The origins of our “man-made” lake began around the turn of the last century ( early 1900’s). At that time some local farmers noted the land contained significant peat with a few springs. They proceeded to clear some land and attempted to grow celery. For unknown reasons that plan failed and the property then lay dormant until the early 1960’s when Stanley Chase and his partner’s ( Clear Water Development ) decided to create the Indian Lakes Development.
As the lake sculpting progressed it was determined that the natural springs were inadequate
to fill the lake thus a well was drilled on the property on Apache Trail adjacent to the Association storage building.
The Development construction proceeded and lot sales commenced in late 1966.
In October 1966 when the first lots on Indian Shores Drive on Arrowhead Bay Plat No.1 were
sold there was 18” of water in that bay. Today the average lake depth s 6’.
Many factors from evaporation to seepage require the addition of water to maintain a desirable lake water level. Until 1975 Clearwater Development supervised, operated and maintained the one well pump and paid all of the expenses related thereto.
Fast forward to today and there are now four wells; a.) Apache Trail -original which is operational but not currently being used b.) Shady Oaks Park – 400 gallons per minute
c.) Pavilion property – 400 gallons per minute and d.) a second well at Apache Trail – 1850 gallons per minute. When the three wells are operating more than 3.8 million gallons of water is being pumped into the lake per day. On a weekly basis that is more than 26 million gallons.
In 2019 the original “Overflow Structure”on Cochise Drive was determined to be un-repairable and was closed following the construction of a new one at the end of East Suwanee Drive. With the new structure water starts draining from the lake at 902.42 ft. above sea level.
Maintaining the proper water level is as much an “art” as it is a “science.” The lake loses water via evaporation and seepage. It gains water via rain and the pumps. Sometimes excessive rainfall will raise the level above the mandated level and remain elevated until the excessive water flows (discharges) out of the control structure. At other times the pumps are unable to pump enough / fast enough to make up the loss from extended heat, drought and seepage. Thus the water level does rise and fall and the decision to activate the pumps must take into consideration the weather forecast. Attempting to use the pumps to “overfill” is purely a waste of electricity and money.
In 1975 the the lake bottom was deeded from Clearwater Development to the Lake Shores Association. At that time the responsibility for maintaining the water level was transferred to the Montcalm County Drain Commissioner. Thus the Drain Commissioner became and is the administrator of all things water level related including the turning on and off the pumps. Said Commissioner ( thru Montcalm County ) pays for all of the operational and maintenance costs, with said costs being collected from LSA members thru property tax billings.
In 2024 the Commissioner installed and activated an electronic water level monitoring system enabling all LSA members to observe the “real time” level via the internet. To view click the following link …
Indian Lake Water Level – Real Time
and sign in as User: Guest Password: Guest
( If using a desktop, please choose ‘Display Anywhere Client in your Browser’ )
Any questions regarding the lake water level should be directed to ..