6 



Indiana University Studies 



suggests the following interpretatioQ as to their formation. From 

 the studies of Leverett just referred to, it is certain that the 

 Saginaw lobe retreated first. When this occurred, the exposed 

 northwest face of the Huron-Erie lobe in this region was ragged 

 and overlaid with the material of the interlobate moraine. Ice 

 tongues or masses filled the region now occupied by these lakes 

 and the water from the wasting ice front flowed between the ice 

 tongues and sorted the material. With the retreat of the ice front 

 and the establishment of the drainage to the south thru the 

 Wabash, came the melting of the ice tongues, so that rather long, 

 deep depressions remained, which then became lakes and part of 

 the postglacial drainage lines. 



Many of the original lakes of Indiana are now reduced to level 

 swampy areas. A large part of this reduction has been due to 

 natural causes, principally to the accumulation of plant deposits. 

 However, during the last fifty years, the agent most vigorously 

 affecting lakes has been man. Many tbf the smaller lakes have 

 been destroyed and the levels of some of the larger have been 

 lowered by artificial drainage. 



Of the lakes that are mentioned in this paper, the following 

 have been lowered by artificial drainage: Little Eagle (Chap- 

 man), Beaver Dam, Yellow Creek, Lingle (Dewart), Ridinger 

 and Eagle (Winona). This is now prohibited by statute (Burns' 

 Annotated Statutes 1914, §6162). 



On account of the increased value of lake properties in recent 

 years and earlier for the development of power, many of the lakes 

 have had their areas increased by damming. The following lakes 

 of this basin have been so treated: Eagle (Winona), Webster, 

 Tippecanoe (dam out at this date), Manitou, and Palestine. 



The total number of lakes in Indiana in 1915 is estimated by 

 Leverett and Taylor (1915) at "less than 400". 



Morphometry 



The existing maps of a few of these lakes (Blatchley and 

 Ashley, 1900) were found to be correct in outline, and conse- 

 quently were used for base maps. Usually the outlines of the 

 lakes were determined with a plane table, which, for small lakes 

 such as these are, gives a very accurate result. 



Lines along which soundings were to be made were established 

 on the lake and recorded on the map. Calm days were utilized 

 for this work, when it was at all possible. The soundings were 



