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 
September 26, 2017 at 2:20 pm
Does anyone know what is going on with the well. They sent a camera down the well to inspect it but have not heard what they found.
September 26, 2017 at 3:51 pm
Well update: A preliminary update has been received by WRC from their well contractor, LaLone. They have yet to receive the written report and the tapes of the well video. It does not look good. There are holes as big as a golf ball in the 12″ steel pipe between the two screens at a depth of between 90 and 136 feet. And the well seems to have some vertical alignment issues. We need to wait for the final report, but at this time it looks like there will not be a quick, easy (or inexpensive) fix. Stay tuned.
October 2, 2017 at 3:47 pm
Whatever the end game, thanks for the update. Better to know then to speculate among ourselves.
September 15, 2017 at 9:00 pm
Haven’t heard what us being down to get the lake pump to pump water and not pump sand. I did not hear the remedy to this fiasco at the meeting this past Monday. This issue needs to be resolved a.s.a.p. With low water levels, the muck issue us even more dire. HELP!!!!! Anyone out there??
September 16, 2017 at 1:06 pm
I have a call into the pump maintenance group at the county, forgot it is the weekend. The motor and pump have been pulled, the well has not yet been scoped to determine why sand is getting into the well. Not sure the county has the same sense of urgency we have. Need to work on that. Could be a bad screen (they are 55 years old). Hopefully they will be able to repair it, because if we need a new well we are not looking at a solution that will happen in the next month. Our well pulls from two different depths (different aquifers). If we need a new well, we are not likely to get a permit for a dual screen well, so we could be looking at a whole new augmentation system. There was talk on the lake a few years back of putting in a second well at a different location to give us increased capacity and a backup. That would have been handy right now. Of course getting people to pay for it would be an uphill struggle.
FYI, today the lake is 3.5″ below normal summer legal level. Pray for plenty of rain.
September 18, 2017 at 12:12 am
What a joke this answer is… What a joke the people in charge did not make the pump/sand issue # 1!
Now it seems any progress on the pump will not even be addressed until spring of 2118.
Seems a bunch of unanswered questions… questions that should have been answered long ago.
Why are we even discussing reducing the muck in the lake, if the water level in the lake is not even addressed.
Those in charge of this ought to be embarrassed about dropping the ball.
Our tax money hard at work.
What a joke.
September 18, 2017 at 9:27 am
Hello Again Mr./Mrs. Anonymous,
It is a pleasure having you back online. I haven’t heard from you in a little bit. I hope you are doing well and that your summer was a good one. Please see below for a complete and updated “timeline” of what and how everything transpired. While you mentioned above about us not taking this as issue #1, I assure you that is not the case. We are very blessed to have MANY willing and able volunteers on the DLPOA so we are able to multi-task and direct resources where they are most needed. Ole Anderson, who wrote the note above which you apparently did not find adequate, has over 30 plus years working with and building these augmentation wells. He has offered to take the “bull by horns” and make this his #1 priority, with the help of a few others as well. This has allowed us to still focus on the future while insuring the present is still OK.
As for the your comment about the well being addressed in the spring, I assure you that the well has been and will continue to be addressed daily until the remedy has been applied. As mentioned above and below, the communication is almost being done daily and has been going on daily for the past month. However, as the WRC is the one in control of the well and all of its repair, the speed at which they move forward is completely out of our hands (minus us being the squeaky wheel). When you read the below, I think you will see that they had a little bit of a process that takes time to work though. The fact that the pump will not be on for the reminder of this year had nothing to do with us not asking questions, but rather the speed in which the answers have been returned to us. Further, once we have those answers, we then will need to listen as to how the WRC best plans to move forward. If you feel like ANY questions are still unanswered, OR if you have any questions that we forgot to ask long ago, please let us know those questions and we will make sure to try to get the answers if we have not already done so.
Hello Duck Lake,
I hope everyone had a great summer and that you are still cheering for an Indian summer like myself. Hard to believe that another summer of boating is almost through. Always seems so short.
I wanted to write really quick with an update on the lake level. As some of you may or may not know, the lake pump has been off for the last month. The decision to turn off the pump came from the WRC (Water Resource Commission). To be clear ALL things well and water level related are controlled by the WRC. The DLPOA has zero authority over the lake level and the pump as this is regulated by the State of Michigan. The decision to turn the pump off came after they (WRC) had received calls that the pump was running louder than normal. Upon investigation, it turned out that the pump was pulling sand from somewhere within the well. To avoid any damage (or further damage) they turned the pump off to address the situation.
As most of us know, the pump was replaced in the winter spring of 2015/16. To clarify, that pump is still working and is not the reason why they made the decision to turn off the well. They did it as a precaution until they could identify where the sand was entering into the well and to protect the pump. As I understand it, and was told by both the WRC and LaLone (the company providing the well service), we have many different situations that can take place to get the well back into operation.
