Lake Mohawk is a man-made, spring-fed reservoir and private gated community established in 1963 by the American Reality Service Corporation. Located roughly one mile south of Malvern in Carroll County, it was designed from its inception as a planned residential and recreational development.
Several clubs exist within the community including the Water Ski & Wake Sports Club, Lake Life Club, Sportsman Club, Civic Club, Golf Club, Pickleball Club, Art Club and many more. There are 3 beaches, tennis, pickleball, and volleyball courts and many activities available for all property owners to enjoy
Development & Geography
The community was carved out of approximately 1,728 acres of land across Brown and Harrison townships. [1, 2]
- The Lake: Created by damming Middle Creek (also known as Middle Run), a branch of Sandy Creek. It covers roughly 507 acres and reaches a maximum depth of approximately 30 feet.
- Early Faith: Early buyers like Jack Buettner (Board President) purchased property “on faith” when the area was still just a small creek, based on assurances it would eventually fill.
- Ownership: After the initial sale of lots, American Realty Service Corporation transferred ownership and management to the Lake Mohawk Property Owners Association (LMPOA
Community Features
Today, Lake Mohawk serves as a year-round and seasonal home for about 2,500 residents. [1]
- Recreation: It is known for its unlimited horsepower boating policy, rare for private lakes, allowing for high-speed water skiing and wakeboarding.
- Infrastructure: The community includes three private beaches (Main, West, and South), a 9-hole executive golf course, and a clubhouse.
- Clubs: Long-standing social groups include the Water Ski Club, Sportsman Club, and Civic Club, which host events such as the annual Lighted Boat Parade.
History with Grays’ Aquatic Services
My history with Lake Mohawk began in 1988 when Geno Miller was Board President of the L.M.P.O.A.. It was the 25th Anniversary of the L.M.P.O.A.. Dick Goddard was the invited guest speaker.
Geno Miller Obituary & His Letter of Recommendation
1989-2009
Lake Mohawk went through a period of first attempting a Do-it-Yourself program in 1990 which included the stocking of the grass eating carp known as the white amur. Selective eating habits of the white amur led to the spread of watermilfoil throughout the lake in addition to blue-green algae blooms. Ron Tschantz then Board President of the L.M.P.O.A. hired an outside lake consultant named Dr. Doug Pullman. A limited dredging operation also was took place during this time period. Several years later around 1998, a lake management company from Pennsylvania known as NatureWorks began to manage the lake itself for a period of approximately 10 years. Following a significant fish kill in 2008 under the management of Natureworks, the L.M.P.O.A. then contacted myself (Grays’ Aquatic Services) to evaluate the lake and begin my tenure at the lake which continues today in a consulting capacity. (2026 Lake Season).
History 2009 – 2026
Some of the accomplishments that have been made at Lake Mohawk since 2009 include:
1) Formation of the Lake Mohawk, Lake Restoration and Protection Committee,
2) The development of a lake informational website (www.Lake-Mohawk.us)
3) The discovery that the primary source of phosphorus that leads to cyanobacteria blooms is more internal than external*
4) Discovering pollen “rain” is often associated with August/September algae blooms (pollen is high in phosphorus)
5) Sharing knowledge with the L.M.P.O.A. members about the consequences of copper build-up in lake sediments
6) Improving communication between the various clubs within the lake community.
7) 2016 – A Lake Mohawk “weather station” and “lake web cam” that will report and record weather data via Weather Underground (Wunderground.com). No longer operational although more than willing to help initiate a new one. (WS-2000)
8) 2016 – Introduced L.M.P.O.A. to M.A.D. Science Associates / P.C.I. as part of the dredging project.
9) Selective Aquatic Plant Management over the past 10 years has led to increases in beneficial native aquatic plants (Slender Naiad) and a decrease in undesirable exotic species of aquatic plants (Watermilfoil) (Curlyleaf pondweed).
10) Dredging Project with PCI (2019) – After many years of planning and hard work from both the Board and Lake Committee members, dredging preparation started in late 2018 with actual dredging to beginning in 2019.
Lake Mohawk
11) 2023 – Initiation of the “Do It Yourself” Program with Paul Mickley. L.M.P.O.A. purchases lake management equipment from Gray’s Aquatic Services. Learning how to manage your own lake can save tens of thousands of dollars per year in addition to managing nuisance conditions in a timely manner.