Lake Level Orders Updated for Grand Lake and Lake Esau
- jroden3
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
On December 22, 2025, the 53rd Circuit Court granted Presque Isle County's Petitions to Amend the Lake Level Orders for Grand Lake and Lake Esau.
What This Means for Property Owners
Grand Lake
The amended Grand Lake - Lake Level Order does the following:
Updates the survey datum used to measure the lake level to NAVD88
Clarifies that the legal lake level may be subject to reasonable variations due to construction work, weather or natural conditions, and/or permitted operations of lake level infrastructure
Establishes and confirms the boundaries of a lake level special assessment district to finance lake level improvements and activities necessary to maintain the legal level of Grand Lake
The legal lake level of Grand Lake is 593.69 feet NAVD88.
Lake Esau
The amended Lake Esau - Lake Level Order does the following:
Updates the survey datum used to measure the lake level to NAVD88
Clarifies that the legal lake level is a target that may be subject to reasonable variations due to construction work, weather or natural conditions, permitted operations of lake level infrastructure, and/or the availability of a water source
Allows for operational adjustments (water banking) of up to six inches
Establishes and confirms the boundaries of a lake level special assessment district to finance lake level improvements and activities necessary to maintain the legal level of Lake Esau
The legal lake level of Lake Esau is 596.63 feet NAVD88.
Background
The Court initially held hearings on the County’s Petitions to Amend the Lake Level Orders for Grand Lake and Lake Esau on September 22, 2025, and held a reconvened hearing for Grand Lake on October 20, 2025. Although the Court initially denied the County’s Petitions in Orders dated November 3, 2025, the County filed Motions for Reconsideration asking the Court to reconsider its decisions. The Court's December 22nd Orders reverse the Court’s previous denials, supersede the November 3, 2025 Orders in their entirety, and grant the County’s Petitions.
Read the Order Granting Motion for Reconsideration and the final lake level orders below.