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O'Rourke Lake in the summer and fall |
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| O’Rourke Lake is a small (40 acres), deep (maximum depth = 30 m) lake located in Bagley Township, Otsego County, Michigan. It is a kettle lake, formed in the depression of a melted shard of glacial ice. The littoral (near shore) zone of O’Rourke is limited to shallow sediments along the north, east and south shores of the lake. These shallow sediments are covered by marl and largely devoid of rooted plants except for sparse populations of Chara. Along the western shoreline, the basin is steep sided and fallen trees cover the sediments. Neighboring O’Rourke Lake on the southeast is a small pond (surface area < 3 acres) that is connected to O’Rourke Lake by a small, shallow stream. | ||
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O'Rourke Pond |
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| The watershed of O’Rourke Lake is small and forested, dropping off steeply into the lake. Only seven homes exist on riparian land bordering the lake. The Lake Club of Hidden Valley prohibits fertilizer use on lawns surrounding the lake. The lake contains only a small amount of macrophyte (rooted aquatic plant) growth. | ||
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Sights around O'Rourke Lake |
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The goal of this study was to determine the health and productivity of O’Rourke Lake and its attached pond. Our specific objectives were to assess 1) current water quality conditions, 2) composition and abundance of zooplankton, and 3) composition and relative abundance of fish populations in O’Rourke Lake and the attached pond. Water quality was evaluated by examining temperature, oxygen, ions, nutrient composition, and water clarity. Zooplankton and fish populations were assessed by collecting representative samples using nets with various sized mesh.
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Setting the nets for fish sampling
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Some fish that were caught |
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A painted turtle |
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A long day of sampling is finished |
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