by WisCartography

Pigeon Lake

About this Map

This map brings together Big Pigeon Lake and Little Pigeon Lake, two neighboring waters tucked into the hummocky terrain of the Kettle Moraine in western Manitowoc County. Although they sit right next to one another, the two lakes have distinctly different underwater landscapes.

Big Pigeon Lake covers about 80 acres but reaches an impressive maximum depth of approximately 67 feet. Detailed bathymetric contours reveal a complex basin with steep underwater slopes and a particularly deep hole in the southeastern portion of the lake. Little Pigeon Lake, by contrast, is only about eight acres and considerably shallower, reaching roughly 14 to 17 feet depending on the source. Bottom composition is also mapped for both lakes, along with surrounding roads, buildings, wetlands, wooded areas, and shoreline development.

Big Pigeon Lake is a great fishing spot for panfish, Walleye, and Northern Pike, with bass and trout also found in the lake. Its ecological health has received some encouraging reviews as well. In a report focusing in part on the treatment of invasive aquatic plants, the president of the Pigeon Lake Association described the condition of this little gem as “an A-plus.”

One of the features I especially enjoyed working on for this map was Camp Sinawa, the outdoor recreational facility occupying the wooded western shore of Big Pigeon Lake. Rather than simply labeling the camp and moving on, I spent some extra time mapping its individual features, including the lodge, dorms and cabins, swimming area, boathouse, fishing area, sledding hill, stage, trails, and other facilities. Those details add some character to the western shoreline and help make the map more than just a depiction of the lake depths.

A public boat ramp is shown near the northeastern end of Big Pigeon Lake, while homes and cottages occupy much of the northern, eastern, and southern shoreline. Around Little Pigeon Lake, wetlands become a more prominent part of the landscape. The Meeme River flows south through this wetland country, connecting the lakes to the broader drainage and rural landscape of western Manitowoc County.

Between the surprisingly deep basin of Big Pigeon Lake, tiny neighboring Little Pigeon Lake, the surrounding Kettle Moraine terrain, and all the activity tucked into the woods at Camp Sinawa, there was quite a bit to work with here. I think the combination makes these two small lakes particularly interesting to see together on a single map.