By Louie Stout

In this era of some lake associations destroying aquatic habitat, it’s refreshing to see one who is doing just the opposite.

Lake officials at Diamond Lake in Cass County, Michigan are in the planning process of providing MORE fish habitat to the 1,078-acre lake near Cassopolis.

The Diamond Lake Association’s Lake Preservation Committee plans to submerge 10 tree cribs in various sections of the lake, add log barriers along some seawall areas and place boulders around some shorelines to reduce erosion. A lake resident offered to provide the hardwoods for the cribs and the committee will handle the manual labor.

“Fishermen who live on our lake believe fish stocks aren’t what they used to be and this is one way to help the fishermen and the lake,” said Sheryl DeLuca, vice president of the association and the committee chairman. “We know that a good fishery is the sign of a healthy ecosystem.”

The cribs will consist of three trees in each of the 10 locations and planted in water 15 feet or deeper. DeLuca hopes they will be submerged before spring.

Lake erosion is another component of the project. The committee recognizes that the abundance of seawalls on shorelines has created a “bathtub effect.” Natural vegetation is being destroyed and seawalls can wash out due to heavy wave action.

“The lake is well developed and lake activity has increased significantly,” she noted. “Wakes from power boats stir up the vegetation and pound the shoreline. We need to put enough stuff (plants, rocks and fish sticks) that angle down in the water to help break the waves.”

The group is working with a consulting group, the Michigan DNR fisheries division, the Cass County Conservation District and the Michigan State University Extension office to obtain grants and insure the project is done properly and successfully.

DeLuca said the group also hopes to place large rocks around Fireworks Island, located on the southwest corner of the lake. Wave action has been deteriorating the shoreline there.
It also hopes to place big boulders around the public access grassy areas and reduce erosion around the launch area.

“There are days when there is overcrowding in the parking area of the access and some boaters are parking in grassy areas or not parking in the larger lot (across the road from the main access),” she said.

DeLuca said education will be a big part of their committee’s effort and it plans to share its concept with neighboring lakes.

“We have always focused on defensive things, such as invasive species, so this is kind of a bold and offensive posture,” she said. “We’re trying to mitigate future erosion, take care of our fisheries and leave a nice legacy for Diamond Lake.”