Water fills lakes through a combination of natural processes and, for artificial lakes, human intervention.
Water gets into lakes primarily through inflow from rivers, streams, and groundwater, direct precipitation, and surface runoff.
Primary Sources of Lake Water
Lakes are natural depressions or basins that collect water. The water can arrive through several main pathways:
- Surface Water Inflow: Rivers and streams are common sources, flowing into the lake and contributing water collected from their drainage basins.
- Precipitation: Rain and snow falling directly onto the lake surface add water.
- Groundwater Inflow: Water from underground aquifers can seep into the lakebed.
- Surface Runoff: Water flowing over the land surface from surrounding areas after precipitation or snowmelt can flow into the lake.
Creating Artificial Lakes
While natural lakes form over geological time, many lakes today are human-made, often called reservoirs or ponds, built for purposes like water storage, recreation, or flood control.
Based on the provided information, creating these artificial lakes often involves specific methods:
- Damming Waterways: A significant method for filling artificial lakes or ponds is by damming existing water bodies. As the reference states, Most artificial lakes on build on creeks, streams, rivers and springs. The water is dammed and fill a lake or pond. This process blocks the flow of water, causing it to back up and fill the constructed basin.
- Collecting Runoff: The reference also notes that Some ponds are filled up with storm water from run off. This involves designing the landscape or the pond itself to capture water flowing over the land surface during rain events.
Creating structures like dams often requires official permission. The reference mentions, You will need a permit from the DNR to install a dam.
Methods for Water Inflow
Here's a breakdown of how water enters lakes:
- Rivers and Streams: Continuous flow from connected waterways.
- Precipitation: Direct input from rain and snow.
- Groundwater: Underground water seeping into the lake.
- Surface Runoff: Water flowing from land, especially after rain or snowmelt.
- Damming: Creating a barrier across a waterway to collect water (for artificial lakes).
- Stormwater Capture: Designing basins to collect rain runoff (for ponds).
Summary Table of Water Sources
| Source Type | Description | Applicability (Natural/Artificial) | Reference Mentioned? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers / Streams | Flowing water channels entering the lake. | Both | Yes (for Damming) |
| Precipitation | Rain or snow falling directly. | Both | No |
| Groundwater | Water seeping from underground aquifers. | Both | Yes (Springs) |
| Surface Runoff | Water flowing over land into the lake. | Both | Yes (Stormwater) |
| Damming Waterways | Blocking rivers/streams/springs to create a basin | Artificial | Yes |
| Stormwater Capture | Collecting runoff in designed basins | Artificial (Ponds) | Yes |
Understanding these sources helps explain the origin and sustainability of lakes.
