# Lake Wilcox
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{{redirect|Wilcox Lake|the lakes in North Cascades National Park|Wilcox Lakes}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Lake Wilcox
| image = Lake Wilcox aerial view 2024.jpg
| caption = Aerial view of Lake Wilcox in 2024
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry=
| location = [Richmond Hill, Ontario](/source/Richmond_Hill%2C_Ontario)
| coords = {{coord|43|56|56.69|N|79|26|9.45|W|type:waterbody_region:CA-ON|display=inline,title}}
| type = [Kettle lake](/source/Kettle_lake)
| inflow =
|pushpin_map=Ontario
| outflow =
| catchment =
| basin_countries = Canada
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|137|acre|km2}}
| depth =
| max-depth = {{convert|17.4|m|ft}}
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation =
| islands =
| cities =
| frozen =
}}
'''Lake Wilcox''' is a [kettle lake](/source/kettle_lake) in the [Oak Ridges](/source/Oak_Ridges%2C_Ontario) neighbourhood of [Richmond Hill](/source/Richmond_Hill%2C_Ontario), [Ontario](/source/Ontario), Canada. The lake measures 1.5 kilometers across and covers 55.6 [hectare](/source/hectare)s or 0.55 square kilometres, making it the largest kettle lake on the [Oak Ridges Moraine](/source/Oak_Ridges_Moraine).[{{cite web|url = http://www.town.richmond-hill.on.ca/subpage.asp?pageid=prc_lake_wilcox&textonly=|title = Lake Wilcox|date = 2 July 2021|publisher = Town of Richmond Hill}}] Lake Wilcox, [Lake St. George](/source/Lake_St._George_(Ontario)) and their associated [wetland](/source/wetland)s form a "provincially significant wetland".[{{cite web|url = http://nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/documents/winter2004/NHIC_NEWS_WINTER2004.pdf|title = Decade of Achievement}}{{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=medic}}]
The lake is named after William Willcocks (1735/36-1813), who was a merchant in York, Upper Canada and became mayor of [Cork](/source/Cork_(city)), [Ireland](/source/Ireland) in 1793 (after his return from Upper Canada).[{{cite book|title=Stories of Newmarket: An Old Ontario Town|last=Carter|first=Robert Terence|publisher=[Dundurn Press](/source/Dundurn_Press)|year=2011|isbn=9781554888801}}][{{cite web|url=http://www.corkcity.ie/yourcouncil/mayorsofcork/|title=Mayors of Cork|publisher=Cork City Council|accessdate=2014-01-12}}] Willcocks and his family moved to [Upper Canada](/source/Upper_Canada), where his cousin [Peter Russell](/source/Peter_Russell_(politician)) became interim administrator after the departure of [John Graves Simcoe](/source/John_Graves_Simcoe) in 1796.[{{Cite web|url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/willcocks_william_5E.html|title = Biography – WILLCOCKS, WILLIAM – Volume V (1801-1820) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography}}]
==Community==
Lake Wilcox 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. Lake Wilcox and Brickworks parks are the 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,[{{cite web|url = http://www.theliberal.com/News/Richmond%20Hill/article/88965|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130204222334/http://www.theliberal.com/News/Richmond%20Hill/article/88965|url-status = dead|archive-date = February 4, 2013|title = Sentencing Postponed}}] and two local teens who accidentally drowned in the lake in 2008.[{{Cite web | first = Naomi | last = Parness |url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/richmond-hill-teens-feared-dead-in-canoe-mishap-1.296617 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208041135/https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/richmond-hill-teens-feared-dead-in-canoe-mishap-1.296617 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 8, 2024 |title=Richmond Hill teens feared dead in canoe mishap | publisher = [CTV](/source/CTV_Television_Network) | date = 2008-05-18}}]
The now defunct Lake Wilcox Brewing Co., located in Vaughan, was named after the lake.
==History==
thumb|right|Circa 1920s
thumb|Lake Wilcox Park Splash Pad
The lake was recorded as "Lake Wilcocks" on an 1878 map in the ''Illustrated historical atlas of the county of York and the township of West Gwillimbury & town of Bradford in the county of Simcoe, Ont.''[{{cite web|url=http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/countyatlas/showtownship2.php?townshipid=Whitchurch|title=Illustrated historical atlas of the county of York and the township of West Gwillimbury & town of Bradford in the county of Simcoe, Ont.|location=Toronto|publisher=Miles & Co.|year=1878|accessdate=2012-02-12}}]
Housing developments began to boom around Lake Wilcox 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 continued until the mid to late 1980s. The developments affected the forests of the Oak Ridges Moraine which supplies water to the GTA, which caused environmental damage to Toronto. 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.
