary inlets/backwater areas and some water willow grows very
close to the edges (ZEIS, 2001). Because Governor Bond Lake is a reservoir, its steep sides inhibit
aquatic macrophyte (rooted aquatic plants) growth, and consequently, results in reduced cover for young
fish. The upper basin is shallower and has aquatic macrophytes growing within the tributary inlets that
may somewhat compensate for the other negative fish habitat characteristics of the upper basin.
2.3.2.2. Fisheries
According to the IDNR, Governor Bond Lake historically has been an excellent channel catfish fishery
that has been annually stocked by the state hatchery. A survey conducted in 1994 through 1995 noted
that the population declined, resulting in fishing limits placed on harvesting of young and reproducing
catfish. Since then, catfish population has improved and regulations on trotline and jugs have been
removed. The city of Greenville took over channel catfish stocking in 2000. Bluegill population in
Governor Bond Lake has been excellent since 1990. There was a decline in populations according to the
1996 survey, but current populations are within lake management plans goals. Largemouth bass
population in Governor Bond Lake has been gradually increasing since 1986 and continued improvement
is forecast. Largemouth Bass six to eight inches in size are stocked by the city of Greenville. White
crappie population in Governor Bond Lake peaked in 1998 and should remain stable for several years.
Current populations are well within Lake Management Plan goals. Gizzard shad population in Governor
Bond Lake has been well within Lake Management Plan goals since 1992, except for 1994 when there
was a slight reduction in populations. Goals for small and medium predators were exceeded by more than
10 times in 1999 and the majority of the population is within the size class available. Stocking of tiger
muskie and hybrid striped bass has historically been unsuccessful, presumably due to high temperatures,
high turbidity and low dissolved oxygen (IDNR, 2000).
