This is a place to ask questions and share with your Duck Lake neighbors. Please keep the discussion cordial.
Duck Lake
Property Owners Association | Highland, MI
This is a place to ask questions and share with your Duck Lake neighbors. Please keep the discussion cordial.
Duck Lake 
May 24, 2021 at 9:25 am
I wonder if there is a way to petition Oakland County to see if the legal lake level can get adjusted some due to the changes of our lake over the past 50 years since it was established? I know this is probably very tricky since it can impact lakes downstream in the Huron River watershed.
May 24, 2021 at 9:41 am
Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think we need to have the legal limit adjusted. We just need a better or additional pump. It shouldn’t be a problem getting the permit because the level was promised to us years ago.
May 24, 2021 at 7:06 pm
I agree and believe everybody would be reasonably happy if we were able to regulate our summer lake level between the existing legal 2″ range of elevation (above sea level) 1016.63 and 1016.80. That would be 7″ to 9″ higher than it is today. Permitting is another issue. I am optimistic that EGLE (State of MI) would issue a groundwater withdrawal permit for a second well, however it would not be without some resistance, as that is just how they are. They are the friend of nature, not people. Not particularly subject to political pressure.
May 25, 2021 at 1:36 am
So unfortunate the political “slime” find ways to lobby to enact and approve policies that ARE in direct conflict of nature when these political slimeballs’ get their greedy palms greased with lobby money. Sad NESTLE’ Corporation is allowed to install well after well in our state so they can pump out 1,000,000 gallons of OUR ground water, PER DAY, EVERY DAY, and float it in a gigantic plastic bag, in a bottomless barge, overseas, where the water is bottled, and sold around the world at huge profits.This bottomless barge, with OUR ground water nolonger occupying the hold, then returns to Michigan, full of new, EMPTY Nestle’ water bottles, to a more local bottling plant, to be filled with yet more of OUR groundwater. The cycle continues, lowering the groundwater table level, no doubt impacting Michigan, Illinois and other states, and Canadian Provinces, that share shore lines with the Great Lakes.I wonder how much 1,000,000 gallons of OUR water, one time, would raise the level of OUR Duck Lake?A recent U. S. President had the right idea, about “draining the swamp”. Unfortunately, there are still plenty of greedy bottom feeders who are ok with passing legislation which enables the LEGAL “draining of precious ground water” in the name of greed.But then again, water is a life giving resource. Better in the belly of a living person, enabling that person to live, than in Duck Lake, enabling my boat to float. On Monday, May 24, 2021, 07:06:25 PM EDT, Duck Lake wrot |
Ole Anderson commented: “I agree and believe everybody would be reasonably happy if we were able to regulate our summer lake level between the existing legal 2″ range of elevation (above sea level) 1016.63 and 1016.80. That would be 7″ to 9″ higher than it is today. Permitting” | |
May 25, 2021 at 8:25 am
“I wonder how much 1,000,000 gallons of OUR water, one time, would raise the level of OUR Duck Lake?” Answer is 1/7 of an inch. It takes 7 million gallons to raise our lake one inch. A million gallons is figuratively a drop in the bucket of our local groundwater supply.
May 25, 2021 at 10:47 am
When you say we are a rain and rain water run off lake, would it help if the residents watered their lawns with their wells? They are using the same electricity and the water from the well lawn watering would be a help to the lake.
We really need a fix for this low lake levels that we have had for the last three years! We have owned our cottage for 48 years and have only had low lake levels for the last three years.
May 25, 2021 at 11:12 am
Our wells draw out of the same water that feeds the lake so it wouldn’t matter. There isn’t always “someone” to blame. I have been a meteorologist and hydrologist for over 30 yrs. Weather goes in cycles. You have periods of wetter then average and periods of lower then average precipitation. That is nature. Getting rid of muck will help in many areas on the lake when in low water but it will take time to rid something that has built up since the lakes inception.
May 24, 2021 at 10:15 am
You can add 10 more feet of board but if no water is flowing into the lake, it will not go up. The lake basically levels off to what the ground water table is after runoff from rain passes through. I think our drainage basin is like 2 or 3 sq miles which isn’t very much. We are at the headwaters. I guess that is why it is called Highland.
May 24, 2021 at 6:48 pm
We have asked the WRC about this. It would take a petition of the lake residents to enable a new lake level study. There is no “vote” for a higher or lower level. After resident authorization via petition and hearings the WRC would hire an engineering firm (at the expense of the riparians) experienced with lake levels. They would query residents and do an expensive detailed survey of the entire lake perimeter to determine at what level folks would experience damage with higher levels. Low docks, low seawalls, and low yards and homes and septic systems would be surveyed. A report with recommendations would be prepared. Hearings would be held and ultimately a judge would review all of the pertinent information and issue an order setting a lake level. That level could be the same at was previously determined, it could be higher, or it could be lower. The judge is not likely to issue a determination which would cause damage to even one riparian. IMO a slight change in lake level would not impact downstream interests. More detail of the procedure is in the attached document.
Click to access wrd-dams-legal-lake-levels_558345_7.pdf
May 23, 2021 at 7:21 pm
Your kidding me.
