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Subscriptions: Paid subscriptions are available for $15 for 6 issues. Subscriptions can be placed by phoning the SCN Communications Group at 248.360.6397 or mailing payment to P.O. Box 14, Union Lake, MI 48387-0014. Editorial: All editorial matter fully protected. All rights reserved. No portion, whole or part, may be reproduced without prior written permission. The name Oakland Lakefront is protected property. Advertising: Copy closing/space reservation deadline generally three weeks in advance of publication. Specific issue closing dates/editorial calendar available by phoning 248.360.6397.
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AUGUST 2012
SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY OAKLAND LAKEFRONT • OAKLAND HOMES MONTHLYADVERTISER • WEST OAKLAND DIRECTORY
www.oaklandlakefront.com
August 2012 • Volume 21 • Number 5
contents
8
New voice in ongoing debate As the uproar over a controversial mute swan population management strategy continues, the U.S. Humane Society has dipped its toes in the water by calling for the state to halt the killing of the familiar bird targeted by the DNR.
19 Weather woes 30 Beautiful pest 49 Musical chairs Record high temperatures and a lack of significant precipitation have not only caused grief for Oakland County residents, but a top county official is warning boaters to beware of lower than usual lake levels as a result of the high heat and dry conditions.
Don’t let flowering rush fool you. Stunning as it may be to look at, the plant that can grow to heights of up to 3 feet is invasive — and it makes its home in many areas throughout southeast Michigan, including right here in Oakland County.
A year and a half into Rick Snyder’s first term as Michigan’s governor, the “tough nerd” has shuffled the leadership at the state Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. We break down the change in directorships.
— Oakland Lakefront photos/Amy K. Lockard
in every issue
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17 – Snapshot: John P. McCulloch 23 – Waterway Levels
27 – Snapshot: Carol Leach 28 – Port of Call: Indianwood Lake
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lakefront real estate Century 21 Town & Country . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Connie Barnard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Karen Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Keller Williams - Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Steve/Janet Stockton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Max Broock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Jeff Barker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Chris Pero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Morgan & Milzow Realtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
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M
ute swans are once again a topic of heated debate in Oakland County. Controversy is not new to the debate, one that has featured many disputed questions over the years: Native or nonnative? Aggressive or peaceful? Beauty or beast? To be killed or not to be killed? Now a national organization is jumping into the fray at the behest of a county resident who hopes to bring an end to efforts to drastically reduce Michigan's mute swan population. Just last year, the state's Natural Resources Commission (NRC) adopted a wildlife conservation order amendment prohibiting the release of mute swans back into the wild after being removed from the environment for rehabilitation. That did not sit well with mute swan advocates. "I think it's pathetic (that) for the amount of swans that the rehabbers take in per year — all parties agreed 40 was the magic number — that they couldn't allow them to continue their rehab efforts," said Karen Stamper, a Walled Lake resident who has been fighting on behalf of mute swans for years. The state's revised conservation order prompted Stamper to contact the Humane Society of the United States — which is not affiliated with the Michigan Humane Society — with her concerns. According to Stamper, the society got involved in April after being separately alerted by Stamper and a Muskegon woman about the issues surrounding mute swans in Michigan. The Humane Society of the United States sent a letter to the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) last month outlining several proposals on how to address mute swan population issues, including a moratorium on the killing of the swans. Stamper said she believes the having the society get involved will help raise awareness of mute swan issues in Michigan. The mute swan is considered an exotic, invasive, non-native species in the United States, according to state and federal wildlife officials. A native of Europe and some parts of Asia, the species is believed to have been introduced to North America from the mid-1800s through the early 1900s for its ornamental value. According to Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology, individual mute swans were imported to many areas of North America, including Chicago and New York, as adornments at city parks, zoos, large estates, and aviculture collections. And it's believed that the release or escape of individual birds from these early captive flocks resulted in the current feral mute swan populations of today. However, since then, mute swans have been able to outcompete native waterfowl for breeding habitats and continue to reproduce at a high rate. According to DNR statistics, the population has risen from an estimated 5,400 birds in 2000 to an estimated 15,500 in 2010. www.oaklandlakefront.com
Yet, there have been doubts and questions raised about the mute swan population numbers reported by the DNR. According to DNR Waterfowl Specialist Barbara Avers, population estimates were gleaned from the DNR's spring breeding waterfowl survey, an aerial survey conducted every year by trained observers comprised of wildlife biologists and technicians. As a non-native species, the mute swan is not protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Therefore, the regulation of mute swans is the exclusive jurisdiction of states. Contrary to state and federal officials' claims, mute swan advocates argue that the species is actually a native species — and even if they are not, that they have at least become "naturalized citizens." According to the DNR, mute swans pose threats to native wildlife, humans, and wetland habitats. The first threat is the impact on the submerged aquatic vegetation that grows in lakes. "Basically, they eat a tremendous amount," Avers said. "A bigger group of swans can destroy a whole bed of vegetation easily and then there are not the same resources left for the native waterfowl species." vers also said there are studies suggesting that the amount of submered aquatic vegetation that mute swans consume has had negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Swan advocates are skeptical about such studies since they have come from Maryland — not from Michigan. The second threat is that mute swans can displace native waterfowl — including the native trumpeter
