Lake Cadillac facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Cadillac |
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Boating is a popular activity on Lake Cadillac
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 Lake Cadillac
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Cadillac, Wexford County, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 44°14′23″N 85°25′39″W / 44.23972°N 85.42750°W |
| Type | Kettle (landform) |
| Primary inflows | Clam Lake Canal |
| Primary outflows | Clam River |
| Catchment area | 34,356 km2 (13,265 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 2.6 mi (4.2 km) |
| Max. width | .82 mi (1.32 km) |
| Surface area | 1,150 acres (4.7 km2) |
| Average depth | 11.8 ft (3.6 m) |
| Max. depth | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
| Water volume | 13,458 acre⋅ft (16,600,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 7.77 mi (12.50 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,289 ft (393 m) |
| Settlements | Cadillac |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Cadillac is a beautiful lake found right inside the city of Cadillac, Michigan. It's connected to a larger system called the Muskegon River watershed. This means its water eventually flows into the Muskegon River.
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About Lake Cadillac
Lake Cadillac gets its water from two places. One is a small river that flows from Lake Mitchell. The other is a short canal that also comes from Lake Mitchell. The water then leaves Lake Cadillac through the Clam River.
Dealing with Invasive Plants
In 2005, a problem plant called Eurasian water milfoil was found in Lake Cadillac. This plant can grow very fast and cover the water's surface. It can make it hard for other plants and animals to live. It also makes it difficult for people to boat or swim.
By summer, this plant covered more than a quarter of the lake. To fix this, treatments began in 2006. By 2007, the amount of milfoil was brought down to a safe level. This helped keep the lake healthy for everyone.
History of Lake Cadillac
Long ago, Lake Cadillac had a different name. People used to call it Little Clam Lake.
Connecting the Lakes
In 1873, a local businessman named George A. Mitchell started a village called Clam Lake. This village was later renamed Cadillac, Michigan, in 1882. George Mitchell built something important called the Clam Lake Canal. This canal connected Little Clam Lake to a bigger lake, which was then called Big Clam Lake.
The canal was very useful for the logging industry. Logs from the west side of Big Clam Lake could float through the canal. They would then reach Little Clam Lake. On the east side of Little Clam Lake, there were lumber mills. These mills cut the logs into wood. There was also a railroad nearby and the village of Clam Lake.
New Names for the Lakes
In 1903, the names of the two lakes were changed. Little Clam Lake became Lake Cadillac, named after the city. Big Clam Lake was renamed Lake Mitchell. This new name honored William W. Mitchell, who was George A. Mitchell's nephew and business partner.
After the logging era ended, Lake Cadillac became a popular place for tourists. Today, William Mitchell State Park is on the west shore of Lake Cadillac, right next to the canal. Many people enjoy camping and visiting the park.
