The lake is part of the a large tract of land (more than six million acres (24,000 km²)) that was ceded by the Ojibwa, Ottawa and Potawatomi to the United States in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.

[3] It was dammed to make it deeper for use as a float pond during the lumber boom.

[3] "The dam, however, is capable of holding a 6.6 foot head as was maintained early this year.

At the high level, wave action caused considerable damage to shore installations.

[3] The lake is well stocked with bass, yellow perch, northern pike, trout and walleye and is a popular destination for summer angling as well as winter ice fishing.