Madine Lake was filled in 1976 to constitute a drinking water reserve for the city of Metz. It has been classified as a National Hunting and Wild Fauna Reserve since 1998. Its waters shelter a rich and diverse bird population, as well as abundant aquatic and coastal vegetation. A marina was established in the nearby locality of Nonsard-Lamarche that only accommodates sailing boats. During spring and autumn, thick patches of fog often form over the lake to such an extent that pleasure boaters sometimes get lost in the middle of the water.