Lake Missaukee
View from Miltner Park in Lake City
Lake Missaukee is located in Michigan
Lake Missaukee
Lake Missaukee
Location within the state of Michigan
LocationMissaukee County, Michigan
Coordinates44°19′23″N 85°14′15″W / 44.32306°N 85.23750°W / 44.32306; -85.23750
TypeGlacial lake
Primary inflowsgroundwater and rainfall
Primary outflowsMosquito Creek to Clam River
Basin countriesUnited States
Surface area1,880 acres (760 ha)
Max. depth27 ft (8.2 m)
Surface elevation1,237 ft (377 m)
Settlements

Lake Missaukee is a freshwater lake located in Missaukee County in the U.S. state of Michigan.[1] The lake is mostly surrounded by Lake Township, while bordering Lake City to the east and a very small portion extending north into Caldwell Township.

Geology

Lake Missaukee is classified as a glacial lake, and it has its origins about 11,000 years ago at the end of the Last Glacial Period.[2] The lake has a surface area of approximately 1,880 acres (760 ha) and a maximum depth of 27 feet (8.2 m). Most of the lake has a depth of less than 15 feet (4.6 m). The lake has a surface elevation of 1,237 feet (377 m) and is close to several other lakes, including Crooked Lake and Sapphire Lake, as well as numerous smaller lakes.[3][4]

It is the largest lake in Missaukee County and is considered part of the Muskegon River watershed. Because Lake Missaukee sits at a relatively high elevation, the lake has a very small watershed of only 1,775 acres (718 ha), which is smaller than the lake itself. The lake has no primary outflow, but water levels are controlled with drainage into the small Mosquito Creek. The creek eventually flows into the Clam River, which leads into the Muskegon River to Lake Michigan.[3]

Activities

The shores of the lake were first inhabited by European settlers as early as the late 1860s, and logging was a prominent industry until the early 1900s. The lake was used to float logs to the numerous sawmills and other factories surrounding the lake. None of these industries presently exist along the lake, although debris remnants of the past logging industry can still be found in the lake.[3]

Lake Missaukee is easily accessible, with the city of Lake City to the east. M-55/M-66 runs along the eastern coastline through Lake City. The larger city of Cadillac is located 15 minutes west.[5]

The lake serves as a recreational area for fishing, swimming, and boating, and there are numerous parks and beaches surrounding the lake. There are several public access boat launches, including one maintained by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at the northern end of the lake at Missaukee County Park.[6]

Fishing

Popular among fishermen, common fish include bluegill, black crappie, brown bullhead, large and smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, northern pike, walleye, and yellow perch.[4][7] There are also rare sightings of common carp.[3] The Michigan Department of Natural Resources stocks walleye in the lake, and the numerous fish populations are routinely monitored.[8][9] Lake Missaukee contains numerous listings on the state's Master Angler Entries, in which the largest recorded fish caught was a northern pike at 19.67 pounds (8.92 kg) and 40 inches (101.6 cm) long.[10] Invasive species within the lake include Eurasian milfoil and zebra mussels.[3]

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Missaukee
  2. ↑ Smith, Jeff (February 4, 2015). "Iconic Outdoor Attraction: Lake Missaukee". Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Tonello, Mark (2018). "Lake Missaukee, Missaukee County" (PDF). Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Lake-Link Inc. (2020). "Missaukee Lake". Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  5. ↑ Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau (2020). "Lake Missaukee". Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  6. ↑ Michigan Department of Natural Resources (2020). "Michigan's Recreational Boating Information System (MRBIS): Boating Access Site Detail (Missaukee County Park)". Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  7. ↑ Michigan Department of Natural Resources (2020). "Lake Missaukee". Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  8. ↑ Michigan Department of Natural Resources (2020). "Fish Stocking Database: Lake Missaukee". Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  9. ↑ "DNR conducts fish surveys on Lake Missaukee". Cadillac News. May 19, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  10. ↑ Michigan Department of Natural Resources (2020). "Master Angler Entries: Lake Missaukee". Retrieved July 31, 2020.
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