Lake Information
Oxbow Lake was formed when a dam was built on the Huron River, located in the “mill pond” area, on the south side of Elizabeth Lake Road, across from "Sprader’s on the Lake" Bar. Each Year we pay a "fee" to the Oakland County Drain Commission (you may have noticed it on your tax bill this year) for "Lake Level Control". Oxbow Lake has an established Legal Level which the Drain Commission maintains by opening or closing the dam. The Huron River flows into Oxbow Lake from Pontiac Lake and then from Oxbow Lake on into Cedar Island Lake. During winter months be aware that the ice is thinner in the shallower areas where the river flows. For example, around the tip of the peninsula.
Oxbow Lake is the third lake in the Huron River chain, which originates just a few miles away in the Huron Swamp at the Indian Springs Metropark. Tull Lake pumps millions of gallons of water from the Huron River nearly every day, but due to the porous basin of man-made Tull Lake, most of this water seeps back into Oxbow Lake. Still, the Tull Lake pumps frequently cause the Huron River to flow back upstream, robbing Oxbow Lake of the natural water flow any natural lake needs to thrive. The Huron River between Tull and Oxbow Lakes is dangerously threatened by siltification, which would result in the loss of lake access to a number of our riparians. Neither the Michigan EGLE nor any other State or local governmental agencies have addressed this problematic issue.
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Oxbow Lake is a private lake. There is no public launch onto the lake. Boat launching can be accomplished in one of three ways: 1) Join the Oxbow Lake Private Launch Association, Inc. (OLPLA), located at 10193 Highland Road, 2) Across your own property, or 3) Obtain permission from another Oxbow Lake private property owner. White Lake Township Ordinance(s) restricts the use of "Keyhole Accesses" or "Road Ends" within the Township.
Oxbow Lake is an all-sports lake that allows all manners of boating and water sports. Being a fairly large inland lake, we have enough water surface area to enjoy water sports including fishing, cruising, water skiing, jet skiing, sailing, and every kid’s favorite, tubing behind a boat. Traffic on the lake is normally heavy on the weekends and extremely heavy over holidays. The best fishing is during weekdays and other periods of low boat traffic.
Oxbow Lake has Northern Pike, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Walleye (which are stocked), Bluegill and other sorts of Panfish, Rock Bass, Crappie, Little Yellow Perch, Catfish, Gar, Cisco, Bowfin and other species in smaller numbers. As Oxbow Lake has progressed from an oligotrophic body to a mesotrophic lake, the Yellow Perch has declined in numbers and accordingly, as a feeder fish for predators.
Oxbow Lake has a surface area of either 270 acres or 290 acres, depending on which map you choose. The Michigan Department of Natural Resource (DNR) map done in the 1940s (dates are estimated) reflects 270 acres, but later satellite maps show a surface area of 290 acres. The lake is composed of several holes exceeding 60 feet in depth. The lake also has submerged hazards, including stumps, fence poles, and sand bars. Any of your OLHA Board Members will gladly provide you with a tour of the lake to assist you in locating these hazards. The dredging of “Turtle Bay” (the water farthest to the west) probably added enough water to the lake to change the official numbers. Each of the pools of water is separated by shallows that often are no more than two feet deep.
Examination of the Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) survey shows the shallow areas all around the lake that are at times, overgrown with weeds and lily pads. These areas provide a good environment for young fish, but the proliferation of weeds and aquatic growth certainly frustrates riparians because they impact boating and swimming on the lake. The entire issue of weeds and aquatic grasses is linked to the changing composition of the lake, a process known as eutrophication.