The Sherman Lake & Watershed Association (SLWA) is dedicated to preserving the beauty and quality
of Sherman Lake, a 160 acre lake in Southwest Michigan.
Sherman Lake is home to nearly one hundred homeowners, the Sherman
Lake YMCA Camp and Outdoor Center and lots of native birds and wildlife including the Great Blue Heron gracing the mast-head
of our website.
Like many lakes in the area, Sherman Lake was formed nearly 13,000 years ago as a result of glacial activity
during the last ice age. Maximum depth is 36 feet on the North end of the lake.
Nearly 30% of the shoreline
is natural and undeveloped under the stewardship of the Sherman Lake YMCA Camp providing a beautiful and peaceful setting for the
residents and wildlife that call Sherman Lake their home.
Lake Management Efforts
Lake Management has become a necessity over the past several years with the spread of invasive species,
such as Eurasion Water Milfoil.
The SLWA has stepped up its efforts to protect the lake and is actively engaged in exploring
root cause solutions to the increasing challenges of excessive nutrient loading and weed and water quality management.
This website
is desiged to help keep SLWA members informed and to reach out to other lake associations to share insights and ideas for preserving
the beauty of our inland lakes for many generations to come.
Use the menu at the left to browse this site. Contact us via email if you have questions or would like to get involved.
Sherman Lake Fact Sheet
Location: Kalamazoo County
Michigan, USA
Surface Area: 161 Acres
Type Of Lake:
Natural Kettle
Maximum Depth: 35 Feet
Mean Depth:
15.2 Feet
Lake Volume: 2554 Acre Feet
Watershed Area: 565
Acres
Watershed to Lake
Ratio:
3.37
Flushing Rate: 3.62 Years
Elevation:
861 Feet
Hydrology: Closed Basin, Spring Fed
Trophic
Index: Mesotrophic (2006)
(click on map for larger image)
Sherman Lake Map & Information
Freeze/Thaw Data (Last 5 Years)
Year
Freeze Date
Thaw Date
2007/2008
Jan. 20
Apr. 1
2006/2007
Jan. 17
Mar. 22
2005/2006
Intermittent
Feb.
4
2004/2006
Dec. 8
Apr. 1
2003/2004
Dec. 20
Mar. 23
For more extensive freeze/thaw data back to 1959, click here.
Hydrology of
Sherman Lake
Sherman Lake benefits from a small watershed and a unique relationship to a large underground aquifer - the Sherman Lake
Aquifer.
Historically, these characteristics have provided Sherman Lake with some protection from excessive nutrient loading
and may have positive implications for our lake management efforts.
For a more in-depth look at the hydrology of Sherman Lake
click below:
