| Tea Lake | |
|---|---|
| Location | Oscoda County, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 44°50′28″N 84°17′46″W / 44.841°N 84.296°W / 44.841; -84.296 |
| Type | Lake |
| Average depth | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Max. depth | 70 ft (21 m) |
| Settlements | Greenwood Township |
| Location | |
Interactive map of Tea Lake | |
Tea Lake, also known as Tee Lake, is a natural freshwater kettle-type lake located in Greenwood Township, Oscoda County, Michigan.[1] The lake covers roughly 216 acres with a maximum depth of 70 feet (21.3 m) and an average depth of roughly 20 feet (6 m).[2] The lake and its surrounding watershed were historically inhabited by multiple Native peoples, with French settlement occurring throughout the 18th and 19th century.[3] The lake provides habitat to a number of species of flora and fauna.[4]
History
Tea Lake, like many inland lakes of northern Michigan, was formed during the Last Ice Age during the recession of the Laurentide Ice Sheet.[5] Multiple indigenous groups, including the Ojibwe, Ottawa, and Chippewa, utilized the lake and its surrounding habitat for hunting, fishing, and foraging.[3] They also harvested ice from the lake to preserve their harvest.[6] The land including the lake and the surrounding area were ceded to the United States of America in the Treaty of Saginaw 1819.[7] The lake attracted loggers, trappers, and eventually residents. In 1881, Oscoda County was established, and further land development occurred around the lake, primarily for residential purposes.[8] Since the mid 20th century, the lake has become a popular location for boaters, anglers, and divers.
Habitat
The lake and its surrounding streams provide habitat for numerous species, including:[2][4][9][10]
- Bluegill
- Largemouth bass
- Smallmouth bass
- Northern pike
- Muskellunge
- Walleye
- Yellow perch
- Crappie
- Common loon
- Wood duck
- Canada goose
- Great blue heron
- Bald eagle
- Belted kingfisher
- White-tailed deer
- Beaver
- Otter
- Muskrat
- Raccoon
- Red fox
- Black bear
- Squirrel
- Coyote
- Painted turtle
- Snapping turtle
- Green frog
- Spring peeper
- American bullfrog
- Crayfish
- Mussels
- Snails
Resources
- ^ "Tee Lake Resort". www.michigan.org. 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ a b "Tee Lake Map Oscoda County Michigan Fishing Michigan Interactive". www.fishweb.com. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ a b "Native American Tribes & the Indian History in Oscoda, Michigan". American Indian COC. 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ a b "Best Fishing Times for Tee (Tea) Lake - Oscoda County, Michigan". Lake-Link. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ Sowden, Carrie. "The Great Lakes in Ancient Times and a Glimpse into the Future – Summer 1962 – National Museum of the Great Lakes". Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ Gmiter, Tanda (2018-01-16). "Ice harvesting was Michigan's frozen winter tradition". mlive. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ "A Short History of Treaties". Michiganology. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ Copenheaver, Carolyn A.; Abrams, Marc D. (2002). "Post-European Settlement Forest Changes in Oscoda and Ogemaw Counties, Michigan". The Michigan Botanist 41:147-163. 41.
- ^ "Oscoda County, US, MI". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ "Birding -". Retrieved 2025-08-28.
