Investigation of Condition of Hawk Lake - 1957  

Ivestigation of Condition of Hawk Lake

On Thursday morning the Culver Town Board met with WIlliam Ingram of the United States Public Healt Board Department, Grover Cook, biologist from the Indiaina State Board of Health, and Max T. Orem, assistane engineer from the Indiana STate Board of Health.

The purpose of the meeting was an effort to alleviate the unsatisfactory condition which has existed at Hawk Lake for some time.

It is hoped by the Town Board and the Health Department that a satisfactory solution to the problem may be reached soon - 13 Feb. 1957

Town Board Gets Some Action On Haek Lake Mess

State Board of Health On Job

As a follow-up of previous half-hearted investigations by the Indiana State Board of Health of awful conditions at Hawk Lake (or Little Lake, or Lost Lake, take your choice), Russell C. Eck, chief of the water polution section, INdiana State Board of Health and Grover Cook, biologist from the Indiana STate Board of Health, were here last Friday looking over the situtation.

Mr Eck stated that the green color of the water is caused by the unusually dense concentration of microscopic plant life known as algae. He further said that this plant life or algae is an natural inhaditant of lake water and can be controlled.

Mr. Eck also stted that a written report from the STate Board of Health will be forwarded soon to the Culver Town Boar d in which recommendations will be made.

Town board President W. R. Easterday is to be commended for his straight-from-the-shoulder insistance that the State Board of Health do something at once about the mysterious unsanitary of Hawk Lake which has resulted in the killing of thousands of fish as reported in last week's CItizen with potofraphie evidence hat can't be refuted. - 20 Mar 1957

Offical Report on Bad Condition of Hawk;s Lake

State of Indiana Board of Health
March 27, 1957

Mr. WIlliam R. Easterday, President and Members of Town Board Culver, Indiana

Re: Hawk's Lake Culver

On Feb. 7, 1957, a sanitary investigation of Hawk's Lake, CUlver, was made by Max Oram, sanitary engineer, State Board of Health; Grover Cook, aquatic biologist, State Board of Health; and Dr. WIlliam Ingrim, biologist U. S. Public Health Service.

On MArch 15,1957, a follow-up investigation was made by Russell C. Eck, sanitary engineer, and Grover Cook, at the request of William R. Easterday, [resideint of the Culver Town Boarm, to observe dead fish on Hawk's Lake.

Following is our report of those invistigations. (Several pages listed detailed observations).

CONCULSUONS: THe green color of Hawk's Lake is caused by an intense concentration of algae which is beleived to be responsible for the recent unusually large fish kills.

This algae comcentation is sufficient to distrub the proper balance between plant and animal life.

Algae naturally release oxygen in the presence of sunlight and remove oxygen from the water at night

In large concentrations the algae will reduce the dissolved oxygen in the lake to such low levels that fish will die of asphyxiation.

Three major factors contribute to the growth of algae in Hawk's Lake:
(1) the fiertile muck bottom;

(2) stablized effluent from the Culver sewage treatment plant;

(3) the lowering of the lake level,


Both the muck bottom and the sewage plant effluent contain plant nutrients which, at normal water levels, would provide the lake with food sufficient for the growth of algae.

Algae in correct amounts, serve indirectly to promote a large fish population.

However, in recent years the Culver area has experienced below-normal precipitation which has resulted in a diminished flow of water from Lake Maxinkuckee and a subsequent drop in the level of Hawk's Lake.

This in turn resulted in an increased concentration of the phosphates and nitrogen which accelereated the growth of algae.

The removal of the Culver effluent from Hawk's Lake has been considered as a possible corrective action. This action is, however, deemed inadvisable since during periods of drought, this is the lake's only appreciable source of wter supply, and it is probable that an algal bloom would still exist due to nutrients from the much bottom and even further lowering of the water level.

RECOMMENDATIONS: It is recommended that the lalke be treated with an a lgicide such as copper sulfate.

This can be applied at small expense and without elaborate equipment.

It should be noted, however, that until the flow into Hawk's Lake materially increases, it will be necessary to continue the treament at periodic intervals.

REMARKS: We should be pleased to cooperate with any local group that wishes to work towards the correction of the problem at Hawk's Lake, and to meet with the town officials and interested citizens to discuss further details regarding this report.

Roobert W. Heider, Acting Director, Division of Sanitary Engineering. - 3 Apr 1957

The Hawk's Lake Problem

Elkhart, Ind.
Dear Editor

With the aid of a dictionary I read the article in this week's Culver Citizen entitled, "Official Reprot on Bad Condition of Hawk's Lake.

As I read it his summary means:
(1) Open up the channel between the lakes

(2) Leave the sewage disposal plant where it is

(3) This would result in a large fish population in Hawk's Lake.


All the rest of his report is just his way of sugar-coating a bitter pill for those people who filed up the channel between the lakes and put in the dam.

Mr Heidner's offer to meet with the town officials and interested citizens is a fine suggestion.

If this is brought about I hope I will be invited to this meeting. - Allen A Norris, M.D. - 10 Apr 1957

State Report on Hawk's Lake Is A Lot Better

W. R. Easterday, president of the Town Board, on July 9 furnished the Citizen with the following Indiana State Board of Health report oh Hawk's Lake, dated June 14, 1957: A biological survey made on June 10, 1957, shows Hawk's Lake to be greatly improved since our study on March 7, 1957. The following data illustrates the extent of chenge in the lake since the spring rains.:
Algal count per mm. March 7, 57,000; June 10, 94.

Water color. Mar 7, pea gre; June 10, clear

Animal Life, March 7, none; June 10 turtles and frogs abundant.


The return of the lake to a near-noral biological condition substantiates our March report which stated that the low water level was largely responsible for the intence agal bloom.

The State Board of Health office has recomended a treatment of copper sulphate during the dry season, the Culver Town Board has agreed to furnish the supplies from sewer operating funds, and WIlbur Geisleman, president of the Maxinkuckee FIsh and Game Club, has agreed to enlist helpers from the organization to assist in the program. - 17 Jul 1957

Treat Hawk Lake For Algae Growth

A representative of the State Health Department is assisting the Culver Conservation Club in treating Hawk Lake with copper sulphate to contol the Algae growh - 14 Aug 1957

Conservation CLub Treat Hawk Lake For Algae Growth

The Culver Town Board and the Culver Conseration Club, after consulting with Grover Cook of Indianapolis, biologist from the State Board of Health, are endeavoring to control the algae growth in Hawk Lake by a series of treatments of copper sulfate.

This treatment will be used whenever the algae bloom becomes great enought to warrant it.

The recent application was only moderately successful, due to the presence of on organism which is very difficult to kill.

However, Mr. Cook stated that his organism will leave of its own account soon.

The first application of copper sulphate was made Monday, Aug 12 by members of the Conservation Club and future applications will be made as needed. - 21 Aug 1957