Current Events
February 2026
February 2 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All are Welcome – The Zoom Meeting Link will be posted prior to the meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/96712903783?pwd=K8BPUK2ajQWNjjMbjQbqQO3Ct31RMg.1
Meeting ID: 967 1290 3783
Passcode: 318395
February 4 – 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. – Habitat protectors: New team targets invasive species on state lands
In 2024, Michigan’s Invasive Species Program began assembling a team to focus on emerging populations of new invasive species and tree diseases on state lands. Today, four foresters and two wildlife biologists are hard at work detecting and managing watch list and high priority invasive species on 4.6 million acres of state forests, parks, recreation areas and game and wildlife areas. Join Michigan’s Invasive Species Response Team forester Gwen Grochowski and wildlife biologist Natalie Bekins to find out how their team’s efforts to detect and manage invasives are protecting critical habitats in your favorite outdoor places.
February 26 – LIVE online Master Rain Gardener Class – Five Thursdays, Feb 26, March 5,12,19,26, 2026.
Class: 10am – Noon. Optional office hours 9-9:45am.
In-person Rain Garden Tour: Sunday March 1, 1:00-2:00
Price: $89 early bird rate ($150 after January 15).
Registration Here
March 2026
March 2 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All are Welcome. The Zoom Meeting information will be posted prior to the meeting.
March 7 – Saturday – CHAIN OF LAKES FAMILY DINNER – Zukey Lake Tavern – 6pm – In the back room – We will be joined by Senator Sue Shink and Representative Jennifer Conlin along with a representative from the Livingston County Drain Commissioner’s Office (Brian Jonckheere, Ken Recker or another representative) for questions and updates. All residents are welcome. Each person pays their own way.
April 2026
April 6 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All are Welcome. The Zoom Meeting information will be posted prior to the meeting.
April – TBD – Boaters Safety Class – Saturday 8am-3pm – Portage Yacht Club, 8930 Dexter-Pinckney Road
May 2026
May 4 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All Members are Welcome – You can also join the Zoom Meeting below at – TBD
May 9 – Annual Association Meeting – Portage Yacht Club – 9am
June 2026
June 1 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All Members are Welcome – You can also join the Zoom Meeting below at – TBD
June 6 – Washtenaw County Conservation District 2026 Spring Native Plant Sale – Saturday, June 6, 2026, 9am – 1pm – 2026 Spring Native Plant Sale | Washtenaw County Conservation District
July 2026
July 6 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All Members are Welcome – You can also join the Zoom Meeting below at – TBD
August 2026
August 3 – Association Board Meeting Zoom only – 7 – 9pm – Meeting only to finalize plans for the Annual Pizza Party
August 14 – Annual Summer Party – 6pm – American Legion – 9807 Whitewood Road, Pinckney – Coney Dogs and Chips will be served with a Cash Bar. 734-8789522 – We will have guest speakers joining us.
August TBD – Shorefront Garden Tour – For further information/details, email: [email protected]om.
August TBD – Shorefront Garden Tour – For further information/details, email: [email protected]om.
September 2026
September 7 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All Welcome
October 2026
October 5 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All are Welcome. You can also join the Zoom Meeting below at – TBD
October 22 – Great Lakes Microplastics Summit – Virtual Event.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) invites you to save the date for the Great Lakes Microplastics Summit on October 22, 2025. This virtual one-day event will bring together researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders from across the region to network, share insights, and explore the latest findings regarding microplastics in both surface water and drinking water.
The summit will feature expert presentations on five key themes:
- Fate and Transport
- Sampling techniques
- Analytical methods
- Ecological and human health impacts
- Interactions with other contaminants
Whether you’re from a university, government agency, nonprofit, or simply interested in microplastics in the Great Lakes, this summit offers a valuable opportunity to connect, learn, and collaborate.
Mark your calendars and join us in advancing the conversation on microplastics in the Great Lakes region. See Michigan.gov/EGLEevents
November 2026
November 2 – Pinckney Recreation Area – Nov. 2, Volunteer Stewardship Workday
Join us in protecting a valuable dry sand prairie ecosystem in Pinckney Recreation Area, where 22 unique natural communities form the diverse landscape. Location: Pinckney Recreation Area – Halfmoon Lake Unit
November 10 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All Welcome – Join Zoom Meeting at: TBD
November TBD – The start of the Lake Level Lowering will be published once available from Washtenaw County Water Resources. Last year it began November 26, 2024. Lake Management Resources | Washtenaw County, MI – Official Website
December 2026
December 7 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All Welcome – Join Zoom Meeting at –
January 2026
January 5 – Association Board Meeting at Hamburg Township Senior Center – 7 – 9pm – All Welcome – Zoom Meeting information will be posted prior to the meeting.
January 14 – 9:00 am to 10am – In a stranglehold: Can we prevent invasive mussels from muscling in on native populations?
January 20 – Intro To Lakes On-Line Course $115 Reimbursed by HRCOLA – Register Here – Lakes Course
January 31 – Dexter Townships new “single hauler” curbside collection program with WM (formally Waste Management). Enrollment is happening NOW (by January 31 to avoid any fees) and will go into effect April 1, 2026. Any questions, please feel free to reach out and drop an email to [email protected]
Flook Dam Lake Level Adjustments
The lake level of Portage and Base Line lakes will be lowered again in November 2025 by Washtenaw County as it has been in the past. 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 50.04 and 850.29 feet above sea level. The lake level will begin to be increased in mid March 2026.
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.
.At a July 28, 2025 townhall meeting with Jennifer Conlin and others, there was also an extensive conversation concerning EGLE’s consideration of changing the date that the water is lowered in the Huron Chain of Lakes in the fall (in the future, not this year). The date can only be changed by court order. The Flook Dam is the latest lowering of any water level in the state by court order that was set up in 1949. DNR is concerned about the impact of this late lowering on creatures that hibernate along the shoreline. DNR has a study out to determine what the impact is, if any. If there is determined to be an impact, then DNR may to go to the courts to request the lowering date be set earlier in the year. HRCOLA has requested a copy of the requirements for the study so we can better understand what they are looking at.
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
Flook Dam Repairs
Washtenaw County has sold the bonds for the Flook Dam repairs and contracted to have the work completed during 2026.
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 2026.
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, 2026. 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 01/20/26 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.
The class will be held at the Portage Yacht Club in April of 2026 – 8am-3pm. We will post more information in the spring.
SUMMER Party
Our Annual Summer Party will be held August 14, 2026 at 6 pm at the American Legion – 9807 Whitewood Road, Pinckney – Coney Dogs and Chips will be served with a Cash Bar. 734-878-9522 – We will have guest speakers joining us. HRCOLA Board members will be on hand to answer questions about the Flook Dam improvements, Wayne State Microplastics Study, dam lowering dates, and other issues of interest to HRCOLA members.
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 Summer Party and providing information of interest to our members. We don’t do it too much, so you won’t be overwhelmed. 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.