Ford Lake | |
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![]() Looking south from North Bay Park | |
Location | Washtenaw County, Michigan |
Coordinates | 42°13′02″N83°35′06″W / 42.21722°N 83.58500°W |
Type | Fresh water Reservoir |
River sources | Huron River |
Basin countries | United States |
First flooded | 1931 [1] |
Surface area | 975 acres (395 ha) [2] |
Max. depth | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
Surface elevation | 682 ft (208 m) [3] |
Islands | Big Island Park and several unnamed islands [4] |
Settlements | Ypsilanti Ypsilanti Township |
Ford Lake is a fresh water artificial reservoir located in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The lake was created from the construction of Ford Lake Dam (originally known as Rawsonville Dam) along the Huron River in the early 1930s. [1] The lake is named after business magnate Henry Ford.
The lake covers an area of 975 acres (395 ha) and has a maximum depth of 30 feet (9.1 m) near the eastern end. [2] [5] The lake continues the flow of the Huron River, beginning approximately at the Interstate 94 bridge crossing in the city of Ypsilanti and ends at Ford Lake Dam along Bridge Road in Ypsilanti Township. A short distance after the Ford Lake Dam, the Huron River continues into Belleville Lake, which itself is a reservoir created by the French Landing Dam and Powerhouse. [6]
Ford Lake is a recreational site for boating, personal watercraft, canoeing/kayaking, and fishing. Portions of the Border-to-Border Trail run along Ford Lake and are popular among bicyclists. [7] There are four public lakeshore parks within Ypsilanti Township: Ford Lake Park, Huron River Park, Loonfeather Point Park, and North Bay Park. The only boat launch for motorized vessels on the lake is within Ford Lake Park. [8]
Common fish within Ford Lake include bullhead catfish, channel catfish, common carp, crappies, northern pike, smallmouth bass, suckers, sunfish, bluegill, walleye, white bass, and yellow perch. [2] [9] The lake was once used by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to stock various fish, including tiger muskellunge, which are no longer present in Ford Lake. [10] The largest fish caught in Ford Lake is a common carp recorded in the state's Master Angler Entries at 36.25 inches (97.08 cm) long. [11]
Ford Lake often experiences algal blooms late in the summer, and the lake water is therefore frequently tested to assess for the presence of harmful algal blooms. [12] The Washtenaw County Health Department has issued advisories in the past based high levels of toxic cyanobacteria that may pose negative health effects to humans through prolonged exposure to contaminated water or ingestion of contaminated seafood. [13] Regardless of water quality, swimming is not a common recreational activity on the lake.
When toxic algal blooms are detected, a "Do Not Eat" fish advisory is issued and posted at all access points along Ford Lake. Boating and fishing are still allowed, but fishermen are advised to catch and release only. [14]