A view of a rusty-looking Lake Angeline, located south of Ishpeming in Marquette County, is shown with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources boating access site visible along the far shoreline. (Photo courtesy of Marquette County Sheriff's Office)

ISHPEMING – The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy have investigated reports of high and discolored water on Lake Angeline, located south of Ishpeming in Marquette County.

“I got a call from a girl riding up there and there is a big beaver dam that has been high for a very long time,” said Ishpeming Mayor Pro Tem Kurt Kipling. “The dam gave way and sent all that water down to Lake Angeline.”

The cause was determined to be a naturally occurring breach of a beaver dam. There are no known safety concerns preventing public access to the lake.

“There is a swamp held back by a beaver damn up stream and somehow the beaver damn failed and the entirety of the 15 or 20 acres of water spilled down probably close to a mile to Lake Angeline and it dumped into lake angeline carrying all that dirt and sentiment from the hills into there,” said Glen Lerlie, president of the Range Area Mountain Bike Association.

The beaver pond upstream of Lake Angeline drained early Thursday, causing reddish sediment in the water and water level rise on the popular fishing lake.

“All the carnage almost a tidal wave washed everything away. Like a few bridges we had, it washed hundreds and tons of dirt into the lake,” said Lerlie.

The bridges have since been rebuilt.

Officials from the city of Ishpeming are aware of the lake conditions and met with DNR and EGLE staff on site Thursday. No dead fish were observed by personnel during the investigation. However, the public is encouraged to report any observations of fish kills at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField.

A beaver pond upstream of Lake Angeline has drained completely, and water levels are not expected to rise further in the lake.

Additional assistance in the investigation was provided by the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office and the Superior Watershed Partnership.

Recent significant rain events may have contributed to higher water levels, resulting in the breach of the aging beaver dam. The beaver pond is currently stable, and water levels on Lake Angeline are not expected to rise any farther due to the breach.

Residents and visitors who visit Lake Angeline may continue to safely access the lake to boat and fish. The water level and turbidity (amount of sediment carried in the water) may be higher than typical for the usually calm, clear lake. Conditions are expected to recover naturally.

The DNR maintains a boating access site at the lake for public access.

Antonio Anderson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. His email address is aanderson@miningjournal.net.