Jordan Lake (Michigan)
| Jordan Lake | |
|---|---|
 Aerial image of Jordan Lake | |
  Jordan Lake Location within Michigan | |
| Location | Barry County, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 42°46′13″N 85°08′26″W / 42.770345°N 85.140518°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
Surface area | 430 acres (174 ha) |
Average depth | 58 ft (18 m) |
Surface elevation | 812 ft (247 m) |
Jordan Lake is a 430-acre (174 ha), 58-foot (18 m) deep lake located in south-western Barry County, Michigan. The lake's inlet is Tupper Creek, and its outlet is the Little Thornapple River.[1] It is situated directly south of Lakeview Drive in Lake Odessa, Michigan and located between the metropolitan areas of Grand Rapids and Lansing.[2]
History
Jordan Lake is a glacial lake that developed during the time of Lake Arkona in the Pleistocene period.[3]
The lake area was first settled in 1838.[4] As the village of Lake Odessa developed, a sewage facility was constructed near Jordan Lake.[3] By 1947, a Michigan State University team, after being requested to investigate algal blooms in Jordan Lake, discovered that sewage had contaminated a third of the northeast portion of the lake and condemned the lake, preventing recreational use.[3]
In the summer of 2000, residents expressed concern to local officials after packs of dead fish appeared in the lake after herbicides were applied to kill algae and invasive plants, with Michigan House representative Terry Geiger hosting a town hall regarding the incident.[5]
On May 10, 2005, a group of three adults and one child fell from a tipped canoe into the cold waters of the lake.[6] An off-duty prison guard used a personal water craft to rescue the child and two adults, though the child's father drowned.[6]
Recreation
The Lake Odessa Municipal Beach, a 2.7 acres (1.1 ha) beach located at 1440 Virginia Street, has a playground, grills, pavilion and public swimming area.[2][7] A boat launch is located on the western shore of the lake.[2]
Ecology
In the spring, nutrients and organisms are introduced to Jordan Lake from a channel connected to the nearby Tupper Lake.[3] Bidens connata, a flowering plant primarily found in wetland areas, are located in the surrounding parts of the lake.[8] Eurasian water milfoil, an invasive aquatic weed, also has a presence in the lake.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ Pacific Northwest Environmental Research Laboratory (March 1975). Report on Jordan Lake, Ionia and Barry Counties, Michigan. United States Environmental Protection Agency (Report). Archived from the original on 16 February 2017.
- 1 2 3 Smith, Erika W. (2026-05-16). "Between Grand Rapids And Lansing Is Michigan's Lakeside Village With A Beach And Antique Shops". Islands. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Wade, Wilbert Ernest. A limnological investigation of Jordan Lake, Michigan (Thesis). Michigan State University. doi:10.25335/vxpg-xy19.
- ↑ Johnson, Crisfield (1880). History of Allegan and Barry counties, Michigan. Philadelphia: D.W. Ensign & Co. p. 502.
- 1 2 Harmon, Steven (30 August 2000). "Fish die-off packs hall Residents vent to state and Jordan Lake Board officials over chemicals used to treat the lake". The Grand Rapids Press. pp. A17.
- 1 2 Huges, Mike (5 June 2005). "A lesson in safety". Lansing State Journal. pp. D1.
- ↑ Nelson, Jordan (3 September 2021). "Enjoy Labor Day: Parks, waterfront and nature await you". Lansing State Journal. pp. B7.
- ↑ Sherff, Earl Edward (1962). "Further Notes on the Distribution of Bidens Connata Vars. Pinnata and Gracilipes". Rhodora. 64 (757): 23–28. ISSN 0035-4902.
- ↑ Gwizdz, Bob (16 March 2014). "Fishing on the lake -- European style". Lansing State Journal.
Further reading
- Wade, Wilbert Ernest (1948). A Limnological Investigation of Jordan Lake, Michigan (MS thesis). Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science. doi:10.25335/M5H41JP1J (inactive 6 May 2026).
{{cite thesis}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of May 2026 (link)