Crystal Lake Preserve

Crystal Lake's clear water allows sunshine to easily reach the bed of the lake for underwater plants to grow. © TNC

Crystal Lake was formed by the melting of a large ice block during the end of the last ice age about 20,000 years ago. This lake is one of a number of glacial lakes that are concentrated in northeast Ohio, primarily in Summit, Portage, Stark and Geauga counties.

Glacial lakes are generally uncommon in Ohio and many of the state's best examples are found here. The Nature Conservancy refers to this area as the Northeast Ohio Glacial Wetlands Priority Conservation Area because of the presence of these glacial lakes and associated wetlands.

A significant number of the glacial lakes in this four county area have been highly modified by human activities and are no longer in their natural state. Crystal Lake is considered to be one of the finest remaining natural lakes in Ohio because of its extraordinarily high water quality, unusual aquatic communities, and undisturbed condition.

Due to its clear water, Crystal Lake has one of the most diverse submergent marsh communities in Ohio. The rich plant community supports several rare and uncommon species of plants and animals.

Location
Portage County, Western Allegheny Plateau Ecoregion, Northeast Ohio Glacial Wetlands Priority Conservation Area

Plants
Plants found along the lake's edge include:

• Swamp loosestrife
• Speckled alder
• Red maple
• Swamp rose
• Cinnamon fern
• Black gum
• Marsh fern

Rare plant species found at Crystal Lake Preserve:

• White-stem pondweed
• Richardson's pondweed
• Flat-stemmed pondweed
• Robbins' spikerush
• Olivaceous spikerush
• Northern water-milfoil
• White buttons
• Small bur-reed
• Torrey's bulrush
  

Fish

• Iowa darter

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
The well-developed submergent marsh plant community is the outstanding feature of Crystal Lake.  Since the water of the lake is so clear, sunlight passes easily through to the bottom of the lake, allowing for the growth of an extraordinary diversity of aquatic plants.  

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
Perhaps the main reason for the Lake's clear water are the natural springs that feed into it.  Contributing to the clear water and diverse aquatic species, is the lack of non-native fishes in Crystal Lake.  Measures have been taken to prevent the establishment of carp because they muddy the water by uprooting shallow plant life.  Carp would also create an imbalance in the Lake's plant life by over-eating some species.  Non-native plant species also pose a threat to the plant communities in and surrounding the Lake.  Excess runoff of soil and nutrients into the Lake could also be a serious threat.

The primary stewardship goal is to maintain the water quality and aquatic plant diversity at Crystal Lake.  Efforts are undertaken to prevent the introduction of non-native fish and plant species.  At the same time, efforts are underway to clear the existing non-native plant species before they become a serious threat.