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Gull Lake (Cass County, Minnesota)
Encyclopedia
Gull Lake is a lake
in the U.S. state
of Minnesota
, located in Cass County
and Crow Wing County
. It is one of the largest lakes in the Brainerd, Minnesota
-Baxter, Minnesota
area and also one of the most popular. Of the seven Gull Lakes in Minnesota, this Gull Lake is the largest in area and shoreline. The shoreline is highly developed with residential and commercial interests. For each shoreline mile there are 27.8 homes or cabins. There are 19 resorts on Gull Lake, including notably Cragun's, Madden's and Grand View Lodge.
in 1917 in Minneapolis, MN.
The site of the Gull Lake Dam has particular prehistoric archaeological significance. Under the site there have been found at least 12 burial mounds as well as several partial mounds. All are thought to originate from the Woodland
American Indian
tribes, which resided in the area from 800 B.C. to A.D. 200, returning later to inhabit the area from A.D. 600 to A.D. 900. The National Register of Historic Places recognizes these burial mounds.
. The lake's maximum depth is 80 feet (24 m) with nearly 30% of the lake only 15 feet (5 m) or less. These shallow waters consist primarily of sand and gravel. There are also areas of rubble and boulder.
Gull lake is 15 miles (24 km) long and 2 miles (3 km) wide, with a median depth of 30 feet (9 m). Gull lake is part of the Crow Wing
watershed
. The shoreland is zoned for general development
.
Stony Brook stream's mouth is at Gull Lake. The brown trout
of Stony Brook were recently noticed as threatened by the recreational activity on Gull Lake. The stream's natural habitat for trout has been a focus point of restoration work by local anglers and MDNR
fisheries biologists.
plant is especially important for providing a habitat for bass
and panfish
species.
Anglers are attracted to the stocked walleye
population in Gull Lake. Since 2003, at least 2,825,000 fry Walleye have been stocked into Gull Lake by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
. As of 2007 the average length and weight of a walleye in Gull lake was 14.6 inches (37 cm) and 1.3 pound (0.589670081 kg). Another popular catch is Northern Pike
, whose length and weight are, on average, 25.8 inches (66 cm) and 4 pounds (1.8 kg), respectively.
The chain collectively covers 13000 acres (52.6 km²) and its shores host over 2,500 homes. The chain spans across Cass County, MN and Crow Wing County, MN.
. Along with Squaw Point of Leech Lake
, Squaw Lake and Squaw Pond, the locally popular Squaw Point of Gull Lake legally became Gull Point.
Photo taken from Gull Four Seasons Resort on the east shore of Gull Lake in the City of Nisswa MN. www.Gull4Seasons.com
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, located in Cass County
Cass County, Minnesota
Cass County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 28,567. Its county seat is Walker. A portion of the Leech Lake Indian Reservation is in the county.-Geography:...
and Crow Wing County
Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Crow Wing County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 62,500. Its county seat is Brainerd.-Geography:...
. It is one of the largest lakes in the Brainerd, Minnesota
Brainerd, Minnesota
Brainerd is a city in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,590 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Crow Wing County and one of the largest cities in Central Minnesota...
-Baxter, Minnesota
Baxter, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,555 people, 1,921 households, and 1,586 families residing in the city. The population density was 320.7 people per square mile . There were 1,979 housing units at an average density of 114.3 per square mile...
area and also one of the most popular. Of the seven Gull Lakes in Minnesota, this Gull Lake is the largest in area and shoreline. The shoreline is highly developed with residential and commercial interests. For each shoreline mile there are 27.8 homes or cabins. There are 19 resorts on Gull Lake, including notably Cragun's, Madden's and Grand View Lodge.
History
Gull Lake is the result of the Gull Lake Dam about a half mile down Gull River from the lake's outlet. The dam began service in 1912. This dam was the final Headwaters reservoir dam. Colonel Francis R. Shunk and George Freeman designed Gull Lake dam. Both are more well known for designing the Lock and Dam Number 1 on the Mississippi RiverMississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
in 1917 in Minneapolis, MN.
The site of the Gull Lake Dam has particular prehistoric archaeological significance. Under the site there have been found at least 12 burial mounds as well as several partial mounds. All are thought to originate from the Woodland
Woodland period
The Woodland period of North American pre-Columbian cultures was from roughly 1000 BCE to 1000 CE in the eastern part of North America. The term "Woodland Period" was introduced in the 1930s as a generic header for prehistoric sites falling between the Archaic hunter-gatherers and the...
American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribes, which resided in the area from 800 B.C. to A.D. 200, returning later to inhabit the area from A.D. 600 to A.D. 900. The National Register of Historic Places recognizes these burial mounds.
Physical features
At 9947.03 acres (40.2542 km²) surface area, Gull Lake is the largest lake with in the city limits of East Gull Lake, MinnesotaEast Gull Lake, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 978 people, 370 households, and 294 families residing in the city. The population density was 123.6 people per square meter . There were 709 housing units at an average density of 89.6 per square mile...
. The lake's maximum depth is 80 feet (24 m) with nearly 30% of the lake only 15 feet (5 m) or less. These shallow waters consist primarily of sand and gravel. There are also areas of rubble and boulder.
