Lake Spotlight: Lake Columbia

Michigan is home to over 60,000 inland lakes, and they share a lot of common ground, literally. These lakes often have similar wildlife and people, but we also share similar challenges. In this series, I plan to highlight several different lakes around West Michigan. Today we are covering one of our neighbors from Jackson County, Lake Columbia.

Back in the mid-1800s, Goose Creek was sought out as a milling outpost. It was mostly used for milling grain and flour. Over time, it became more industrial. After constructing a dam and several mills, the village of Jefferson was established. As time went on, this village was later named Columbia.

Everything changed in 1960 when investors started buying up farmland in the surrounding area. Their goal was to sell attractive land around a private lake and create a unique lake lifestyle experience. In July 1961, a new dam began construction to stop the flow of Goose Creek. It didn’t take long for the stream to get backed up. Water flooded the surrounding land into what is now known as Lake Columbia.

This lake now covers 840 acres of land. It stretches approximately 2.25 miles long and 1.75 miles wide. It has a maximum depth of 25 feet and a shore length of 14 miles. For comparison, Paw Paw Lake has a similar surface area, but is much deeper. There are two small islands located within the lake: one in the center and one at its eastern wing. Both of which are surrounded by sandbars. Archwood Circle is surrounded by canals and is connected to the rest of the shore by one bridge. While not exactly an island, you can find several peninsula-like land formations jutting into the water.

Along its shoreline, Lake Columbia has about 700 different homes. There are 9 boat ramps, 16 parks, and 8 bathhouses. In addition, there are 14 different golf courses within a 20-mile radius. There are plenty of activity spaces available to homeowners. As you can imagine, there are many different events held on the lake each year.

Lake Columbia is also known for its involvement in improving water quality. They were one of the biggest lakes known to use biochar bags in phosphate removal. In 2023, an initiative was launched to remove rapid contaminant buildup. Over 400 bags were used in this initiative. Huge amounts of harmful chemicals were taken from the lake over the last 2 years.

While data is still being collected on this initiative, reports thus far have been overwhelmingly positive. In certain levels of the lake the amount of prosperous dropped to less than a quarter of what they were before the initiative. Further documentation on this can be found in Lake Columbia’s Water Quality report listed below. We will be following along with anticipation as further data is collected.

Overall, Lake Columbia is a beautiful lake with a lot to love. It’s one of many lakes that makes Michigan so great. We are all a part of the Great Lake's watershed, so we must study our neighbors.

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Sources

2024WaterQualityReportbyRLS2-3-2025.pdf 

Lake Columbia Property Ow

Area's man-made lakes came to be in '60s, '70s

What is a BioChar bag?

You’ve probably heard the term ‘Biochar’ before, but how much do you know about it? For years Biochar was renowned for many uses in gardening and horticulture. In recent years we’ve discovered that specific types of biochar can help remove harmful substances from water. This non-chemical product is now being engineered specifically to help clean eutrophic freshwater lakes and streams.

As the name implies, most biochar is made up of charred wood and ground cover. The Biochar used in cleaning lakes is almost entirely made of timber. The wood must undergo a process called pyrolysis where it is heated at extreme temperatures in a low oxygen environment. This process is a thermal decomposition of materials which allows volatile components to escape, leaving behind a very charred, carbon-rich material.

After pyrolysis the biochar is left with a very porous surface. It has so many pores that one gram of biochar can have a surface area of 400 sq meters. It just so happens that all these pores, cracks, and crevasses make the perfect environment for beneficial microbes. When placed in water these same microbes help biochar act as a filtration system.

The biochar acts as a sponge for microbes such as nitrifiers, denitrifiers, and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria. Each of these plays a crucial part in removing harmful chemicals from a lake.

These nitrifiers draw in ammonia from the lake and convert it into nitrate. This may seem counterproductive since excess nitrate is also a problem with most eutrophic lakes, but this is where the denitrifiers come in. A denitrifier takes the converted nitrate (and other nitrate already found in the water) and converts that into nitrogen gas. This gas bubbles up to the surface of the water and evaporates into the atmosphere. These two microbes work together to eject ammonia and nitrate from the lake in a harmless and environmentally friendly way.

Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria are responsible for converting insoluble forms of phosphate (forms that cannot be dissolved in water) into soluble forms that plants can absorb. This material can often stick to the biochar. More engineered biochar can hold a positive ion charge, which attracts and binds phosphate ions to it’s surface. Unlike the nitrogen gas, this phosphate and other harmful chemicals stay locked into the biochar where they have to be removed manually.

