Current Events
October 2024
October 7 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All Welcome
November 2024
November 11 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All Welcome
December 2024
December 2 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All Welcome
January 2025
January 6 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All Welcome
August 2025
August 5 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All Welcome
TBD – Annual Pizza & Salad Party – 6pm – Portage Yacht Club – 8930 Dexter Pinckney Road – 734-426-4155
September 2024
September 9 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All Welcome
Flook Dam Lake Level Adjustments
The lake level of Portage and Base Line lakes was lowered beginning on November 21, 2023. The lake level was legally established in 1949 to reduce ice damage and erosion to the shoreline. The legally established winter lake level range is between 850.04 and 850.29 feet above sea level. The lakes reached the winter range by December 1, 2023, weather conditions permitting, according to Scott Miller, P.E., Deputy Water Resources Commissioner. The lake level will begin to be increased March 15, 2024.
The Portage and Base Line Lake Level District includes lands in both Washtenaw and Livingston County. The district spans Dexter and Webster townships in Washtenaw County, and Hamburg and Putnam townships in Livingston County. For further information, contact the Water Resources office at 734-¬222-6860.
The Flook Dam Special Assessment District (SAD) and lake levels were established by the Circuit Court of Washtenaw County. A hearing before the Court has been set on August 14, 2024 in response to a request the Washtenaw County Water Commission (the entity responsible for managing and maintaining the dam) to adjust the boundaries of the SAD to include properties with deeded access to the lakes and to eliminate properties that don’t have access to the lakes. Public notice of the hearing is here: Notice-of-Hearing-to-Amend-the-Lake-Level-Order-Portage-and-Base-Line-Lakes—Court-Date-8-14-2024-PDF (washtenaw.org)
At other such hearings, EGLE has requested that the Courts establish an earlier date for lowering the water in the lakes before winter. In anticipation of such a request for the Flook Dam, the Water Commissioner requested feedback from the members of HRCOLA. HRCOLA sent an email to its members.
We have received more than 120 replies to this email. At least 40% of respondents questioned WHY this was being proposed and by whom. Only 11 responded that they would be OK with an earlier drawdown. The majority of respondents were not in favor of an earlier drawdown, citing challenges with getting their boats into storage. Most also responded that shortening the boating season would not be accepted as many report enjoying the October Fall colors and good fishing. Almost 10 % specifically indicated that an Oct. 31st date would be acceptable. Many also asked why an earlier drawdown was being considered. (This question has not been answered.)
The HRCOLA Board will attend the public hearing and present these findings to the Court if the issue of changing the dates that the water is lowered is brought up in the hearing.
It is the opinion of the Board that the dates should not be changed without clear scientific evidence that an earlier drawdown is necessary to protect the environment of the Huron River Chain of Lakes. If that is the case, the date should be set to also minimize impact on use of the lake for recreational purposes.
Updates from Washtenaw County about the Dam are available here: Portage/Base Line Lakes | Washtenaw County, MI
Lake Level Lowering – Winter 2023
Flook Dam Repairs
At the HRCOLA (formerly PBWOA) Annual Meeting on May 11, 2024, Evan Pratt, the Water Resources Commissioner for Washtenaw County provided an update on the repairs to Flook Dam. The Dam benefits properties in both Washtenaw and Livingston Counties. Washtenaw County is manages the dam for the benefit of properties in both counties.
The repairs are estimated to cost approximately $1.3 million. This number is subject to change. Construction is planned for Fall 2024 after the work is bid over the summer.
Projections for assessment increases for Properties in the Flook Dam Assessment Special Assessment District (Dam Sad) are in the $150-$200 per parcel per year for 6-8 years. The County is proposing adjusting the boundaries of the Dam Sad to include all parcels with deeded access to the lakes. A copy of the proposed adjustments to the Dam Sad boundaries is here. The County is considering different assessment levels for properties with lake frontage, lake access and commercial properties.
Next steps are a court hearing to set the revised boundaries and to add some language to the lake level order.
Update from 08/14/24 Circuit Court Hearing – The judge, Hon. Julia Owdziej accepted the request to update the Special Assessment District boundaries. The Lake Level Lowering timing change was not part of the Order in front of the court. Which means the timing of the lowering of the lake levels will stay the same and be around the 1st or 2nd week of November 2024. Livingston and Washtenaw County Water Resources personnel are still working with the State to ensure the timing of the lowering stays later in the season. Your HRCOLA Board will keep you updated with any changes.
After that a public hearing will be held to review the assessment amounts. The County is required to notify the owners of parcels in the proposed DAM SAD of the dates, time and location for these events.
Washtenaw County is posting its information about the dam repairs here.
Washtenaw County is projecting that the dam repair is to be completed in July 2025.
Public notice of the hearing is here: Notice-of-Hearing-to-Amend-the-Lake-Level-Order-Portage-and-Base-Line-Lakes—Court-Date-8-14-2024-PDF (washtenaw.org)
LEARN about lakes online course – free to pbwoa members
Any HRCOLA Member is welcome to take the MSU Extension Introduction to Lakes on-line course, pass the class and be reimbursed for entire cost of the class. This is a 6 Week Course that starts in January, 2024. Take a look at Introduction to Lakes Online – Natural Resources (msu.edu) for more information and learn about Watersheds, Aquatic Plants, Shorelines, Ecology, Laws, and Citizen Involvement. The deadline to register is 01/28/24 and the initial cost (which can be reimbursed) is $115.00. For reimbursement email a copy of your receipt and completion certificate to [email protected] with name and address for reimbursement check.
Boater Safety Class
Boater Safety Training is an investment in safer waters for all of us. Every spring HRCOLA sponsors the Boater Safety Class, offered by the Washtenaw County Sheriff Marine Division. Anyone born after 7-1-1996 MUST be certified to legally operate a boat on Michigan waters. This one-day course meets that requirement. There is no registration fee and lunch is provided at HRCOLA expense.
Check here late winter, early spring for the date, time and place for the 2025 class.
Pizza Party
Our annual pizza party was held August 16, 2024 at Portage Yacht Club (8930 Dexter-Pinckney Road, Pinckney). The gathering was well attended by our community as we heard Evan Pratt – Washtenaw County Water Resources Director tell us about the plan for the Flook Dam Repairs and Jennifer Conlin tell us about the State’s plan for dealing with PFAS’s.
Volunteer
Water Quality Monitoring
Each spring and midsummer, HRCOLA volunteers check the water quality in our lakes. If you have a boat to access the set point on one of the lakes, we’ll train you to check the water clarity level and to take samples that we send to a lab to determine the amount of phosphorous in the water. We are currently looking for volunteers for Zukey and Strawberry Lakes. If you are interested helping or just learning more contact us [email protected].
Email Signup
HRCOLA sends email blasts announcing HRCOLA events such as the Annual Meeting and Pizza Party and providing information of interest to our members. We don’t do it too much, so you won’t be overwelmed. If you aren’t already on our email list (through an option on the membership signup portal) you can be added to our list my emailing us at [email protected], Give us your name and email and we will include in future emails.
Newsletter Committee
HRCOLA puts out a newsletter each spring and fall. The layout and printing are done by Econoprint. If you are interested in helping write, gather articles, and edit you are welcome to join our Newsletter Committee. Let us know by emailing us at [email protected] or by calling Mary Beth Timmerman at 517-851-2100.