Association History

Here you will find a brief history of Six Mile Lake and the community that lives here. It should be noted that Six Mile Lake is primarily a fishing and boating lake with lots of kayaks and pontoon boats. It is about five and a half miles long, about thirteen feet deep and narrow in most places. Wildlife abounds! We have loons in summer, ducks, swans, eagles, giant snapping turtles, lots of red-winged blackbirds, dragonflies, wild roses, beavers, fox, coyotes, bears, yes bears, and lots and lots and lots of deer to name just a few. The air is fresh and the water is amazing. Six Mile Lake is known for bass, perch, crappies, pike and giant muskie. A slow ride through the Natural Area is a delight to the senses.

The Six Mile Lake Association was established in 1988 to primarily see what steps we could take to clean up our neighborhoods. Friendships were formed and since that time we have accomplished many remarkable things together. The first project, spearheaded by Gilbert and Jewel Noirot, was the walleye planting which continued for several years. Following was the clean-up of Echo Township Park and the building of the informational kiosk there. Last summer the Association installed two park grills there. In 1992 Association members joined in helping the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy establish the St. Clair Lake-Six Mile Lake Natural Area preserving the mile long riverway which connects the two lakes. Several years ago another large lakefront tract called the Nathan Beem Memorial Nature Preserve was established on the north east side of Six Mile Lake by the Beem family and Little Traverse Conservancy. We are blessed to be able to enjoy these two preserves teeming with wildlife of every kind.

Also, since 1992, Six Mile Lake Association, in conjunction with Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, has conducted several shoreline surveys and yearly water quality monitoring is ongoing to this day. In 2012, two artificial nesting islands were placed two and a half miles apart on the lake and we have had two resident pairs of loons send 29 chicks into the world since then. In 2013 implementation of a special assessment district or SAD saved our lake from the complete takeover of invasive eurasion milfoil and we are the only lake in Antrim county with this program. Other projects over the years are the roadway clean-up, bluebird trail, neighborhood watch program, maintenance and financial support at the Natural Area, and Loon Watch program. Members of the Association are currently involved in aiding the county in addressing current flooding issues plaguing the Upper Chain especially Six Mile and St. Clair Lake. The Six Mile Lake Association board and it’s members are also active on other boards and attend township and county meetings representing our lake.

SMLA meetings are three times per year in June, August and October. Ladies of the Lake meets the first Tuesday of every month at the Front Porch in Ellsworth for comraderie and a good breakfast.

At present close to 120 families are members of the Six Mile Lake Association and living here and being a part of this amazing community is simply the best life can offer!

-contributed by Cherie Hogan