491:
drained by about one-third before engineering failures caused two bridges to crack and a gas line to rupture due to the ground shifting. The water level was not lowered any further. The shallower western edge of
Belleville Lake was drained completely, uncovering decades of debris and garbage, which included old safes, firearms, automobiles, sunken boats, and a historic cement roadway that was constructed in 1904. The original poisoning project was voted to continue after a brief hiatus. Rotenone was airdropped by helicopter for the first time in the state to eliminate the carp population. It resulted in a large cleanup project that resulted in 850,000 pounds (390,000 kg) of dead fish carcasses, of which 95% were carp. The bridges were repaired, and the lake was soon refilled and stocked with more native game species of fish.
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26:
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710:(PFOS) can result in harmful algal blooms that can have negative health affects. When this bacteria is present, prolonged contact with the water is not advised, although occasional contact with PFOS is not considered a health concern. Regardless of water quality, swimming is not a common recreational activity on the lake.
555:
operates two public boat launches along the lake. The
Belleville Lake–West access point is located on Rawsonville Road along the lake's western edge, and the Belleville Lake–East access point is located along the eastern-central portion of the lake on East Huron River Drive. The two boat launches
670:
Belleville Lake has numerous listings on the state's Master Angler
Entries. The largest fish listed is a common carp at 36.50 inches (92.71 cm) with other similarly sized carps also listed. A channel catfish is also listed at 33.25 inches (84.46 cm) and a largemouth bass at 25.75 inches
478:
was blocked off to prevent the poison from entering
Belleville Lake, but the dam accidentally opened and released the poison. This resulted in the unplanned killing of up to 350,000 pounds (160,000 kg) of fish in Belleville Lake, and the state issued a temporary ban on the use of rotenone in
490:
for competing with native fish species. The lake was going to be drained, because less poison would be needed with less water. Ford Lake Dam was closed to eliminate the water supply to
Belleville Lake, and the French Landing Dam was opened further to allow the water to drain. The lake was only
506:
The lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet (9.1 m) near the eastern end but much shallower toward the western end. The lake continues the flow of the Huron River, beginning approximately at
Rawsonville Road and meandering to Haggerty Road—roughly parallel south of
347:
The French
Landing Dam and Powerhouse is also listed as a Michigan State Historic Site, as is the John C. Stellwagen House. The lakefront Stellwagen House lost a portion of its property when the lake was flooded, but the original house remains standing.
503:. The lake has a surface area of 1,270 acres (5.14 km) and sits at an elevation of 650 feet (200 m) above sea level. Belleville Lake mostly follows the original path of the Huron River, which serves as its primary inflow and outflow.
550:
Belleville Lake is a popular recreational site for boating, personal watercraft, canoeing/kayaking, and fishing. There are several lakefront parks, including Doane's
Landing, French Landing Park, Horizon Park, and Van Buren Park. The
635:. Many of these species are routinely stocked and monitored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Belleville Lake is one of the few inland lakes in southeastern Michigan with an established population of the invasive
713:
When algae levels reach a high enough level to pose a threat, a "Do Not Eat" fish advisory is issued and posted at all access points along the lake. Boating and fishing are still allowed, but fishermen are advised to
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364:
Belleville Bridge was built in 1925 to carry
Belleville Road across the newly formed lake. It was 120 feet (36.6 m) long and was one of the state's few riveted camelback pony
678:
also passes along
Belleville Lake and connects to Michigan's Iron Belle Trail, which follows along the Huron River and connects to Wayne County's eastern communities along the
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376:
connecting to Detroit. In 1985, a larger roadway was needed for the growing community and traffic. At the time, the bridge was a potential candidate for entry on the
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1139:
78:
45:
333:
639:, which are now integrated into the lake's ecosystem and spreading to other areas of the Huron River. Smaller fish routinely caught or netted include
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monitors the water quality and issues advisories when the bacteria levels in the water may pose a health threat. Most algal blooms are
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776:
380:, but its replacement was necessary and forfeited any future historic designations. The original bridge was dismantled and sold to
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293:
237:
1301:
1291:
884:
902:
889:
Belleville Road Bridge, Spanning the Flat River at Burroughs Drive (replaced Burroughs Street Bridge), Lowell, Kent County, MI
430:
427:. The new Belleville Bridge shares no resemblance and is now a four-lane, three-span reinforced concrete bridge located at
399:
1073:
340:
was erected at the intersection of Rawsonville Road and Grove Road. The community of Rawsonville continues to exist as an
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500:
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257:
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Belleville Lake is an elongated reservoir that flows about 8 miles (12.9 km) through the central portion of
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1052:"Michigan Recreational Boating Information System (MRBIS): Boating Access Site Detail (Belleville Lake–East)"
1030:"Michigan Recreational Boating Information System (MRBIS): Boating Access Site Detail (Belleville Lake–West)"
873:
802:
848:
368:. Located just north of the community center, it was vitally important for residents of the area to access
332:, which had few remaining structures and residents by this time. The historic community was dedicated as a
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118:
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385:
381:
329:
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U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Old Rawsonville Village Historical Marker
530:
also lists a very small portion of Belleville Lake crossing the county line at Rawsonville Road into
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325:
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25:
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954:
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late in the summer, which must be frequently tested to determine their level of toxicity. The
715:
604:
515:
is a short distance upstream from Belleville Lake, which itself is a reservoir created by the
522:
Belleville Lake is mostly surrounded by Van Buren Township within Wayne County. The city of
519:. The two lakes are separated by a short one-mile (1.6 km) stretch of the Huron River.