The first step was to identify and bid out the work. Once an adequate bid was submitted and approved by the WRC, they could allow the work to begin. To inspect the well, they first have to pull the pump back out. After the pump is pulled out they (LaLone) will flush out the well to clean it as much as possible. This will make sure any sediment or other obtrusions are removed as much as possible to make for the best camera view. Once this is done they will send a camera down to try to locate where the sand is entering the well. While they (Lalone) are preforming this work, they (Lalone) are going to send the pump over to Hydrostatic to have it examined to see if there was any damage done from pumping the sand for the short time it did so. This is being done to insure we protect our new asset we just purchased a few years back. (Update, this has now been done and the pump is in good shape. They did some general maintenance and service on the pump to bring it back to brand new).
Once the camera goes down into the well, they are guessing that the sand will have one of three points of entry. Those three points are 1- the well wall, 2- the top screen, and 3- the lower screen. If there is a hole in the well piping, they can insert a well liner and the problem will be fixed relatively easily. However, if it is not in the well piping then it would be coming from either the top screen or lower screen. If the sand appears to be coming from the bottom screen (which is actually higher in the well) then we have two options. One is to fix the screen, which would have to be done by a company in Missouri, or we may have to “double” screen it. This would also have to be approved by the company in Missouri, AND this would have an impact on our water capacity that the pump can produce. However, both are fixable options. The third, and worst case scenario, is if the top screen is letting in sand. If this is the case, which let’s all cross our fingers it is not, we may have to abandon the well as it would not be possible to fix. The main issue with filling the current well in, is that due to the power lines directly overhead, we will not be able to drill in the same location. So that would mean we would need to secure a new well location AND have to dredge through all of the governmental paper work to secure the permits to drill and establish a new well. None of these have been established yet.
So, to date, the WRC has commissioned LaLone to start work on this project. On 9-6-17 they came out and removed the pump. As mentioned above they are sending over the pump to Hydrostatic to have it inspected (done). On 9-15-17 they are going to flush out the pipe and send the camera down for inspection. We are in standby mode right now until they are able to locate the source of the sand, but they committed to getting back to us ASAP once this happens.
Two things to make note of, first as mentioned above, this is ALL out of our hands. The WRC is in charge of the lake level and has the ability to make any and all decisions as to the work performed. We are able to call and voice our opinion, as well as explain our desire to have the problem fixed exponentially, but as is the government not too much can be done beyond that. Second, the well will not be back on in 2017. Even in the best case scenario with the liner being put in and the pump reinserted, the work will not be completed in time to turn the pump back on for the boating season. We have voiced our displeasure with this, but once again, out of our control. Please make sure that you plan accordingly when setting up your boat removal. Unless we have rain in the forecast, the lake level will not be going up.
We will do our best to communicate any and all updates to this situation as we learn more from the WRC. They have been in communication with the DLPOA almost daily as we try to learn how to solve this problem. I hope that everyone had a fun summer and I hope to see you all back on the lake sooner than later.
Regards,
Ryan Charlton
September 18, 2017 at 4:58 pm
Thank you, Ryan.
September 18, 2017 at 10:01 am
Your kind are always the problem, not the solution. The board does not get paid. They dedicate their own time for the better of our lake. Try donating your time to help instead of using your time to complain. And the old my tax dollar phrase is childish. You are not paying taxes, you are investing in your home, which the lake is part of.
September 18, 2017 at 8:51 pm
Great response, keep up the great work!
October 8, 2017 at 11:37 am
Government is a long process. Join the board and find out!
October 8, 2017 at 11:40 am
Thank you board members for staying on top of this. Informative website we all have now.
September 15, 2017 at 2:37 pm
Sorry if this is redundant, but can someone explain why the lake level is the lowest we’ve seen in seven years? I thought a new pump was taking care of this problem.
September 15, 2017 at 5:28 pm
The well is not pumping because they had to shut it down. I heard it was pumping sand.
Sucks that the lake is so low and getting lower.
September 23, 2017 at 12:15 pm
Could I have the name and number of the gentleman who is installing the airiation system in the lake. Thanks
September 12, 2017 at 8:16 am
The Duck Lake POA website announcement page lists the proposed new assessment at $478.79 (Lake Front) and $118.38 (Lake access). The 9/11/2017 Lake Improvement Board meeting agenda (and what they approved) listed something less ($408.78) for Lake Front. Was this a change/error?
September 12, 2017 at 9:01 am
It was an error that was corrected verbally at the meeting just before they voted on the assessment, which was passed by the way.
September 12, 2017 at 9:04 am
What was on the revised notice of assessment that was mailed out to all was correct, which for lakefront owners was $478.79 and $118.38 for lake access owners.
