Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Wakefield — The state Department of Natural Resources is considering the possibility of stocking trout in Plymouth Lake, which is just north of Old U.S. 2 in Wakefield.
The lake, also sometimes called a pond, is known to many local residents as Plymouth Open Pit because of its history as a mine in the previous century.
According to Wakefield City Manager Robert Brown Jr., the City Council already granted permission last month for the state to conduct a study of the lake’s water.
“The first thing we would do is check the water viability,” said George Madison, an MDNR fisheries biologist based in Baraga, last week.
Madison told The Globe that MDNR personnel likely will do a water analysis later this summer. That would include checking the levels of heavy metals such as mercury, as dynamite blasting from prior mine use could increase its presence.
Then, he added, they will produce a related report to be reviewed by MDNR officials and the public.
At this time, he believes the lake probably holds yellow perch and panfish. “Years ago, the MDNR stocked (the lake), and it’s possible that people have done some of their own,” said Madison.
“From the DNR side, we want to be sure it’s capable of supporting trout,” he said, adding that the soonest stocking could occur — if all goes well — would be next May.
Madison said that facilitating greater public use of the lake would be in the city’s hands.
“From the community side, (the city) might want to take some trees out,” noted Madison.
“I’m hoping to get some good numbers back,” said Brown of the planned water study. He added that he supports the notion of greater development in that area.
Although much of the property surrounding the lake is privately owned, the city owns what Brown estimates as about 40 acres of land on the west shore.
At this time, he said the city is “locked in” to three remaining years on the current five-year recreation plan, which designates city land there as a natural resource zone.
Brown would like the city’s next five-year recreation plan account for the possibility of accommodating greater public use of Plymouth Lake.
Although current landowners around the lake are protective of the serene locale, Madison said there are measures that could be taken to protect the lake’s quieter setting while still accommodating greater public use.
“The city could make it a non-motorized lake,” he said. “They could limit fishing hours.”
For now, Brown said the city land bordering the lake is not hospitable to human traffic. With the area still undeveloped, and the lack of a public dock, he warned that the location is “fairly unforgiving.”
According to online mining sources, the Plymouth Mine produced iron ore from 1913 to 1952. Its dimensions are recorded as 7,600 feet long and 900 feet wide. The water now is estimated at 325 feet deep.
