The northern and western shores of White Lake mark the upper limit of the Champlain Sea which flooded the Ottawa Valley at the end of the last ice age.

[2] White Lake was created in 1845 when a dam on Waba Creek was constructed resulting in the water levels increasing in three previously small, interconnected waterbodies.

The original White Lake Dam was built with the purpose of providing water storage for the operation of Stewart's sawmill at Waba, four kilometres (2.5 mi) downstream.

[4] In the 1970s summer water levels were stabilized for the benefit of boaters and shoreline property owners.

Since that time, largemouth bass and northern pike have been the most sought after game fish with walleye being seen only periodically in the anglers catch.