County Removes Water Banking from Proposed Amendments to Grand Lake - Lake Level Order

Following feedback from property owners indicating concerns with the previously proposed water banking on Grand Lake, and discussions with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the County has decided that it will NOT request any authorization for water banking at the upcoming Circuit Court hearing for Grand Lake.

As shared during the August 15 public informational meeting, the County originally planned to request the Circuit Court authorize approximately six inches of water banking in the Spring on Grand Lake. This will be removed from the requested lake level order updates that are presented to the Circuit Court on September 22.

The requested amendments to the lake level order for Grand Lake that will be presented to the Circuit Court will still include the following:

1. Update the survey datum to the more recent North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88)

2. Clarify that the lake level is subject to temporary variations due to things like weather and natural conditions

3. Confirm the boundaries of a special assessment district to fund operation and maintenance of the legally established lake level

   
   

How will this impact the level of Grand Lake?

The requested amendments will not change the legal lake level elevation that was previously established for Grand Lake (594 feet above mean sea level). The County intends to operate the lake level control structure to maintain this elevation going forward.

At times in the past, there have been some variations in the operation of the lake level control structure. Because the County intends to use its best efforts to maintain the legal lake level going forward, it is expected that property owners will experience a more consistent lake level throughout the entire year.

Is water banking still being considered for Lake Esau?

Yes. One of the requested amendments to the Lake Esau lake level order is to authorize water banking of up to six inches during periods when extra water is available to assist in maintaining the legal lake level (597 feet above mean sea level) at other times. The County confirmed that EGLE has no concerns with the proposed water banking and will ask the Circuit Court to include it in Lake Esau's lake level order at the Circuit Court hearing on September 22.