Project Updates, Watson Drain

PROJECT UPDATE

Water withdrawal from Upper Crooked Lake was schedule to terminate on October 15th. Due to warmer than normal weather, the Drain Commissioner’s office was able to reach an agreement with EGLE to allow withdrawals to continue until November 6th. A second extension for water withdrawals has been requested and is pending review/approval by EGLE. If approved, this extension would allow withdrawals to continue only to keep Upper Crooked Lake from further rising and would expire upon ice formation on the lake. 

Per the stipulations listed in the issued EGLE permit, spring 2020 withdrawals from Upper Crooked Lake will commence after April 30th.

See below for associated graphs:

Pine Lake, Project Updates

ONGOING WORK UPDATE

The project team met with EGLE representatives in August to discuss the project. EGLE was receptive to a potential gravity outlet to the east; however, they requested additional study including the following data:

  • Wetland delineation and inventory.
  • Groundwater monitoring.
  • Lake Level and water quality monitoring.

Representatives of the project team have met with neighboring properties adjacent to Pine Lake to survey the proposed alignment of a potential gravity outlet and begin preliminary discussions for easement acquisition.

Currently we are conducting the following field work:

  • Monitoring well and staff gauge installation.
  • Wetland inventory and delineation.
  • Topographic survey.

See below for an updated schedule.

Project Updates, Watson Drain

WATSON DRAIN PROJECT UPDATE

A petition was filed with the Barry County Drain Commissioner on March 20, 2018 requesting maintenance and improvement of the Watson Drain. On May 7, 2018, the Board of Determination ordered that a project was necessary to alleviate the flooding in the area and revised the boundaries of the Drainage District. No appeals were filed and the time to appeal the Board’s determinations has passed. 

Since the Board of Determination, the Drain Commissioner has been working with an engineer to develop a solution to the ongoing flooding problems. A long-term solution has been developed, consisting of an infiltration-based system, and connecting to and utilizing detention within existing watercourses.  Once implemented, bids will be taken and a day of review of apportionments will be held where landowners and public corporations can review their percentage of the overall cost of the project. The final project will then be constructed. In the meantime, the Drain Commissioner and engineer have been implementing temporary solutions to provide immediate relief from the rising water levels.

MORE INFORMATION

Pine Lake, Project Updates

RESOLUTION PASSES

On July 7, 2019 and July 11, 2019, the Barry County Board of Commissioners and Allegan County Board of Commissioners, respectively, passed resolutions authorizing the Allegan County Drain Commissioner and Barry County Drain Commissioner to exceed the $10,000 annual spending limit to explore options to bring the lake level down. 

Links to copies of the resolutions are below.

jUly 7 RESOLUTION
JULY 11 RESOLUTION