September 12, 2017 at 7:57 am
Can a new update be sent out regarding the status of the well issue please?
Also thanks again for all of the hard work done by the board members regarding the muck remediation program. The meeting yesterday evening was very informative and we are looking forward to this new initiative hopefully this spring!
September 12, 2017 at 7:08 am
can someone send me a copy of the last News Letter either by email or posting on the Forum Page, thanks Bruce
btravis020245@comcast.net
September 13, 2017 at 6:24 am
You can find copies of newsletters here: https://ducklakepoa.org/newsletters/. Some oldies there too. Enjoy!
September 13, 2017 at 7:01 am
Thank you
your team is doing a great job !
September 11, 2017 at 1:49 pm
Concerned also about the ongoing presence of bubbles will allow certain bacteria to flourish and thrive, leading to the dreaded “swimmer’s itch”, rendearing the lake unusable.
September 11, 2017 at 2:02 pm
People please stop making up ridiculous claims. Swimmers itch is not made by bacteria in bubbles. A little Due Diligence goes a long ways, especially with so much information available on a system called the internet.
September 11, 2017 at 3:20 pm
Swimmer’s itch is caused by parasites that live in the blood on water fowl and animals that live near ponds and lakes like beavers and muskrats. The aeration system shouldn’t change anyone’s chances of getting swimmer’s itch.
September 11, 2017 at 1:39 pm
Hi,
Unfortunately, due to child care issues, we are unable to attend tonight’s meeting. Nor were we able to attend the discussion in July. However, I was hoping the board may be able to address these questions related not to the issue of muck, but to whether the proposal is the best solution.
1. How does this affect property values? How is this projected to affect Duck Lake values specifically? It seems the risk and uncertainty with this project may drive values down, especially on the main parts of the lake. Has there been a thorough study of property values over time on several similar all-sports lakes? At the end of the day we will have a lake that bubbles; what is the perception of that to a perspective home buyer? https://youtu.be/3wnRV3N8EYU
2. Most of the examples of case studies showed a system that covered only 15-20% of the lake acreage. The proposed system in Duck Lake appears to be a “whole lake system”? If so, we should only be looking at case studies that represent that or the same percentage of coverage. Can more case studies meeting these criteria be provided?
3. In Zone 3 (Deep Duck), how does the presence of multiple boat anchoring on a regular basis affect the equipment? Is this likely to cause damage to the equipment?
4. Plumes of aerated water are proven to cause a bather or swimmer to sink. This is counter intuitive, because you would think that bubbles would cause you to float upwards, but they actually make the swimmer sink. Are children at higher risk of drowning if swimming and playing in one of the bubble areas? Does the company provide any warning about this?
5. The Ceramic Diffuser suggested has a “patent pending”. How long has this mechanism been used? Has it been thoroughly tested over time?
7. What happens to this equipment over the course of 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? What is the longest running case study we can look at?
9. What happens if Lake-Savers goes out of business? How will equipment be replaced and repaired?
10. What happens if Lake-Savers goes out of business before the 3-year opt out clause? Do we have to remove all equipment ourselves?
11. On page 24, Lake Savers states, “To date there has been no independent scientific data or peer-reviewed study on the effectiveness of these products.” Does that mean there is no proof that this will work?
September 8, 2017 at 3:00 pm
Was wondering if there was a vote to lowering the lake level in October instead of November? Issue is that the monitoring of lake level sometimes seems to be done in bias. It seems odd that we just paid an assessment to maintain the lake level with a new pump and we are fighting low levels again this year due to an issue with the well-yet there is a push to intentionally lower early. The east side of Big Duck is very shallow and we are going to have to pull our boat out a month early again this year. With there being pump/well issues two years in a row, creating a lower than normal fall level, it is hard to understand why we are going to start intentionally lowering the lake (on top of that already low level) which is going to cut the boating season short for many property owners. Also, what is the process for communicating district issues/needs to our local Rep? It doesn’t seem like the situation within our district was conveyed. Many of the lake front houses in our stretch are summer homes that are often not raked till Spring. I understand that the leaves play into the muck issue that we are currently combatting, but lowering the lake early doesn’t mean that leaves are going to get raked-it does however shorten the boating season for many of us though. I really appreciate all of your dedicated time and hard work on the aeration system -I agree it will be good for all of us.
