Asylum Lake Preserve

Research and Education

To use the property for research and/or teaching purposes:

1. Please read through the Protocol Document before completing the Application Form.
2. Fill out the Application Form.
3. To print and mail the Application Form click here. To submit an online Applicaiton click here.

For groups wanting to use the property for passive recreation and/or education purposes:

1. Please read through the Protocol Document before completing the Group Visit Form.
2. Fill out a Group Visit Form.
3. To print and mail the Group Visit Form click here. To submit an online Group Visit Form click here.

Current Approved Projects and Events at the Preserve:

1. Asylum and Little Asylum Lake Water Quality Study. Kieser & Associates, Dr. Steven Kohler (Environmental Studies, WMU), Dr. Carla Koretsky (Geology, WMU), Paul MacNellis (Physical Plant, WMU) .
- Project Summary
- Project Application

2. BIOS 5535 Freshwater Ecology. Dr. Steven Kohler. Biology/Envioronmental Studies, WMU.
- Course Summary
- Course Application

3. BS159H Honors Introductory Molecular Biology. Dr. John Urbance. Biological Sciences/Lyman Briggs School, MSU.
- Course Application

4. An Investigation Into the Validity of the Effetive Radius, Re, Value Used in the Bouwer and Rice (1976) Method of Analyzing Slug Test Data. James Niel Couch (Geosciences, WMU)
- Project Summary

5. Geosciences Hydrology Field Course. Geosciences Department, WMU.
-Course Summary

Past Projects and Events at the Preserve:

1. Phase I & Partial Phase II Environmental Site Assessment, Asylum Lake, Western Michigan University. Soil & Material Engineers, Inc. 1992.

2. Final project report: Long-term hydrogeological research and eductional test site. William A. Sauck and Michael J. Barcelona. 1992. Western Michigan University.

3. Western Michigan University: Asylum Lake Property. Historical uses and land cover, natural features inventory, and habitat enhancement recommendations. Kalamazoo Nature Center. 2001.

4. An Archeological Assessment of the Asylum Lake/Colony Farm Orchard Property in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Rory J. Becker and Michael S. Nassaney, 2005.
- Project Summary

5. Volunteer Effort to Pull Garlic Mustard at the Asylum Lake Preserve. Asylum Lake Preservation Association. April 22, 2006.
- Event Summary

Thesis Projects Completed at the Preserve:

1. Fardin Olyaee. 1986. The effects of acid precipitation on two lakes in southwestern Michigan. Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Division of Science Education, WMU.
Found at Waldo Library, WMU call number: QH 9999.2.049x

2. Bryan K. Allen. 1993. The effects of composting of yard wastes on the ground water quality : WMU Farms site, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Department of Geology, WMU. Degree of Master of Science.
Found at Waldo Library, WMU call number: GB 9999.A63x

3. Vincent E. Buening. 1994. Investigations of glacial-drift aquifer-lake interactions using hydrogeology, geochemistry, and stable isotopes at Asylum Lake, Michigan. Department of Geology, WMU. Degree of Master of Science.
Found at Waldo Library, WMU. call number: GB 9999.B83x

4. Paul Joseph Pare. 1995. A study on the causes of variations in transmissivity and storativity during pump tests at Asylum Lake. Department of Geology, WMU. Degree of Master of Arts.
Found at Waldo Library, WMU. call number: GB 9999.P37x

5. Eric Steeves. 2001. The geochemistry of a leaf composting leachate plume, Asylum Lake, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Department of Geosciences, WMU. Degree of Master of Science.
Found at Waldo Library, WMU. call number: TD 9999.s83x.

Papers Related to the Preserve:

1. Observations on Asylum Lake, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Joseph G. Engemann. 1977. Western Michigan University.

2. Non-point source pollution affecting Asylum Lake. Thomas A. Hildebrandt and Jack S. Wood. Western Michigan University.

3. Report on the Historic Use of the Property Commonly Known as the Kalamazoo State Hospital Colony Farm, the Michigan State University Agricultural Experiment Orchard, and the Lee Baker Farm. Larry B. Massie. 1991.

4. Koretsky CM, Hass JR, Miller D, and Ndenga NT (2006) Seasonal variations in pore water and sediment geochemistry of littoral lake sediments (Asylum Lake, MI, USA). Geochem Trans 7:11.

Books Related to the Preserve:

1. Haven : a treatise on Asylum Lake / edited by Dok Tael Stevens, illustrations by Ladislav R. Hanka. Spunky Duck Press. Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Found at Archives & Regional History, 111 East Hall, WMU. call number: F574.K1 H38x

Related Links:

Department of Geosciences

Kalamazoo Nature Center

Asylum Lake Homepage