==Geography==
thumb|Boardwalk in Lake Wilcox Park
Lake Wilcox is part of the [Humber River](/source/Humber_River_(Ontario)) drainage system, draining into the East Humber River. The [drainage basin](/source/drainage_basin) of the lake covers 260 hectares. The maximum depth of the lake is 17.4 meters.[{{cite web|url = http://nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/areas/areas_report.cfm?areaid=18494|title = Natural Areas Report: WILCOX - ST. GEORGE WETLAND COMPLEX}}] The total complex has some ninety individually identified wetlands, covering 102 hectares, of which 57% is classified as [swamp](/source/swamp), 39% as [marsh](/source/marsh) and 4% as [bog](/source/bog).
==Ecology==
Beginning in 1997, the town of Richmond Hill undertook a project to restore the lake's condition, which had degraded because of [pollution](/source/pollution) and development. [Septic system](/source/Septic_system)s which had previous drained into the lake were connected to [sewers](/source/sanitary_sewer) and [lake lung](/source/lake_lung)s were installed to increase [oxygenation](/source/Oxygenation_(environmental)) of the water. High [phosphorus](/source/phosphorus) levels in the lake remain problematic.[{{cite web|url = http://www.yorkregion.com/What's%20on/Attractions/article/37817|title = Lake Wilcox, Richmond Hill|author = Chelsea Edgell}}]
===Vegetation===
The native [coniferous tree](/source/coniferous_tree)s in Lake Wilcox's watershed include [white spruce](/source/white_spruce), [eastern hemlock](/source/eastern_hemlock), [white pine](/source/eastern_white_pine), [red pine](/source/red_pine), [eastern white cedar](/source/eastern_white_cedar) and [tamarack](/source/tamarack).[{{cite web|url = http://www.richmondhill.ca/documents/heritage_lake_wilcox.pdf|title = Lake Wilcox & You|publisher = Town of Richmond Hill}}] The native [deciduous tree](/source/deciduous_tree)s include [red maple](/source/red_maple), [silver maple](/source/silver_maple), [sugar maple](/source/sugar_maple), [red oak](/source/Quercus_rubra), [white oak](/source/Quercus_alba), [burr oak](/source/bur_oak), [balsam poplar](/source/balsam_poplar), [trembling aspen](/source/Populus_tremuloides), [large-tooth aspen](/source/large-tooth_aspen), [white ash](/source/Fraxinus_americana), [black ash](/source/Fraxinus_nigra), [blue ash](/source/blue_ash), [green ash](/source/green_ash), [basswood](/source/basswood), [paper birch](/source/paper_birch), [pin cherry](/source/pin_cherry) and [black cherry](/source/Prunus_serotina). The native wildflowers include [purple coneflower](/source/Echinacea), [yellow coneflower](/source/Rudbeckia_pinnata), [flat-topped aster](/source/flat-topped_aster), [heath aster](/source/heath_aster), [smooth aster](/source/smooth_aster), [silky aster](/source/silky_aster), [ox-eyed susan](/source/ox-eyed_susan), [black-eyed susan](/source/Rudbeckia_hirta), [bluebeard lily](/source/Clintonia_borealis), [wood lily](/source/wood_lily), [trout lily](/source/trout_lily), [common strawberry](/source/Virginia_strawberry), [common milkweed](/source/common_milkweed), [blazing star](/source/blazing_star), [fireweed](/source/fireweed), [star flower](/source/Trientalis_borealis), [wild columbine](/source/wild_columbine) and [wild bergamot](/source/wild_bergamot). Aquatic vegetation that is native to the lake itself include [bulrush](/source/Schoenoplectus)es, [cattail](/source/cattail)s, [water arum](/source/water_arum)s, [water plantain](/source/Alismataceae)s, [water lilies](/source/Nymphaeaceae), [arrowhead](/source/arrowhead)s, [blue flag iris](/source/blue_flag_iris)es, [smartweed](/source/smartweed)s and [pickeral weed](/source/Pontederia)s. Native shrubs found around the lake include [speckled alder](/source/speckled_alder), [smooth serviceberry](/source/Amelanchier), [Allegheny serviceberry](/source/Amelanchier), [nannyberry](/source/nannyberry), [red osier](/source/red_osier), [gray dogwood](/source/northern_swamp_dogwood), [silky dogwood](/source/silky_dogwood), [broad-leaved meadowsweet](/source/Spiraea_latifolia), [swamp rose](/source/Rosa_palustris), [spicebush](/source/spicebush), [buttonbush](/source/Cephalanthus), [shining willow](/source/shining_willow), [slender willow](/source/willow), [black willow](/source/black_willow) and [pussywillow](/source/pussywillow).
===Animal life===
Indigenous animal life includes [muskrats](/source/muskrats), [great horned owl](/source/great_horned_owl)s and [painted turtle](/source/painted_turtle)s.