Gull Lake | |
---|---|
Location | Cass / Crow Wing counties, Minnesota, United States |
Coordinates | 46°26′47″N94°21′04″W / 46.4463788°N 94.3509900°W Coordinates: 46°26′47″N94°21′04″W / 46.4463788°N 94.3509900°W [1] |
Primary outflows | Gull River |
Catchment area | Crow Wing Watershed |
Basin countries | United States |
Max. length | 15.3 mi (25 km) |
Max. width | 3.3 mi (5 km) |
Surface area | 9,947.03 acres (40.2542 km2) |
Average depth | 30 ft (9 m) |
Max. depth | 80 ft (24 m) |
Water volume | 298,410 acre⋅ft (0.36808 km3) |
Shore length1 | 38 mi (61 km) |
Surface elevation | 1,253 ft (382 m) |
Settlements | East Gull Lake |
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. |
Gull Lake is a lake in the U.S. state of Minnesota, located in Cass County and Crow Wing County. It is one of the largest lakes in the Brainerd, Minnesota-Baxter, Minnesota area and also one of the most popular for vacationing and for recreation. [2] Of the seven Gull Lakes in Minnesota, this Gull Lake is the largest in area and shoreline. [2] The shoreline is highly developed with residential and commercial interests. For each shoreline mile there are 27.8 homes or cabins. There are 19 resorts on Gull Lake, including notably Cragun's, Madden's, and Grand View Lodge. [2]
Gull Lake was raised approximately five feet by the construction of Gull Lake Dam about a half mile down Gull River from the lake's outlet. The dam began service in 1912. Prior to this, logging interests would build temporary dams at the site. The dam was the final Mississippi Headwaters reservoir dam. Colonel Francis R. Shunk and George Freeman designed Gull Lake dam. Both are more well known for designing the Lock and Dam Number 1 on the Mississippi River in 1917 in Minneapolis, MN. [3]
The site of the Gull Lake Dam has particular prehistoric archaeological significance. Under the site there have been found at least 12 burial mounds as well as several partial mounds. All are thought to originate from the Woodland American Indian tribes, which resided in the area from 800 B.C. to A.D. 200, returning later to inhabit the area from A.D. 600 to A.D. 900. The National Register of Historic Places recognizes these burial mounds. [3]
The site of St. Columba Mission on the eastern side of the lake is also listed on the National Register.
In present day, the Gull Lake area has many amenities and houses, as it is close to Nisswa, and both of these places are common places to vacation. There are resorts including Grandview Lodge, Cragun's Resort, and Madden's Resort, have many golf courses and vacationers contribute significantly to the local economy during the summer. [4] [5] [6] The cabins along Gull Lake tend to be very expensive. [7]
Gull Lake is the site of the annual Brainerd Ice Fishing Extravaganza, a charitable ice fishing contest hosted by Jaycees Brainerd. 20,000 ice fishing holes are drilled into the ice on Gull Lake for the event. [8] [9] [10] [11]
At 9,947.03 acres (40.2542 km2) surface area, Gull Lake is the largest lake within the city limits of East Gull Lake, Minnesota. [2] The lake's maximum depth is 80 feet (24 m) with nearly 30% of the lake only 15 feet (5 m) or less. These shallow waters consist primarily of sand and gravel. There are also areas of rubble and boulder.
Gull lake is 15.3 miles (25 km) long and 3.3 miles (5 km) wide, [12] with a median depth of 30 feet (9 m). [13] Gull lake is part of the Crow Wing watershed. The shoreland is zoned for general development. [13]
Stony Brook stream's mouth is at Gull Lake. The brown trout of Stony Brook were recently noticed as threatened by the recreational activity on Gull Lake. The stream's natural habitat for trout has been a focus point of restoration work by local anglers and MDNR fisheries biologists. [14]
There are over 35 species of aquatic life in the water of Gull Lake, which help to maintain a large fish population. The emergent bulrush plant is especially important for providing a habitat for bass and panfish species. [2]
Anglers are attracted to the stocked walleye population in Gull Lake. Since 2003, at least 2,825,000 fry Walleye have been stocked into Gull Lake by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. As of 2007 the average length and weight of a walleye in Gull lake was 14.6 inches (37 cm) and 1.3 pounds (0.6 kg). Another popular catch is Northern Pike, whose length and weight are, on average, 25.8 inches (66 cm) and 4.0 pounds (1.8 kg), respectively. [2]
The Gull Chain of Lakes, for which Gull Lake is the namesake and largest member, is a collection of eight connected lakes and two bays:
The chain collectively covers 13,000 acres (53 km2) and its shores host over 2,500 homes. The chain spans across Cass County, MN and Crow Wing County, MN. [16] Mayo and Sibley lakes are also connected to Gull Lake via Mayo Creek. Cullen lakes are connected to Gull via creek from Cullen to Lake Nisswa. Long Lake is connected to Round via Sugar Bush Creek. Round is part of the Gull Chain. Lake Hubert is connect to Lake Edward which flows into Lake Nisswa (Gull Chain)
On August 6, 2007, the MDNR Commissioner approved name changes to many bodies of water in Cass County containing the derogatory word Squaw. Squaw Point of Leech Lake became Oak Point, Squaw Lake became Little Woman Lake, Squaw Pond became Scout Camp Pond, and Squaw Point of Gull Lake became Gull Point. [17]
Lake Shore, Minnesota
East Gull Lake is a city in Cass County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 986 at the 2020 census. The nearest semi-urban area is that of Brainerd and Baxter. It is part of the Brainerd Micropolitan Statistical Area. East Gull Lake is in Central Minnesota's Brainerd Lakes Area and takes its name from the largest lake within its borders, Gull Lake.
Nisswa is a city in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,971 at the 2010 census. Nisswa is part of the Brainerd Micropolitan Statistical Area, near Gull Lake.
The Los Angeles Aqueduct system, comprising the Los Angeles Aqueduct and the Second Los Angeles Aqueduct, is a water conveyance system, built and operated by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The Owens Valley aqueduct was designed and built by the city's water department, at the time named The Bureau of Los Angeles Aqueduct, under the supervision of the department's Chief Engineer William Mulholland. The system delivers water from the Owens River in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains to Los Angeles, California.
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The Winnibigoshish Lake Dam is a dam at the outlet of Lake Winnibigoshish into the Mississippi River in Minnesota, United States. The dam crosses the county line between Cass County and Itasca County, and lies within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. The first dam on the site was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers from 1881 to 1884 to regulate the flow of water on the Upper Mississippi River. A constant flow was desired by loggers, fur traders, and millers downstream at St. Anthony Falls. The current structure was built in 1899. Lake Winnibigoshish is Minnesota's fifth largest lake, at 67,000 acres (270 km2).
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