Potential Bears Stadium Adds New Chapter to Wolf Lake's Storied Past

The proposed Chicago Bears stadium near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana would be the latest development in the area's long history of balancing nature, recreation, and industry.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 12:47am

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Wolf Lake, which straddles the Illinois-Indiana border, has a rich history of serving as a hub for hunting, fishing, and other recreational activities, while also being surrounded by heavy industry. The potential construction of a Chicago Bears stadium near the lake has raised concerns about the impact on the lake's delicate ecosystem, which is home to rare and sensitive species like the mudpuppy salamander. However, supporters believe the stadium could also introduce more people to the natural wonders of Wolf Lake.

Why it matters

Wolf Lake has long been a place where nature, recreation, and industry have coexisted, often uneasily. The potential Bears stadium represents the latest chapter in this ongoing story, raising questions about how to balance development and environmental protection in the region.

The details

Wolf Lake was once a bay of a larger glacial Lake Michigan, but over time it filled in and became a wetland. In the 1950s, tons of material were dredged from the lake bottom to create fill for the construction of Interstate 90, dramatically altering the lake's depth and ecosystem. Despite these changes, the lake has maintained a remarkable biodiversity, including rare species like the mudpuppy salamander. Advocates have worked for decades to protect the lake's watershed and bring Illinois and Indiana officials together to address issues that cross state lines.

  • In 1999, the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative was formed to help protect the lake and its watershed.
  • In 2002, researchers conducted a Calumet Bioblitz that helped uncover the lake's 'amazing biodiversity'.
  • Since 2016, further scientific investigation has revealed hundreds of mudpuppy salamanders, one of the largest populations in the region.

The players

Michael Boos

An 80-year-old resident who has used Wolf Lake for recreation for many years and helped form the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative.

Phil Willink

The president of the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative and a research biologist with the Field Museum of Natural History who has studied the lake's biodiversity.

Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative

A community organization that has worked to protect the Wolf Lake watershed and bring Illinois and Indiana officials together to address issues that cross state lines.

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What they’re saying

“I can imagine if the Bears set up at Wolf Lake, it would be during hunting season on the Illinois side and football season on the Indiana side. That should be a treat. We'll see, but that's a possibility. It's a sad possibility for me.”

— Michael Boos, Resident

“You would think there would be nothing natural left alive when you look at all the factories and everything. But there's actually a lot of diamonds in the rough there, a lot of fantastic places that have survived the last 200 years of development. And Wolf Lake is one of those, despite being dredged and this and that and all the factories around it.”

— Phil Willink, Research Biologist, Field Museum of Natural History

What’s next

Officials in Illinois and Indiana will continue to negotiate the potential location of a new Chicago Bears stadium, with the future of Wolf Lake's delicate ecosystem hanging in the balance.

The takeaway

Wolf Lake's long history of balancing nature, recreation, and industry highlights the challenges of development in environmentally sensitive areas. As the potential Bears stadium project moves forward, it will be crucial for officials and community groups to work together to protect the lake's unique biodiversity while also considering the economic and recreational benefits that a new stadium could bring.