U.S. Forest Service Photo

KEWEENAW COUNTY – Lost Lake, a popular longtime visitor destination in Keweenaw County’s Grant Township, is being considered for a name change to Lake Trillium. The Keweenaw County Board of Commissioners at its May meeting, unanimously approved a motion by Vice Chair Del Rajala for a letter of support for the change.

J.R. Richardson, who owns Lost Lake and the surrounding property, wants to change the name of Lost Lake to Lake Trillium in honor of his sister, Barbara Fetterman.

Fetterman was the cytopathology assistant manager in research and development at Kaiser Permanente Northern California Regional Laboratory. She authored more than 83 research works, specializing in Human papillomavirus (HPV), a group of viruses that lead to various cancers, including cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers at the Cytology Research and Development Section Man9 at Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Berkeley, California. With 39 hospitals and more than 734 locations in eight states and the District of Columbia, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, serves more than 12.7 million members from coast to coast.

Fetterman’s favorite flower was Trillium, a wildflower. Keweenaw County Board Chairman Don Piche said at last week’s meeting that Richardson had already talked to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names (BGN), adding Grant Township has approved the name change.

In a communique to the BGN, the Grant Township Board of Trustees stated that in its opinion, the name change is appropriate. Renaming Lost Lake to Lake Trillium, the document states, would honor the region’s rich natural heritage, as Michigan is home to several native trillium species.

Lost Lake is located in Grant Township. It is a small, scenic lake of about 12 acres, known for its peacefulness and trout fishing. Situated approximately six miles southeast of Copper Harbor, the lake is a popular destination for those seeking a remote and natural experience, and it’s accessed by a two-track road that splits off from Mandan Road, requiring an ORV with high clearance.

Rajala said that while Richardson owns the lake and the property around it, he maintains it as public access for all to enjoy.

Richardson, a life-long resident of the U.P., is well-known for his service on the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, which began in 2007, when he was initially appointed to the post by Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Richardson has worked to improve fishing opportunities for anglers, including helping to increase the daily bag limit for brook trout over roughly 40 streams across the U.P. and backing efforts to improve walleye rearing, stocking and distribution, especially within inland waters.

He has received numerous awards and accolades and is a member of many sportsmen’s groups.