Lake Environment
About Wall Lake - Its Size and Depth
Wall Lake is a beautiful, crescent-shaped lake that lies in Hope Township, Barry County Michigan. It is about 540 acres in size and its average depth is 15-20 feet. There are some locations with a depth of approximately 40 feet. There are about 320 homes and cottages around the lake.
Why the Name?
According to legend, Wall Lake gets its name from the Potawatomi Indians who had built stone walls to aid in harvesting fish. It is claimed that the Indians would drive fish through narrow openings in the wall into shallow water, thus making catching the fish easier. Two walls existed. One wall was located on the northeast shore, and a second wall near the southeast shore on the peninsula. The wall located on the northeast shore was removed in 1963.​​
Aids To Lake Preservation
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Do not put grass clippings or leaves into the lake.
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Do not use soaps or detergents in a manner that will allow them to enter the lake.
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Do not throw water balloons, or otherwise put litter in the lake.
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Do not hit golf balls, or otherwise put litter in the lake.
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If you fertilize your lawn, please use environmentally friendly, (phosphorous-free) fertilizer.
How Wall Lake Was Formed
Wall Lake is about 10,000 years old. Glaciers formed and moved through the Upper Midwest from Canada about 14,000 years ago, and finally retreated about 9,000 years ago. It is hard to imagine that the ice over the upper midwest was 1 mile thick at that time.
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As the glaciers moved the land was eroded, the melting glacial ice formed lakes. Michigan’s natural lakes, from the Great Lakes to inland lakes like Wall Lake, formed when the glaciers advanced and then retreated back into Canada. What a magnificent gift!
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Today the Great Lakes contain 20% of the world’s drinking water.
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Shoreline & Water Quality
Shoreline design has a tremendous effect on water quality.
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Types of shorelines include:
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Seawall (metal or concrete wall).
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Riprap (large stones).
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Natural shoreline (native vegetation).
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Problems with seawalls include:
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Cost.
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Erosion of adjacent shorelines.
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Unaesthetic.
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Prevents turtles from exiting lake to lay eggs.
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Provides no habitat for wildlife (loss of intertidal zone).
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Loss of natural shoreline vegetation reduces water quality by removing the shoreline’s ability to filter excess nutrients from runoff.
The benefits of natural shorelines are many:
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Provides habitat for essential fish and wildlife species.
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Prevents erosion with deeply rooted plants.
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Discourages nuisance wildlife like geese.
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Improves esthetics with attractive plants.
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Prevents rainwater runoff from carrying fertilizer, leaves, and grass clippings into the lake and causing algae blooms.
Respect Wall Lake
Managing lakes is difficult work. According to the faculty at The Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, managing lakes is a universally challenging problem. It is common on inland lakes for there to be a divide between those residents who view their lake as a big swimming pool that exists for their pleasure, and those who understand that a lake is part of a delicate ecosystem, of which we are a part and can greatly affect.
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The lakes that thrive are those that have few people near them, or those that are managed well. Those lakes that are managed well have a vibrant lake association with an inspired volunteer board and an enthusiastic membership. These lake boards typically have members that cycle through with renewed periods of inspiration, leadership, and sacrifice and make a difference for their lakes. Roles of lake associations typically include education, organization, community activities, and advocacy. Lake associations are typically funded by membership dues and donations.
Roles of lake associations typically include education, organization, community activities, and advocacy. Lake associations are typically funded by membership dues and donations.
Wall Lake has survived everything Mother Nature could throw at her for 10,000 years. In just 100 years, human activities - especially those that threaten wetlands, or transport invasive species, could destroy Wall Lake.
Thank you in advance for doing whatever you can to preserve Wall Lake.
Respect Your Neighbors
Decent respectable neighbors treat their neighbors and their property the same way they want their neighbors to treat them and their property.
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Noise.
More and more people are choosing to live on Wall Lake year round. This means that this is their home, and not a weekend escape from another city. They work, they have doctor’s appointments in the morning, and excessive noise late at night disrupts their lives. Please remember that noise travels louder and farther over water than land. Also, lake living is compressed living, and sounds travel easily between adjacent homes due to close proximity.
Please note that Hope Township has a Noise Ordinance law. (Click "Noise Ordinance" to open a printable copy of Hope Township's Noise Ordinance.
The ordinance states that it is a violation of the law to make noise that disrupts neighbors between the hours of 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM.
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Dogs.
