About Us

The Indianwood Lake Board is an entity specifically formed to improve Indianwood Lake's water quality. This Board was formed under the Michigan State Public Act 451  and is comprised of four county and state officials plus one Indianwood Lake riparian representative.  This board has the authority to assess property owners in the Special Assessment District (SAD) and thus provide monies which are used to care for our lake. The assessments are  based on each property owner's linear feet of lake frontage. It also includes an assessment of the Indianwood Improvement Association (IIA) non-riparian landowners since they have certain lake privilages. The Indianwood Lake Board  created the SAD account  which collects  and holds the monies within our Orion Township treasury and pays the contractors who provide lake improvement ( weed control and/or  dredging) activities.The Indianwood Lake Board board is separate from our Indianwood Improvement Association Board which runs the many and various day -to-day business activities for our subdivision.

The water  supplying Indianwood Lake comes primarily from Paint Creek but also from deep springs in the northeast lobe of the lake.  Additionally, there is a  substantial marsh that trickles water into the lake year around. The lake level is controlled at the outlet dam by means of removable boards. This waterway, being an important link in the Clinton River water shed, is strickly monitored by the County Drain Commission. The levels are raised by about six inches in the springtime and then lowered in the fall. This allows for shoreline cleanup and reduces ice damage at the waters edge. The maintenance of the dam is funded by all lake riparians who are taxed in the annual winter statement. Non-reparians are not taxed for this service. We are fortunate in that the lake level is stable, even during the  driest of years, which allows property owners to irrigate from the lake without limit.  

In the 1920's, before the first outlet spillway was built and more recently when the current dam was created, the area, which is now Indianwood Lake, was a mere creek running through three small glacial ponds. After the dam was built those water holes became the deepest parts of the now existing Indianwood Lake. In the picture above, you can see that the depth of the west lobe reaches 20+ feet. The north lobe reaches 45+ feet and the southeast lobe has a 25+ foot deep pocket. Surrounding these former ponds, the area that comprises the bulk of Indianwood Lake averages a depth of 5 to 10 feet deep. These shallow areas are subject to vigorous weed and alge growth. When asked " How deep is your lake?"  you can reply that it is around  five to ten feet deep and has some holes the reach 20 to 40 feet.

Indianwood lake is a reservoir lake and as such tends to be shallow thus leading to a rapid regrowth of weeds soon after treatments. Climate conditions as well as phosphate input from landscapes and septics are the principal enablers for weed growth. Our Association representative is assigned to monitor the weed conditions and contract out the appropriate weed removal services to  licensed professionals using SAD monies reserved  in the Township Treasury. Weed types and weed locations are constantly changing, thus making their control challenging, to say the least. No one but the professionals are allowed to add any chemicals to our waters! It is against the LAW for anyone to do so. For riparians, the beach area on your property is best maintained by a manual raking two or three time per year. The removed weeds dry out quickly and can be added as compost in your landscaping and gardens. Help prevent lake weeds by using zero  phosphorus fertilizers.