1253:
1197:
1004:
739:
640:
487:
393:
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in 1925. The lake was originally named Edison Lake, because the dam was constructed by the
482:
In September 1973, Belleville Lake was partially drained as a plan to poison an increasing
660:
596:
592:
580:
576:
474:. Rotenone was used in Ford Lake to eliminate fish populations in a restocking effort.
466:
In May 1973, thousands of fish in Belleville Lake were accidentally killed by the use of
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703:
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563:
Belleville Lake is a very popular fishing destination. Common fish species include
632:
620:
365:
667:. According to one study, bluegill amounted to 61% of total catches on the lake.
874:
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rawsonville, Michigan
815:
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691:
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600:
584:
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360:
Constructed in 1985, Belleville Bridge replaced an earlier bridge built in 1925.
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U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Belleville Lake
1168:"Michigan extends 'Do Not Eat' Fish Advisory for Huron River to Lake Erie"
384:. It replaced the former Burroughs Street Bridge and currently spans the
652:
564:
467:
285:
888:
320:
Belleville Lake is an artificial reservoir created by the hydroelectric
628:
328:. When the lake was created, it flooded out the historic community of
927:"Lowering of Belleville Lake in past caused problems, opportunities"
541:
355:
307:
1221:"Dangerous blue-green algae found in 2 metro Detroit lakes"
1190:"Harmful algae blooms detected in Ford, Belleville lakes"
526:
is centered along the lake on the southern coast. The
849:"These 11 Michigan ghost towns are eerily intriguing"
292:. The lake was created from the construction of the
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208:
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18:
1249:"State: Don't eat Huron River fish in 5 counties"
816:"Old Rawsonville Village – Registered Site L1129"
696:Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
344:with little relation to the historic community.
125:
316:in 1925 led to the creation of Belleville Lake.
1219:Detroit Free Press staff (14 September 2018).
978:Van Buren Charter Township (30 January 2017).
1282:Bodies of water of Washtenaw County, Michigan
8:
1074:"Belleville Lake (Rawsonville Road access)"
929:. The Belleville Independent. 27 June 2017
738:Huron River Dams Network (November 2015).
288:. A very small portion extends west into
15:
1287:Bodies of water of Wayne County, Michigan
1096:"Fish Stocking Database: Belleville Lake"
546:Belleville Lake seen from Doane's Landing
1118:"Master Angler Entries: Belleville Lake"
901:Charter Council of Wayne County (2020).
773:Michigan Department of Natural Resources
553:Michigan Department of Natural Resources
528:Michigan Department of Natural Resources
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980:"Charter Township of Van Buren Parks"
777:"Lake inventory map: Belleville Lake"
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702:and pose no threat, but accumulating
65:Location within the state of Michigan
7:
885:Historic American Engineering Record
378:National Register of Historic Places
953:Braunscheidel, Jeffery (May 2012).
847:Bingham, Emily (October 26, 2016).
556:are administered and maintained by
98:Belleville Lake (the United States)
1170:(Press release). City of Ann Arbor
690:Belleville Lake often experiences
14:
486:population that was viewed as an
322:French Landing Dam and Powerhouse
314:French Landing Dam and Powerhouse
294:French Landing Dam and Powerhouse
1247:Hicks, Mark (1 September 2018).
84:
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51:
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1297:1925 establishments in Michigan
223:
215:
207:
1138:Michigan DNR (12 April 2021).
855:. Mlive Media Group. p. 3
1:
1140:"Michigan's Iron Belle Trail"
109:
101:Show map of the United States
334:Michigan State Historic Site
1003:City of Belleville (2020).
903:"Belleville Bridge History"
708:perfluorooctanesulfonatecan
1318:
1005:"City of Belleville Parks"
392:just north of the city of
30:View from Horizon Park in
212:1,270 acres (5.1 km)
38:
23:
887:(HAER) No. MI-66, "
814:MichMarkers.com (2020).