May 23, 2021 at 7:49 pm
Is it safe to swim in the water during the July 8th and 12th treatments ? m Thank you. Kerry
May 23, 2021 at 5:46 pm
Time for us impacted by this water level to seek an attorney. Something and/or someone needs to be changed.
May 23, 2021 at 6:10 pm
Another anonymous post? FYI we are in the process of setting up a meeting with the WRC to discuss the process of installing a second well. It won’t be easy, maybe not even possible depending if the state will grant a water withdrawal permit. We do know that it will require us collecting petitions of most affected riparians. WRC has thrown out a $500K number for consideration. Drought is our problem. Since April 1 we have only gotten 2.2 inches of rain, normally we would get 6.1 inches in April and May. I understand your frustration. Anyone remember in the 1960’s when the Duck Lake was 4 FEET low? Right now it is about 7″ low.
May 23, 2021 at 10:25 pm
Yeah, another anonymous post. Put on your big boy britches and get used to the idea some of us enjoy our right of anonymity. Unless we’re in North Korea or China?
As far as the “state permitting” us a second well so our lake is actually a usable, all sports lake, as our taxes clearly pay for, maybe we ought to hire the attorney that Nestle’ uses? After all, they are allowed to pump a million gallons of water a day, for a $200 annual permit fee.
We need fresh ideas to get rid of the stagnation of excuses as we watch out beautiful lake become a pond only suitable for paddle boats and swans.
May 24, 2021 at 7:30 am
Who you going to sue? Mother Nature? Dirp!
May 23, 2021 at 4:49 pm
The water level stinks again for the third year in a row. We pay for water level , where is it. I can’t begin to put my pontoon in the water as our boat well is half muck. Come over to 1990 Club View Drive and walk down to our boat dock and see for your self. It is getting to the point that our cottage would be hard to sell because of the lack of the wATER LEVEL.
May 23, 2021 at 11:07 am
Line cut by the narrows
May 17, 2021 at 3:29 pm
DLPOA Board Meeting 5/19/21 7:30pm-9pm
Hello members this is a reminder that we will have our regular scheduled 3rd Wednesday of the month board meeting this Wednesday 5/19 at 7:30pm @ Axford Acres Beach. FYI Buenos Tacos food cart will be at the beach from 5-7pm!
May 17, 2021 at 12:58 pm
Any word on what year our lake pump issue will be addressed? I won’t be able to get my boat ON my lift.
Thanks biden, paying people to not return to their waiting jobs.
Pure idiotcy from the top down…
May 17, 2021 at 1:26 pm
I love it when the comments are about Duck Lake only. Special thanks to the hard working people tending to our Duck Lake matters.
May 17, 2021 at 4:20 pm
I talked to Ryan at the WRC today. They delivered and installed the “repaired” motor Thursday. Friday upon startup they realized that it had other problems with the wiring and took it back again for repair. Goal is to get it fixed and installed mid week. If it still has problems, they may just install a new motor, of course at our cost. But a running pump will not solve our low level issue overnight, we still need rain, and lots of it.
BTW please remember to fill in your email and name, I know it is easy to forget and just hit “post comment”. Otherwise you will show up as “Anonymous”.
May 17, 2021 at 6:15 pm
Didn’t we purchase a new pump like 2 or 3 years ago? I swear we got a new pump then had to get a new well. Thanks
May 17, 2021 at 6:58 pm
The well was redrilled a few years ago and they reused the old pump and motor after rebuilding it.
May 19, 2021 at 9:50 am
Ryan from the WRC called this morning to report our pump has been FIXED AND IS NOW RUNNING!!!
May 21, 2021 at 7:52 am
Including you
May 17, 2021 at 9:04 am
Hello, is everyone experiencing the algae and green scum around there shoreline this year? Maybe a side effect of the low lake levels and the bubblers? I live on the east side of Little Duck and this is the worst I have ever seen it. Just a observation not sure if there is a solution.
May 17, 2021 at 9:10 am
Happens every spring. Some areas get it every year, some areas get it once and a while. Best thing to do is just pull it out with a pool skimmer or rake. In the past, we would spray copper sulfate on it to kill it but we are trying to get away from chemicals as much as possible. Also, copper kills the bio-augmentation treatments we put in, so it kind of makes the lake treatments take a step back.
May 17, 2021 at 11:55 am
Thanks Matt.
May 17, 2021 at 11:49 am
It is from a lack of new water coming in and water going out of the lake combined with a lot of pollen falling in the lake. Nothing to do with the bubblers.
May 17, 2021 at 11:56 am
Thank you.
May 8, 2021 at 9:07 am
I think two of the bubbles are not working at the southern most part of Little Duck (near the drain). We had 3 bubblers down our cove and now only one is bubbling. Is there anyone I should contact? Thanks
May 8, 2021 at 11:20 am
Thanks, we’ll let Ever Blue/Lake Savers know.
May 1, 2021 at 7:11 pm
Was wondering if the pump got fixed?
May 8, 2021 at 9:34 am
Any updates regarding the pump repair?
May 8, 2021 at 11:22 am
We’re told the pump has been repaired, but it is not yet reinstalled. The WRC has had staffing issues. The same folks responsible for city water and sewer services are tasked with pump maintenance.