Gull lake is 15 miles (24 km) long and 2 miles (3 km) wide, with a median depth of 30 feet (9 m). Gull lake is part of the Crow Wing
Crow Wing River
The Crow Wing River is a tributary of the Mississippi River approximately in length. The river arises in a chain of 11 lakes in southern Hubbard County, Minnesota and flows generally southeast, entering the Mississippi at Crow Wing State Park, northwest of Little Falls, Minnesota. Its name is a...
watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
. The shoreland is zoned for general development
Zoning in the United States
Zoning in the United States comprise land use state laws falling under the police power rights that State governments and local governments have the authority to exercise over privately owned real property.-Origins and history:...
.
Stony Brook stream's mouth is at Gull Lake. The brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
of Stony Brook were recently noticed as threatened by the recreational activity on Gull Lake. The stream's natural habitat for trout has been a focus point of restoration work by local anglers and MDNR
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the U.S. state of Minnesota charged with conserving and managing the state's natural resources. The agency maintains areas such as state parks, state forests, recreational trails, and recreation areas as well as managing minerals,...
fisheries biologists.
Wildlife
There are over 35 species of aquatic life in the water of Gull Lake, which help to maintain a large fish population. The emergent bulrushBulrush
-Wetland plants:* Bolboschoenus, a genus in the sedge family * Cyperus, a genus in the sedge family * Scirpus, a genus in the sedge family * Schoenoplectus, a genus in the sedge family...
plant is especially important for providing a habitat for bass
Bass (fish)
Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...
and panfish
Panfish
A panfish, also spelled pan-fish or pan fish, is an edible game fish that usually doesn't outgrow the size of a frying pan. The term is also commonly used by anglers to refer to any small catch that will fit in a pan, but is large enough to be legal. However its definition and usage varies with...
species.
Anglers are attracted to the stocked walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
population in Gull Lake. Since 2003, at least 2,825,000 fry Walleye have been stocked into Gull Lake by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the U.S. state of Minnesota charged with conserving and managing the state's natural resources. The agency maintains areas such as state parks, state forests, recreational trails, and recreation areas as well as managing minerals,...
. As of 2007 the average length and weight of a walleye in Gull lake was 14.6 inches (37 cm) and 1.3 pound (0.589670081 kg). Another popular catch is Northern Pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, whose length and weight are, on average, 25.8 inches (66 cm) and 4 pounds (1.8 kg), respectively.
The Gull Chain
The Gull Chain of Lakes, for which Gull Lake is the namesake and largest member, is a collection of eight connected lakes and two bays:- Gull Lake
- Upper Gull Lake
- Nisswa Lake (not always considered part of the chain)
- Roy Lake
- Margaret Lake
- Spider Lake (not always considered part of the chain)
- Spring Lake
- Love Lake
- Round Lake
- Bass Lake
- Steamboat Bay
- Wilson's Bay
The chain collectively covers 13000 acres (52.6 km²) and its shores host over 2,500 homes. The chain spans across Cass County, MN and Crow Wing County, MN.
Squaw Point name change
On August 6, 2007, the MDNR Commissioner approved name changes to many bodies of water in Cass County containing the derogatory word SquawSquaw
Squaw is an English language loan-word, used as a noun or adjective, whose present meaning is an indigenous woman of North America. It is derived from the eastern Algonquian morpheme meaning 'woman' that appears in numerous Algonquian languages variously spelled squa, skwa, esqua, sqeh, skwe, que,...
. Along with Squaw Point of Leech Lake
Leech Lake
Leech Lake is a lake located in north central Minnesota, United States. It is southeast of Bemidji, located mainly within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation, and completely within the Chippewa National Forest. It is used as a reservoir...
, Squaw Lake and Squaw Pond, the locally popular Squaw Point of Gull Lake legally became Gull Point.
Places of Interest on Gull Lake
- Steam Boat Bay, upon whose shores Maddens and Cragun's reside.
- Gull Point, commonly known as Squaw Point, popular boating attraction for its nearby sand bar.
- Wilson Bay
- Sandy Point
- Rocky Point
- Grassy Point
- Dutchman's Bluff
- Sheafer Point
- Holman's Point
- Government Point
- Floan's Point
- Hunter's Point, known for its dangerously shallow straight
Towns near Gull Lake
- East Gull Lake, MinnesotaEast Gull Lake, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 978 people, 370 households, and 294 families residing in the city. The population density was 123.6 people per square meter . There were 709 housing units at an average density of 89.6 per square mile...
- Nisswa, MinnesotaNisswa, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 1,953 people, 819 households, and 577 families residing in the city. The population density was 179.5 people per square mile . There were 1,532 housing units at an average density of 140.8 per square mile...
- Brainerd, MinnesotaBrainerd, MinnesotaBrainerd is a city in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,590 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Crow Wing County and one of the largest cities in Central Minnesota...
- Baxter, MinnesotaBaxter, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 5,555 people, 1,921 households, and 1,586 families residing in the city. The population density was 320.7 people per square mile . There were 1,979 housing units at an average density of 114.3 per square mile...
External links
Photo taken from Gull Four Seasons Resort on the east shore of Gull Lake in the City of Nisswa MN. www.Gull4Seasons.com