Lake Columbia

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Columbia
image_lake = lcmichigan.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Jackson County, Michigan
coords= coord|42.0928|N|84.3011|W|region:US-MI_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
inflow = Goose Creek
outflow = Goose Creek
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length = convert|2.5|mi|km|1|abbr=on
width = convert|1.7|mi|km|1|abbr=on
area = convert|840|acre|km2|0|abbr=on
depth = convert|18|ft|m|abbr=on
max-depth = convert|25|ft|m|abbr=on
volume =
residence_time = 47 years
shore = convert|12|mi|km|abbr=on
elevation = convert|988|ft|m|abbr=on
islands = 1
cities =

Lake Columbia is a small lake in Columbia Township in southern Jackson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is convert|840|acre|km2|1, 2 and 1/2 miles long and 1 and 3/4 miles wide of a man-made lake. It has an estimated convert|12|mi|km of shoreline and the water source to the lake is Goose Creek. The lake has an average depth of convert|18|ft|m. Lake Columbia is located approximately convert|1.7|mi|km|1 west from Brooklyn, Michigan. The latitude for the lake is 42.0928 and the longitude is -84.3011 with an elevation of 988 ft or 301 m above sea level.

Lake Columbia resides in the Columbia School District. [Columbia School District Website [http://www.myeagles.org/] Retrieved on 2008-07-16] Columbia schools offer 1 Pre-k School located near Clark Lake. 2 Elementary Schools (K-5), 1 located in Brooklyn and 1 located in Cement City. 1 Middle school (6-8) located in Brooklyn. 1 High School (9-12) located near Brooklyn and 1 Alternative School located near Clark Lake.

Lake Columbia is one of the many lakes in Jackson County that is entirely private. Yearly membership dues in the Lake Columbia Property Owners Association are required by residents of the lake. The lake has a total of 16 private parks. It also has 14 named shores where residents reside. It is a boaters and fishers paradise for local residents of the lake. Lake Columbia is stocked annually with Walleye or Bluegill fish. The fish population continues to grow in Lake Columbia every year.

Hydrology

Lake Columbia has a primary inflow from Goose Creek and a primary outflow from Goose Creek. Goose Creek mainly flows from east to west and flows into the Raisin River. The Raisin River connects Clark Lake, Vineyard Lake, Norvell Lake and Lake Columbia together by way of Goose Creek also. The drainage area of Lake Columbia is 25,000 Sq. Acres.

Natural History

The natural wildlife that surround and inhabit Lake Columbia are White Tail Deer, Walleye fish, Bluegill fish, Red Fox's, and Common Loon's. [Michigan DNR Website [http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145---,00.html] Retrieved on 2008-07-23]

History

[Lake Columbia History Link [http://www.lakecolumbia.net/history.htm] Retrieved on 2008-07-15] In September 1960, after an intensive study of the area by American Central Corporation of Lansing, Michigan, the people in the Lake Columbian area, which was then strictly farm land, were contacted and their farms purchased.

July 1961, is which construction started on the earthen L-shaped dam that now stops the flow of Goose Creek. The dam is 950 ft long and 35 ft high with the head of water at 28 ft. The damn has a spillway made of 2,000 cubic yards of concrete and 200,000 pounds of reinforced steel which make up the 225 ft long, 30 ft wide spillway with the mouth of the spillway 50 ft in diameter.

The fall of 1961, large clearing crews worked to clear the wooded portions of land in the lake basin along with massive bulldozers. These dozers worked around the clock and at night they kept huge fires pushed up tight. The roaring blaze could be seen for miles around.

November 10 1961, was the day flooding started. Very soon after the lake started to form filling water into the 840 acres of land that would become Lake Columbia.

Parks around Lake Columbia

Private parks located around Lake Columbia:

* Archwood - Located off Archwood Circle(off Somerset Dr.)
* Bedford, East - Located off Bedford Dr.
* Bedford, West - Located off Bedford Dr.
* Castlewood - Located off Castlewood Dr.(off Wesch Rd.)
* Claremont - Located off Claremont Circle
* Donald - Located off Claremont Circle
* Grand Pointe - Located off Grand Pointe Dr.
* Hawthorne - Located at the end of Hawthorne / Waverly Ct
* Hilltop - Located at end of Hilltop Ct.(off Nottingham)
* Karen Court - Located off Somerset Dr.
* Kelley - Located off Kelley Rd.
* Nottingham - Located at the end of Nottingham
* Princess - Located off Princess Dr.- across the channel from Archwood Park (off Somerset Dr)
* Riviera - Located off Riviera Dr.(off Kelly Rd.)
* Somerset - Located off Somerset Dr.(off Hayes Rd.)
* Southern Shores - Located off Southern Shores Dr

Local towns and areas

* Brooklyn (located east convert|1.7|mi|km|1) GR|2 Population (2000) 1,176
* Cement City (located southwest convert|0.8|mi|km|1) Population (2000) 452
* Clark Lake (Jackson County, Michigan) - located north convert|1.4|mi|km|1
* Jackson (located north approximately convert|12.9|mi|km|1) Population (2000) City: 36,316 - Metro Area: 163,629
* Napoleon (located north east convert|4.8|mi|km|1) Population (2000) 1,254

Local points of interest

Golf Courses

Golf Courses, parks and many other recreational activities suround the lake and provide a person with things to do year round. Lake Columbia is located closely to the Irish Hills, Michigan International Speedway and the downtown area of Brooklyn. There are over 14 different challenging golf courses within 20 miles of Lake Columbia.

tate and local parks

* Clark Lake Park
* Vineyard Lake County Park
* Walter J. Hayes State Park
* Cambridge Junction Historic St. Park

Points of Interest

* Michigan International Speedway
* Hidden Lake Gardens
* Irish Hills

External links

* [http://www.lakecolumbia.net Lake Columbia Website]

References