Lake Isabella, located in Isabella Co., MI, is a shallow impoundment (ca. 720 acres) as part of the Chippewa River, with a maximum depth of ca. 24 feet and mean depth of ca. five (5) feet. The impoundment was created in 1968 primarily as a flood control reservoir and secondarily to provide recreational and other aesthetic benefits to LIPOA residents along the 87,200 foot shoreline, as well as to the residents of the Village of Lake Isabella.
The forty-plus year history of the lake system has evidenced progressive eutrophication and water quality degradation, augmented by nutrient loading and siltation from upstream agricultural activity proximal to and within the Chippewa River watershed. Sedimentation, particularly in shallow bays, has increasingly become problematic, coupled with an over-abundance of aquatic macrophytes, notably Eurasian water milfoil, and a variety of Potamogeton species.
Results/Conclusions
Historically, Lake Isabella lake management practices have varied in approach and efficacy. The work presented herein will focus on the efficacy of past management practices, compare these practices with similar lake impoundment management systems, and present a definitive and prioritized lake management action plan in order to facilitate long term sustainability of the Lake Isabella system.