Lake Columbia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Columbia
Lake Columbia Location in Michigan
Location	Jackson County, Michigan
Coordinates	42°05′34″N 84°18′04″W / 42.0928°N 84.3011°W / 42.0928; -84.3011
Primary inflows	Goose Creek
Primary outflows	Goose Creek
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	2.25 mi (3.6 km)
Max. width	1.7 mi (2.7 km)
Surface area	840 acres (3 km2)
Average depth	18 ft (5.5 m)
Max. depth	25 ft (7.6 m)
Residence time	47 years
Shore length1	14 mi (23 km)
Surface elevation	988 ft (301 m)
Islands	2
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Columbia is a beautiful man-made lake located in Columbia Township. You can find it in southern Jackson County, in the U.S. state of Michigan.

This lake started small, as a mill pond back in 1836. It was made much bigger in 1961, growing to cover about 840 acres. At its longest, Lake Columbia stretches for 2 and 1/4 miles. It is also 1 and 3/4 miles wide at its widest point. The lake has about 14 miles of shoreline, which is a lot of space to explore!

The main water source for Lake Columbia is Goose Creek. The lake is about 18 feet deep on average. Lake Columbia is located just 2 miles west of Brooklyn, Michigan. Its exact location is 42.0928 latitude and -84.3011 longitude. The lake sits about 988 feet above sea level.

Lake Columbia is part of the Columbia School District. This means students living around the lake go to these schools. Columbia Lower Elementary is for Pre-K through third grade. Columbia Upper Elementary teaches grades four through six. Older students, from seventh to twelfth grade, attend Columbia Central Junior-Senior High School. There is also an alternative high school, Columbia Options School, in Clark Lake.

Lake Columbia is special because it is a private lake. This means only residents who live there can use it. If you live by the lake, you need to be a member of the Lake Columbia Property Owners Association. This association helps manage the lake and its many features. The lake has 16 private parks for residents to enjoy. There are also 14 named shores where people live. It's a fantastic place for boating and fishing! The lake is stocked every year with Walleye or Bluegill fish. This helps the fish population grow and stay healthy.

How Lake Columbia Works (Hydrology)

Goose Creek, a main water source for Lake Columbia.

Lake Columbia gets most of its water from Goose Creek. This same creek also carries water away from the lake. Goose Creek generally flows from east to west. It eventually flows into the Raisin River. The Raisin River connects several lakes, including Clark Lake, Vineyard Lake, Norvell Lake, and Lake Columbia. All these lakes are linked by Goose Creek. The area that drains into Lake Columbia is very large, about 25,000 square acres. This area includes parts of Jackson County and Hillsdale County, Michigan.

Animals and Nature (Natural History)

Lake Columbia is home to many different animals. You might see White Tail Deer roaming nearby. The lake itself is full of Walleye and Bluegill fish. Red Foxes can also be spotted in the area. And if you're lucky, you might even see Common Loons on the water. These birds are known for their unique calls.

The Story of Lake Columbia (History)

How it Started: Before 1960

In 1835, two men named John H. and Broadhead Du Bois moved to the area. They settled along Goose Creek, about 2.4 miles west of Brooklyn. Their plan was to use the small stream to power their mills. By 1836, they had built a dam and started their mills. A small village called Jefferson was created around the mills. Soon after, a post office opened, and the village name changed to Columbia. The name Jefferson was already being used elsewhere. The original village was near where Jefferson Road and Hewitt Road meet today. Part of this area was later changed when the lake was made bigger.

Building the Lake: 1960 to 1999

In September 1960, a company called American Central Corporation studied the area. They then bought many farms around what would become Lake Columbia. The company wanted to sell attractive land around a private lake. Construction on the big L-shaped dam began in July 1961. This dam now holds back Goose Creek. The dam is 950 feet long and 35 feet high. It has a special overflow area called a spillway. This spillway is 225 feet long and made with a lot of concrete and steel.

By early autumn, the dam was finished. Workers then focused on clearing trees from the lake basin. The flooding started on November 10, 1961. This created the 840-acre Lake Columbia we know today.

Lake Columbia Today: 2000 to Present

Today, the Lake Columbia Property Owners Association has over 1,600 members. More than 700 homes are right on the lake. Another 650 homes are near the lake and are also part of the association. Homes around the lake can range in price. To keep the lake private, residents pay annual membership dues. In 2011, the dues were $360 for the first lot owned. Each extra lot cost $40.

Lake Columbia hosts many fun events throughout the year. There are fishing tournaments and a big community garage sale. Residents can join a golf league or attend block parties. The annual LCPOA picnic is a popular event. Other activities include Light Up the Night Weekend and outdoor movies in the park. Food trucks visit the parks during the summer. At Halloween, there's a "trunk-or-treat" event. In winter, people enjoy snowmobiling, ice hockey, ice skating, and ice fishing.

Lake Columbia also has an amazing Fourth of July fireworks show. It's one of the best in Jackson County! The Lake Columbia Property Owners Association organizes it. The fireworks are paid for by private donations and the LCPOA.

A spectacular fireworks display over Lake Columbia on the 4th of July.

Parks Around Lake Columbia

There are many private parks located around Lake Columbia for residents to enjoy:

• Archwood - You can find it off Archwood Circle, which is off Somerset Drive.
• Bedford, East - Located off Bedford Drive.
• Bedford, West - Also located off Bedford Drive.
• Castlewood - Found off Castlewood Drive, which is off Wesch Road.
• Claremont - Located off Claremont Circle.
• Donald - Also located off Claremont Circle.
• Grand Pointe - You'll find it off Grand Pointe Drive.
• Hawthorne - Located at the end of Hawthorne / Waverly Court.
• Hilltop - Found at the end of Hilltop Court, off Nottingham.
• Karen Court - Located off Somerset Drive.
• Kelley - Found off Kelley Road.
• Nottingham - Located at the end of Nottingham.
• Princess - Located off Princess Drive, across the channel from Archwood Park.
• Riviera - Found off Riviera Drive, which is off Kelly Road.
• Somerset - Located off Somerset Drive, off Hayes Road.
• Southern Shores - You can find it off Southern Shores Drive.

Nearby Towns and Areas

Here are some towns and areas close to Lake Columbia:

• Brooklyn - About 1.7 miles east.
• Cement City - About 0.8 miles southwest.
• Clark Lake (Jackson County, Michigan) - About 1.4 miles north.
• Jackson - About 12.9 miles north.
• Napoleon - About 4.8 miles northeast.

Fun Things to Do Nearby

Golf Courses

There are many golf courses, parks, and other fun activities around Lake Columbia. You can find things to do all year long! Lake Columbia is close to the Irish Hills, Michigan International Speedway, and downtown Brooklyn. There are over 14 different golf courses within 20 miles of the lake.

State and Local Parks

You can also visit these parks nearby:

• Clark Lake Park
• Vineyard Lake County Park
• Walter J. Hayes State Park
• Cambridge Junction Historic State Park

Other Cool Places to Visit

• Michigan International Speedway - A famous race track!
• Hidden Lake Gardens - A beautiful place to see plants.
• Irish Hills - A scenic area with rolling hills.