Please don't allow your dogs to leave your property. This will prevent feces from appearing on neighbor’s lawns, and prevent injury and litigation from dog bites. Also, barking dogs are subject to Hope Township’s Noise Ordinance law.
If You Rent Homes
Given today’s litigious society, and given the high risks to the lake from aquatic invasive species, owners of rental vacation homes need to be very cautious. Rental owners may be liable for the behavior of others. Accidents, medical incidents, and environmental harm from the transmission of invasive species represent great risks to owners of rental homes. Please make sure that your renters are aware of proper lake etiquette.
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Be sure that boats and trailers entering Wall Lake have been cleaned as follows:
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Inspect and remove any visible mud, plants, fish or animals before transporting your recreational equipment.
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Drain water from equipment (boat, motor, trailer, live wells) before transporting it.
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Dry equipment for at least 5 days.
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Dispose of unwanted live bait in the trash.
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Know the Law: Michigan laws prohibit placing a boat, trailer, or other boating equipment into Michigan waters with plant material attached.
If You Allow Others To Launch Boats
Given today’s litigious society, and given the high risks to the lake from invasive species, homeowners need to be very cautious. Homeowners may be liable for the behavior of others. Accidents, medical incidents, and environmental harm from the transmission of invasive species represent great risks to homeowners. Please make sure that any watercraft that has been on other lakes is properly cleaned as described below.
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Be sure that boats entering Wall Lake have been cleaned as follows:
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Inspect and remove any visible mud, plants, fish or animals before transporting your recreational equipment.
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Drain water from equipment (boat, motor, trailer, live wells) before transporting it.
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Dry equipment for at least 5 days.
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Dispose of unwanted live bait in the trash.
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Know the Law: Michigan laws prohibit placing a boat, trailer, or other boating equipment into Michigan waters with plant material attached.
Boating Courtesy
Powerboats and personal watercraft should take care that they do not interfere with swimmers, sailboats, fishing boats, paddle boards, kayaks, and canoes.
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Special care should be taken when entering and exiting dock areas where swimmers may be difficult to see.
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Also, be sure you are familiar with The Michigan Handbook of Boating Laws and Responsibilities. Pertinent topics include:
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Who May Operate.
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Towing Skiers.
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Unlawful and Dangerous Operations such as Reckless Operation, Improper Distance, Improper Direction, and Failure to Regulate Speed.
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Navigation Rules.
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Personal Watercraft (PWC). Note that many laws for PWC’s differ than those for other vessels.
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Noise levels permitted by vessels.
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Slow, No Wake Speed Regulation with regards to operating within 100 feet of shoreline, docks and rafts, persons in water, moored vessels, and bays.
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Note: “Slow, No Wake” means the slowest speed at which it is still possible to maintain steering and which does not create a wake.
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Fish Commitee
The Fish Committee facilitates and assists with periodic walleye stocking. Targeted donations are accepted for costs associated with fish stocking.
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Please e-mail (greaterwalllakeassoc@gmail.com) or contact any board member to learn more about our Fish Committee.
Invasive Species - How Invasive Plant Species Can Destroy Wall Lake
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What is an invasive species?
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Invasive species are non-native species that have the potential to become established and spread widely and cause ecological or economic harm or pose a risk to human health.
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Why should we be concerned about invasive species?
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Invasive species threaten biodiversity because they compete with native species for food and habitat. Invasive species can also kill or displace native species, destroy habitat, and alter food sources. In addition, they have adverse economic effects on property values. Invasive species can also be a health risk to humans by introducing disease and toxins.
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How bad is the invasive species problem?
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It is very bad across the country, in Michigan, in Barry County, and in many nearby Hope Township lakes. Fortunately Wall Lake, because of limited non-resident boat trailer traffic, has had relatively few problems with invasive species – thus far.
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How do invasive species get in Wall Lake?
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By launching and retrieving infected boats and personal watercraft.
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Note: 2019 - New Boating and Fishing Laws to Prevent the Introduction and Spread of Invasive Species. Click here to learn more.
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What invasive species do we have in Wall Lake?
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Currently we have two, and at times three, invasive aquatic plant species in Wall Lake - Eurasian Milfoil, Cabomba, and Purple Loosestrife.
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Eurasian Milfoil is currently present in small amounts in Wall Lake. It grows below the water surface. A couple decades ago it was widespread and a terrible problem in Wall Lake. It is now well controlled through professional aquatic invasive species management.