342:unincorporated community
312:The construction of the
446:42.211583°N 83.492750°W
415:42.965722°N 85.351000°W
336:on October 27, 1983. A
1302:Huron River (Michigan)
1292:Reservoirs in Michigan
676:Border-to-Border Trail
547:
361:
326:Detroit Edison Company
317:
280:located mostly within
119:Wayne County, Michigan
1116:Michigan DNR (2020).
1094:Michigan DNR (2020).
1072:Michigan DNR (2020).
1050:Michigan DNR (2019).
1028:Michigan DNR (2019).
545:
451:42.211583; -83.492750
420:42.965722; -85.351000
359:
311:
284:in the U.S. state of
228:650 feet (200 m)
148:42.21194°N 83.49639°W
740:"French Landing Dam"
220:30 feet (9.1 m)
68:Show map of Michigan
1200:. 17 September 2018
442: /
411: /
153:42.21194; -83.49639
144: /
1226:Detroit Free Press
1166:(31 August 2018).
558:Maybury State Park
548:
532:Ypsilanti Township
501:Van Buren Township
390:Vergennes Township
362:
318:
262:Ypsilanti Township
258:Van Buren Township
1164:City of Ann Arbor
955:"Belleville Lake"
775:(31 March 2003).
716:catch and release
671:(65.41 cm).
605:tiger muskellunge
352:Belleville Bridge
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225:Surface elevation
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290:Washtenaw County
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686:Health concerns
661:spottail shiner
597:smallmouth bass
581:channel catfish
577:yellow bullhead
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372:and eventually
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338:historic marker
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270:Belleville Lake
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189: countries
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92:Belleville Lake
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59:Belleville Lake
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19:Belleville Lake
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723:
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687:
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657:spotfin shiner
645:emerald shiner
573:brown bullhead
569:black bullhead
560:to the north.
539:
536:
496:
493:
463:
462:Rotenone usage
460:
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704:cyanobacteria
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685:
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680:Detroit River
677:
672:
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649:golden shiner
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609:northern pike
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589:black crappie
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534:to the west.
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517:Ford Lake Dam
514:
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509:Interstate 94
504:
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476:Ford Lake Dam
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374:Interstate 94
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370:U.S. Route 12
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366:truss bridges
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197:First flooded
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192:United States
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1258:. Retrieved
1252:
1242:
1230:. Retrieved
1224:
1214:
1202:. Retrieved
1193:
1184:
1172:. Retrieved
1158:
1146:. Retrieved
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1121:. Retrieved
1111:
1099:. Retrieved
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1077:. Retrieved
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1055:. Retrieved
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1033:. Retrieved
1008:. Retrieved
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986:. Retrieved
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961:. Retrieved
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906:. Retrieved
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857:. Retrieved
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831:
819:. Retrieved
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783:. Retrieved
746:. Retrieved
712:
692:algal blooms
689:
673:
669:
633:yellow perch
562:
549:
521:
505:
498:
481:
479:the future.
470:upstream in
465:
437:83°29′33.9″W
434:42°12′41.7″N
406:85°21′03.6″W
403:42°57′56.6″N
363:
346:
319:
282:Wayne County
269:
268:
243:
209:Surface area
1232:October 22,
1123:October 31,
1101:November 3,
1079:November 1,
1057:November 2,
1035:November 2,
1010:November 2,
988:November 2,
963:November 3,
933:November 3,
908:November 2,
859:October 26,
821:October 13,
785:November 1,
748:November 1,
700:green algae
665:white perch
617:silver bass
603:(including
601:muskellunge
585:common carp
567:, catfish (
484:common carp
449: /
418: /
382:Kent County
330:Rawsonville
298:Huron River
276:artificial
274:fresh water
250:Settlements
180:Huron River
170:Fresh water
151: /
126:Coordinates
1276:Categories
1260:August 22,
1204:August 23,
1174:August 24,
722:References
637:round goby
538:Activities
524:Belleville
386:Flat River
296:along the
254:Belleville
217:Max. depth
139:83°29′47″W
136:42°12′43″N
32:Belleville
853:MLive.com
613:rock bass
513:Ford Lake
495:Geography
472:Ford Lake
458:.
300:in 1925.
278:reservoir
244:(unnamed)
115:Washtenaw
653:logperch
565:bluegill
511:.
468:rotenone
286:Michigan
111:Location
1148:June 2,
629:walleye
625:sunfish
621:suckers
304:History
238:Islands
718:only.
663:, and
631:, and
579:, and
394:Lowell
1194:MLive
1143:(PDF)
983:(PDF)
958:(PDF)
780:(PDF)
743:(PDF)
593:large
272:is a
187:Basin
1262:2019
1234:2020
1206:2019
1176:2019
1150:2021
1125:2020
1103:2020
1081:2020
1059:2020
1037:2020
1012:2020
990:2020
965:2020
935:2020
910:2020
861:2016
823:2020
787:2020
750:2020
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