Silver Lake (Grand Traverse County, Michigan)

Silver Lake (formerly Lake Kratochvil) is a lake in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. It is 3.45 mi (5.5 km) from the northern to southern ends, making its length-to-width ratio roughly 1:6. The lake is known for its pine coasts, irregular shoreline, and many peninsulas and islands, despite being smaller in size.[2] Its maximum depth is 96.0 feet, making it the 2nd deepest lake in Grand Traverse County. Two smaller lakes sit to the north of Silver Lake: Mud Lake & Hidden Lake.

Silver Lake
Lake Kratochvil
Raspberry Island from the western shore of Silver Lake
Silver Lake
LocationGrand Traverse County, Michigan (Garfield Township & Blair Township)
Coordinates44.695508°N 85.685679°W / 44.695508; -85.685679
TypeKettle lake
Part ofGrand Traverse Bay Watershed
Primary inflowsMud Lake
Primary outflowsSilver Lake Outlet (Beitner Creek)
Max. length3.45 mi (5.5 km)
Max. width2,607 ft (794.6 m)
Surface area600 acres (242 ha)
Average depth23.4 ft (7.1 m)
Max. depth96.0 ft (29.2 m)
Surface elevation863 feet (263 m)[1]
IslandsAnderson/Montague Island, Drake Island, Moresby Island, Raspberry Island, Trega Island
SettlementsKratochvil's Plat (Ghost Town)

Today, houses and parks surround the lake. Many larger houses have been built around the northern and eastern shores of the lake.

History and Geography

Silver Lake was originally named Lake Kratochvil, after the small nearby town called Kratochvil's Plat (which is now a ghost town), itself named after Frank Kratochvil, a local settler.[3] Frank's daughter, Anna, was the mother of W.D.C. Germaine, mayor of nearby Traverse City. The lake was later named Silver Lake.

Until sometime in the early 1900s, Blair Township was apparently known as "Silver Lake Township"[4]

In 1965, the Silver Lake Improvement Association was established to promote the care and preservation of Silver Lake.[5]

In 1987, the Grand Traverse County Drain Commission installed a high water outflow dam at Kevwitch Cove (the southernmost end of the lake), which was at the beginning of Beitner Creek.

The largest nearby towns are Grawn, Chums Corner, and Traverse City. Its water flows in from the north end of the lake and out of the south end. The water flows through the dam and into the Silver Lake Outlet and Beitner Creek (the outflow of nearby Bass Lake), through Blair Township, and into the Boardman River and out to Lake Michigan.

Fishing and Recreation

Silver Lake is a local hotspot for fishing. It is known for its Bass, Bluegill, Perch, Pike, Lake sunfish, and Walleye. There is a public dock used for launching boats on the eastern shore of the lake. The Silver Lake Recreation Area is a park for people of all ages, and is located northeast of the lake.[6] Holiday Park Campground is a large public campground on the southern end of the lake, just off of US 31. It has boat access and has camping lots on Tent Island, which it owns as property. Annually, there are regattas and fishing competitions on the lake.

The lake is popular in winter with ice fishers.

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See also
  • List of lakes in Michigan

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Silver Lake (Grand Traverse County, Michigan)
  2. "Silver Lake, Michigan, USA Vacation Info - Lakelubbers". Lakelubbers. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  3. LLC., Historic Map Works. "Acme, Lakeside Resort, Summit City, Williamsburg, Walton, Kratochvil's Plat, Blackwood, Atlas: Grand Traverse County 1908, Michigan Historical Map". www.historicmapworks.com. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  4. "(Map of Grand Traverse County, Michigan) / Walling, H. F. / 1873". www.davidrumsey.com. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
  5. "Silver Lake Improvement Association". www.silverlakeimprovement.com. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  6. "Silver Lake Recreation Area". www.garfield-twp.com. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
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