More About Wall Lake

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.

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.

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!

Today the Great Lakes contain 20% of the world’s drinking water.

The below images show how the glacial ice moved down from Canada in a southeasterly direction and then retreated back into Canada in a northeasterly direction

How Wetlands Keep Wall Lake Safe

Where are the wetlands on Wall Lake?

The largest area of wetlands are on the south side of Wall Lake. These wetlands are fragile and can be easily harmed to the severe detriment of Wall Lake. The hashed areas below identify wetlands around Wall Lake.

What do these Wetlands do for Wall Lake?

Hydrology maps show the importance of the cleansing mechanism of these wetlands given that water flows downhill into Wall Lake from the higher ground to the south. Wall Lake gets its water from these wetlands, and these wetlands filter the water entering Wall Lake.

These wetlands regulate nutrients flowing into Wall Lake.
These wetlands remove pollutants from the water flowing into Wall Lake.
Wall Lake is relatively shallow and its water renews slowly - every three years (lake retention time). Thus, the oxygenation and health of Wall Lake are directly related to the water coming through the wetlands at the southern end of the lake.
These wetlands remove acid from Wall Lake. The water that flows into Wall Lake comes from a 1,000 acre upland bog. This type of bog is known as an “acid bog”. Damage to these wetlands would allow this acidic water to flow freely into Wall Lake and cause, in the words of a Michigan State University scientist, an “environmental disaster”, forever changing the plant and animal life in Wall Lake.

Wall Lake serves as a migration staging area for waterfowl. The wetlands provide diverse and abundant aquatic plant beds that diving ducks eat. Plant loss will occur if the acidity of the water entering Wall Lake increases, and animal habitat will be lost.
Wall Lake serves as an excellent habitat for fish. The wetlands filter the highly acidic water from flowing into Wall Lake. If this acidic water enters Wall Lake unfiltered, the acidity of the lake will rise and fish will lose their habitat. Also, the loss of the wetlands will decrease subsurface insect populations, a major food source for many fish.

What can happen if the Wall Lake's wetlands are damaged?

This could have a permanent effect on Wall Lake by killing its plant and animal life. These wetlands are particularly fragile and at high risk for damage from human activity. If the wetlands are harmed and acidic bog water flows freely into Wall Lake, it is possible that all plant and animal life in the lake will die.

In 1982, the late Joe Johnson, MSU Kellogg Bird Sanctuary Chief Wildlife Biologist, studied Wall Lake’s wetlands and testified in court that if a canal for a dock were dug through the wetlands it would cause an environmental disaster in Wall Lake. Thank you Joe Johnson!

How Water Exits Wall Lake

Water leaves Wall Lake through a canal drain at the east side of the lake. The water travels downstream from the canal into Shallow Lake. A water retention dam in the canal helps maintain Wall Lake’s water level.

In the early 20th century through the post-World War II era, Wall Lake experienced periods with low water levels. Because Wall Lake has no feeder rivers or streams, and therefore no rapid source of incoming water, it was known to have “poor replenishing power.” Because of these periods of low water levels, lake viability and property values were a concern.

Prior to 1953 an earthen dam existed in the drain as an attempt to retain water in Wall Lake. The earthen dam was not successful at retaining water in Wall Lake, and in 1953, after much study, a court established the Legal Lake Level of Wall Lake at 927 feet above sea level.

The court stated that 927 feet above sea level is: “The lake level that provides the most benefit to the public; that best protects the public heath, safety, and welfare; that best preserves the natural resources of the state; and that best preserves and protects the value of property around the lake.”

On June 21, 1954 the lake level was measured at 926.5 feet above sea level.

In 1955, after much analysis and planning, a concrete dam with a box weir was constructed in the drain canal. The purpose of the dam was to retain water and prevent spring runoff so that the lake has more water to offset the “dry season and evaporation.”

The dam is inspected under authority of the Barry County Drain Commission every three years and the water level just upstream from the dam in the canal is recorded. This is not necessarily an accurate measure of lake level as obstructions in the canal between the lake and the concrete dam can reduce or completely obstruct water flow. The implication of this is that the water level in Wall Lake is at times higher than what is recorded in Dam Inspection Reports.

Records indicate that since 1954 Wall Lake's lake level has ranged between 927.8 and 921 feet above sea level. Keep in mind that this data is very limited because it is from Dam Inspection Reports, performed once every three years, at varying times of the year, at a location that is not necessarily representative of the lake itself.

In 2019 the Barry County Drain Commissioner identified several county drains that need new benchmarks so that improved water elevation measurements can be made. We have been advised that Wall Lake will receive two new benchmarks.

The Greater Wall Lake Association has no authority over the drain and dam, and no ability to control Wall Lake’s lake level.

The Barry County Drain Commission has authority over county drains.

Wall Lake residents have a special tax district to cover expenses relating to the drain and dam. Any inspections, repairs, revisions, and dredging to the drain and dam is subject to the Drain Commissioner’s authority to tax residents accordingly.

The Greater Wall Lake Association communicates with the Barry County Drain Commissioner in an effort to ensure that the county drain, including the dam that controls water exiting our lake, is functioning as intended.

Shorelines and Water Quality

Shoreline design has a tremendous effect on water quality.

Types of shorelines include:

Seawall (metal or concrete wall).
Riprap (large stones).
Natural shoreline (native vegetation).

Problems with seawalls include:

Cost.
Erosion of adjacent shorelines.
Unaesthetic.
Prevents turtles from exiting lake to lay eggs.
Provides no habitat for wildlife (loss of intertidal zone).
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:

Provides habitat for essential fish and wildlife species.
Prevents erosion with deeply rooted plants.
Discourages nuisance wildlife like geese.
Improves esthetics with attractive plants.
Prevents rainwater runoff from carrying fertilizer, leaves, and grass clippings into the lake and causing algae blooms.

Weed Control

In 1989, the invasive plant Eurasian Milfoil was discovered in Wall Lake. This weed multiplied rapidly and grew to such an extent that it impeded enjoyment of the lake. Swimming became unpleasant and boating became difficult due to weeds collecting on propellers. There were times when the west bay of Wall Lake was largely a mass of milfoil.

Initially, lakefront and back lot residents agreed to a voluntary funding of weed control for the lake. The volume of weeds in the lake soon started to diminish; however, due to lack of participation of a majority of residents, it was not possible to continue funding weed control on a voluntary basis. Therefore, with the agreement of lake area residents, a Special Assessment District (SAD) was formed to fund this program through taxes. The SAD is billed through a special tax assessment and renews upon approval in 5-year cycles.

For those who lived here during the awful heavy Milfoil years, the dramatic improvement in lake quality has been greatly appreciated. It is hoped that all lake residents will continue to approve weed control as a tax assessment program. The Greater Wall Lake Association thanks everyone for their support.

Threats to Wall Lake - two threats that can destroy Wall Lake

Transmission of aquatic invasive aquatic species into Wall Lake Damage to wetlands allowing acidic bog water to flow freely into Wall Lake

Since 2003 The Greater Wall Lake Association (GWLA) has used Professional Lake Management (PLM) for weed monitoring and control. PLM considers Wall Lake to be one of their top success stories.