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Cabomba was discovered by our professional lake management company in one location in Wall Lake in the summer of 2019. This is very concerning as Cabomba is notoriously aggressive and difficult to treat. Nevertheless, a herbicide was promptly applied, and Wall Lake will be regularly monitored for regrowth. Cabomba is a submersed, sometimes floating, but often rooted, freshwater perennial plant. Cabomba is extremely competitive, persistent, and resistant to most herbicides. It grows into thick mats that crowd out native plants. It is very difficult to treat.
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Purple Loosestrife has been observed in some years in small amounts in our wetlands and along the shores of a few homeowners. The problem with this plant is that it can take over the wetlands and prevent them from functioning normally and filtering sediment and acidity from our incoming water. It can grow from 2-7 feet tall.
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What invasive species exist in nearby lakes?
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Many nearby lakes have aquatic invasive plants, and some have Zebra Mussels.
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Starry Stonewort has appeared recently in Hope Township lakes. Starry Stonewort is a grass-like algae that rapidly grows in long strands up to seven feet long. It grows underwater and forms a dense mat over the entire bottom of a lake. This mat prevents fish from bedding and has devastated the fish populations of many lakes.
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Cabomba, also knows as Fanwort, is a submersed, sometimes floating, but often rooted, freshwater perennial plant. Cabomba is present in many Hope Township lakes. Cabomba is extremely competitive, persistent, and resistant to most herbicides. It grows into thick mats that crowd out native plants. It is very difficult to treat.
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Phragmites is a perennial wetland plant that quickly spreads through marshes and wetland areas, robbing the fish, plants and wildlife of nutrients and space; blocking access to the water; spoiling shoreline views; and posing a fire hazard. It can grow to be over 15 feet tall and crowds out other plants.
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Gull Lake is an example of of an area lake that has problems with Zebra Mussels. These mussels multiply in astounding numbers. One female zebra mussel can produce up to 500,000 eggs per year. All takes is for one mussel to get into a river or lake and then they multiply very rapidly. Zebra mussels cling to everything in the water. Their shells are very sharp and are the cause of many injuries. Walking on the shore, swimming, climbing dock ladders, playing on rafts - all of these activities become very dangerous due to the presence of zebra mussels. Also, they adversely affect the insect balance in the lakes and rivers they infect, and therefore harm fish populations. In addition, they cause aquatic plant life to overgrow.
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Another potentially devastating invasive plant species is Hydrilla. Hydrilla is being transported north towards Michigan from southern states. This plant is highly resistant to herbicides, grows 6 inches per day, and in just a couple seasons can completely cover the top of a lake in a mat several feet thick that will kill all plant and animal life in a lake. Hydrilla has been detected in lakes near the southern border of Michigan.
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What can be done about invasive aquatic species in Wall Lake?
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Prevention.
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Protect and preserve our existing wetland native plant community.
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Minimize launching and retrieving of non-resident boats and jet-ski’s.
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Wash boats, watercraft, and trailers prior to entering Wall Lake. A new State of Michigan law is in effect as of 3-21-19 that makes it a crime to transport aquatic organisms, including plants, into a waterbody on a boat, watercraft, or trailer.
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In addition, for many years the Greater Wall Lake Association has contracted with Professional Lake Management (PLM) for aquatic invasive species management in Wall Lake. PLM's services include:
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Monitoring.
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Plants in Wall Lake are surveyed by members of The Greater Wall Lake Association and a professional lake management weed control company.
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Early Detection.
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This allows for a rapid response to treat a small area before it can spread.
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Rapid Response.
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Treating small areas is less expensive and more effective.
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Maintenance Control.
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Frequent monitoring and treating invasive species is time consuming and requires persistence and dedication. But it pays off by keeping invasive species at a minimum.
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What can you do to help?
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Support efforts to minimize launching and retrieving of non-resident boats and personal watercraft in and out of Wall Lake. The GWLA is actively working on this.
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When you do launch and retrieve your boats and personal watercraft on Wall Lake, please don’t transport aquatic plants or zebra muscles into Wall Lake. This can be prevented by cleaning your boats and trailers before and after launch, including disinfecting and draining water from bilges and livewells. Also, it is a good idea to dispose of unused bait in the trash rather than dumping it in the lake. In addition, do not transport fish to waterbodies other than where they were originally caught. Lastly, it is possible to disinfect livewells and bilges with a mixture of 5 gallons of water and ½ cup of bleach.
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Feel free to contact anyone on the GWLA Board with questions.