September 8, 2017 at 3:59 pm
Thank you for your comments, this is why we have a discussion forum. I don’t recall a vote at a board meeting, but it seemed to be a consensus of the representatives when discussed at the board level late last year/early this year. I would ask, how much boating really takes place after October 15 with the water and air temps falling quickly? Having been on the lake 42 years, I see lots of boats at their docks in the early fall, but few boats actually out on the lake. By mid-October, I would venture to say 80% of the boats have been taken out. with very little activity out on the lake. I used to be a die-hard and wait until November 1 to take my boat out, but constantly worried about freezing the block. Ideally, the lake would remain at legal level (2.5″ higher than today) until October 15, then a slow reduction over 2 weeks to the winter level. A 6″ reduction shouldn’t keep anyone from using the lake, but it could affect a few with hoists that when installing them didn’t take into consideration that lake levels fluctuate up and down. 6″ below the normal summer level really isn’t all that much considering the very small amount of activity there is after the leaves are mostly on the ground.
As far as communicating with your rep, this info is on the “About the POA” tab: To contact your district trustee, please send an email to contact@ducklakepoa.org. Be sure to include your district or trustee name and your contact info so we can ensure your message gets to the right person and that they can get in contact with you. That page has the list of district reps.
In your case, it it a hoist issue that limits your ability to keep your boat in the water later in the fall or are there other concerns?
Not sure what you mean that the monitoring of the lake level is done in bias. Some want a higher lake level, some lower. That is why a judge set a legal level 50 years ago. Monitoring simply reports what the level is.
Our next regular DLPOA board meeting is normally scheduled on September 20 (check to make sure this meeting takes place). You are welcome to attend and bring this item up to the board prior to the October 15 date. Not sure the actual Lake Board will want to allow this discussion at the assessment hearing on September 11.
September 4, 2017 at 9:54 am
For those of you who happen to get the Spinal Column Highland Edition did you read the 2 ” Legal and Public Notices’ from the LIB apparently regarding our lake. And these are the people in charge of spending our tax $ on Duck Lake’s health maintenance? WOW!
September 4, 2017 at 6:00 pm
I didn’t receive or see the spinal column edition so I am not sure what exactly you are talking about or getting at or what your point is?
September 4, 2017 at 6:30 pm
Can you tell me the date of the paper
September 5, 2017 at 6:08 pm
spinal highland edition dtd aug 30 contained 2 ‘legal and public notices’ signed by the LIB: one advised a meeting 6:30pm sep11 conducted by the LIB for Highland Lake (who) to consider 5yr assessment for weed control, weed harvesting. At an annual cost of$563 per lot, nearly $100 more then previously told. The other ‘official notice’ stated that the Lake Improvement Board for Highland Lake (who?) will hold a meeting at 6:30pm on Tuesday Sep 11 (wrong) to discuss a 5yr plan etc,,,, If you were a lake access owner on Duck Lake and were not up-to-speed on whats happening on your lake you might easily think these notices do not affect you. And these are official notices from Oakland County. Who are these guys? They can’t even send out correct notices but they sure can drum up big $ numbers easily. Scary. Lucky if 150 owners show up at the meeting with all this mis-information. See you there.
September 5, 2017 at 8:20 pm
Don, neither one of those notices are for Duck Lake. They are for Highland Lake. The Spinal column posts legal notices for a lot of local boards and communities.
September 5, 2017 at 8:24 pm
Our meeting is at 7pm on September 11th, not 6:30. The cost on the announcements page of this site is what your new total will be. The numbers you posted above are for another lake altogether.
September 6, 2017 at 9:43 am
Wow! So ‘Highland lake’ property owners are going to pay $563 per lot for weed harvesting over the next 5 yrs, must be a heck of a big lake. My bad. Quite a coincidence.
September 6, 2017 at 10:42 am
Hi Don,
A lot of the time they don’t put all of the costs the $563 will cover. More than likely the weeds are the largest amount. Also, the size of the lake can actually be worse if it isn’t big. If it is a smaller lake with less houses the cost is spread across fewer lots which increases the cost per lot.
September 6, 2017 at 6:36 pm
It was stated earlier that the current taxes are not additive to the money for bubblers.
September 6, 2017 at 11:21 am
Thanks. I will be there all for saving and cleaning the lake. I want to live on a lake, not a stinky organic pool of muck. If this lake continues to deteriorate everyone’s property values will be virtually worthless. People are worried about a couple grand and not their property losing many thousands of dollars? A no brainer!
September 6, 2017 at 6:34 pm
Danny, is one smart guy. Short term savings does not equate to long term profits.
September 7, 2017 at 5:28 pm
I saw that and as far as I know there has been no correction. I guess we are all suppose to assume they are talking about duck lake. Crazy
September 7, 2017 at 5:29 pm
Sorry misspelled, wanda allers
September 7, 2017 at 5:35 pm
I hope this county screw up doesn’t delay the implementation of the muck bubblers.
I will not be able to attend on Sept. 11th but someone please vote my household as a YES for the tax increase to save Duck Lake for our future generations (and my resale value).
September 7, 2017 at 5:51 pm
Sorry misspelled, wanda allers