USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

04097188 AUSTIN LAKE NEAR KALAMAZOO, MI

LOCATION - Lat 42°11'27", long 85°33'03" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, in NE 1/4 SE 1/4 sec.23, T.3 S., R.11 W., Kalamazoo County, MI, Hydrologic Unit 04050001, at outlet of discharge pipe from Pfizer recharge ponds, 1.3 mi southeast of Portage, and 5.0 mi south of Kalamazoo.

DRAINAGE AREA - Indeterminate.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - July 1944 to July 1950, April 1958 to March 1963, December 1963 to September 1979, September 1998 to current year.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 849.70 ft above NAVD 88, converted on July 9, 2020 from NGVD 29, (levels by Land and Resources Engineering). Prior to May 31, 2002, nonrecording gage at different datums; daily instantaneous values from September 1998 to May 30, 2002, have been converted to present datum.

REMARKS - The principal inlet is the diversion canal from Gourdneck Creek which flows through West Lake into the northwest side of Austin Lake. At times, depending on relative lake levels, water will flow through a connecting channel from Long Lake into the northeast side of Austin Lake. At other times the flow will be reversed, or if both lake levels are low, there will be no flow. Inflow to Austin Lake is also supplemented at times by water discharge from the nearby Pfizer recharge ponds. The outlet leaves the southeast end of the lake and flows south about 1.5 mi to Gourdneck Creek. Surface area is 1,050 acres. Established legal level is 855.64 ft above NGVD 29.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum gage height, 6.78 ft, Aug. 16, 2016; minimum observed, 2.23 ft, Oct. 20, Dec. 10, 1964, present datum.