Biochar used for this purpose is often segmented into chunks and placed into porous bags. These bags are attached to piers, docks, and any other solid surface above the water. They are meant to float in the water for months and only need to be taken out during the winter. While the bags shouldn’t be in the water when the lake ices over, they can be simply left uncovered on a flat surface when it snows. You can find videos on how to install these bags to lakefront property here: The Biochar Initiative | Paw Paw Lake Fdn

Over time the biochar might need to be replaced with new char. After many months of absorbing nutrients, the char is recycled as fertilizer. This is usually done far away from the lakes they were used in to prevent redistribution. Local organizations that issue these biochar bags will collect and replace them for free.

Many lakes around Michigan have taken to using Biochar bags in recent years. Now it’s our turn. The Paw Paw Lake Foundation has organized a biochar initiative for lakeside residents. Through crowdfunding and generous donations from local residents, the PPLF can offer this service to lakefront owners completely free.

To achieve the highest possible success rate, we need all lakeside property owners to get involved. All you have to do is sign up at the following here: Biochar Registration | Paw Paw Lake Fdn

The PPLF is planning a 3-year program for using biochar bags. The goal is to cycle as much water through the timber char bags as possible. While visual results are present within the first year, more time is often advised for best results. Paw Paw Lake has nearly 907 gallons of water in it, so being efficient will take time.

Biochar bags have proven to be a non-chemical solution to eutrophic lakes. We look forward to using them in the future. Please join us as we make Paw Paw Lake cleaner for all of us.

Sources

Biochar basics: An A-to-Z guide to biochar production, use, and benefits 

Phosphorus adsorption and recovery from waste streams using biochar: review of mechanisms, modifications, and agricultural applications | Applied Water Science 

Adsorption of emerging contaminants from water and wastewater by modified biochar: A review - ScienceDirect

Use of biomass-derived biochar in wastewater treatment and power production: A promising solution for a sustainable environment - ScienceDirect

Influence of Technical Parameters of the Pyrolysis Process on the Surface Area, Porosity, and Hydrophobicity of Biochar from Sunflower Husk Pellet

Biochar for the removal of contaminants from soil and water: a review | Biochar

Lesson 8: Nitrification and Denitrification 

Efficient Adsorption of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Wastewater by Biochar

Nanobubbles: A new approach to Algae

Across Wisconsin, blue-green algae can be found in many lakes. This growth sucks the life right out of the water, killing lake towns. However, advances in technology are giving lakes across the state a fighting chance. California-based tech company Moleaer has a non-chemical answer to this toxic alga: minuscule bubbles. 

 They’re called Nanobubbles, and they are 2500 times smaller than a grain of salt. Their size causes them to have many properties that help remove algae and contaminants. While the technology is still relatively new, there seem to be very few downsides associated.  

Moleaer introduces nanobubbles into lakes with a series of machines. A nanobubble machine can be temporarily wheeled in on a trailer, or it can be installed just offshore. The average machine takes up about as much space as a pontoon. They are comprised of the Nanobubble Generator, a pump system, two large tubes for sucking in lake water and shooting out nanobubble-charged water, and a gas fuel source. These machines vary in size and power, but they can often run for several days without interruption. A larger container unit can pump over 2,400 gallons of water per minute and are estimated to cost about $600,000 each. 

Nanobubbles greatly increase dissolved oxygen levels, helping fight back against algae. Higher oxygen means fewer nutrients are released from low-oxygen. It also allows beneficial bacteria to thrive and collect what remaining nutrients there is. So there is far less food available to fuel algae blooms. In addition to this, when nanobubbles collapse, they create small amounts of reactive oxygen. This reactive oxygen actively damages algal cells and other harmful bacteria. So blue-green algae has its food source slashed, gets outcompeted for what food there is, and is damaged on a cellular level by nanobubbles. 

Declining algae levels go hand in hand with clearer water. Nanobubbles also have negative charges, keeping them from clumping together. However, it does help them latch onto contaminants and prevent them from spreading out. This creates big clumps or particles that fall to the lakebed. This reduces floating muck. Even more so, nanobubbles reduce further nutrients from being rereleased back into open water. 

Nanobubbles are effective at fighting blue-green algae, and there appear to be very little side effects. So far, there is no evidence that shows nanobubbles can harm an ecosystem. Some testimonials say that they have even helped fish numbers return. It seems that they help shift the ecosystem of inland lakes towards beneficial microbes. However, the Department of Natural Resources has ordered more extensive studies be done before these treatments can be made available to the public. It’s understandable why the DNR would want this, as the technology is new. However, things are looking good. 

Nanobubbles could be the next big breakthrough in lake conservation. Could such a technology be seen in our lakes? Follow us on social media for more on Paw Paw Lake preservation. 

Sources

Central Wisconsin lakes try nanobubble technology to stop algae blooms

What are Nanobubbles? | Moleaer

Research & Development | Moleaer | Advancing Nanobubble Technology

Wisconsin community experiments with nanobubbles to clean up lakes - WPR

Comprehensive Lake Management Plan - Nanobubble Treatment