A
The mute swan is considered an exotic, invasive, non-native species in the United States, according to state and federal wildlife officials. swan the DNR has been trying to reintroduce — by competing for breeding habitat. Mute swans have a tendency to become "exceptionally aggressive" during breeding and the rearing of their cygnets. This territorial aggression poses a third threat when it is directed toward humans. Avers said the DNR has received numerous reports of mute swan aggression towards kayakers, people in canoes, and even people on shore. The DNR has a Mute Swan Management and Control Program Policy outlining short- and long-term state population goals, which include reducing Michigan's mute swan population growth to zero by 2016 and bringing the overall population to less than 2,000 by 2030. While hunting mute swans is not allowed, the DNR OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
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issues permits to remove mute swans and to destroy their nests and eggs. Permits are issued for the following reasons: • To stabilize or reduce mute swan population levels or to prevent new populations of feral mute swans from being established; • To prevent mute swan interference with the establishment, re-establishment or reproductive success of endangered, threatened or native wildlife species; and with the establishment or re-establishment of native vegetation; and • To protect public health, safety, or welfare. Permits must be obtained in order to take mute swans or their nests and eggs. n order to get a permit to remove mute swans or their nests and eggs from a waterway, a petition with signatures from 70 percent of the lakeshore property owners must be submitted; or a resolution from an elected local government representing the property owners that approves mute swan control for the site must be obtained. Once a permit is in hand, people are authorized to conduct mute swan population control activities themselves or contract a licensed nuisance animal control firm. If those who have obtained a permit choose to conduct the activities themselves, DNR staff must oversee the removal of mute swans during the first year of population control efforts. More information on the state's Mute Swan Management and Control Program Policy can be found at www.michigan.gov/dnr. While the DNR's mute swan population reduction plans are endorsed by several conservation groups — including the National Audubon Society, Michigan Audubon Society, the American Bird Conservancy, and Ducks Unlimited — the Humane Society of the United States believes it needs some work. According to the Humane Society letter to the DNR sent by Dr. John Grandy, the society's senior vice president of wildlife and habitat protection, the DNR's program policy document is inadequate. "Neither document provides more than summary assertions as to the presumably negative activities or behaviors attributed to free-ranging mute swans that could justify killing individual swans, much less the wholesale destruction of (tens) of thousands envisioned in the Order or Program Policy," Grandy wrote. He also wrote that there is a lack of supporting data and case studies that support the need for mass mute swan killing. "There seem to be no concrete objectives short of unjustified lethal population reduction," Grandy wrote. "Taken together, the two documents are not a professional management plan at all — they are just a blueprint for large scale killing of mute swans." The Humane Society of the United States outlined several proposals after previously meeting with
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representatives of the DNR and included them in the July letter to the DNR. The society states the DNR should: • Immediately suspend the Wildlife Division Mute Swan Management and Control Program Policy and Procedures and begin to immediately revise and update the document; • Immediately appoint local mute swan advisory committees and a statewide committee, consisting of
Once a permit is in hand, people are authorized to conduct mute swan population control activities themselves or contract a licensed nuisance animal control firm. representatives of the Michigan Humane Society, the Michigan Save Our Swans Committee, and the Humane Society of the United States, along with others to advise the department on non-lethal population management options and to liaise with the DNR in the development of a comprehensive mute swan stewardship and management plan; and • Declare a voluntary moratorium on the lethal control of free ranging mute swans, except in emergency situations, that would last until a new comprehensive plan is completed. DNR officials are currently reviewing those proposals. "We just received it (in early July)," Avers said of the proposal. "We will be reviewing that and then preparing a response to the proposal." "Hopefully, they will look at the proposal, and the public will get involved so that a moratorium will be put on the killings until we can work out a better plan between the various groups and the (Humane Society)," Stamper said. eanwhile, Stamper is continuing to add information on the Save Our Swans of Michigan Facebook page. There is also a Michigan petition drive started at change.org/petitions/stop-the-killing-of-mute-swans. As of press time, the petition had 3,411 signatures. A few communities in Oakland County recently had the mute swan population issue brought before them — with one voting against population control, one for, and one township even doing both. In February, the Waterford Township Board of Trustees was united in refusing to pass a resolution that would allow the removal and destruction of mute swan eggs and nests in the township, as well as the euthanasia of captured mute swans. The proposed resolution aligned with DNR guidelines. Waterford Township Treasurer Margaret Birch vehemently opposed such a resolution and moved to reject it.
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"It's one thing moving the eggs, but to outright shoot and kill them? The only time they threaten is when they feel their young is being threatened," she said. "We didn't like the way the resolution was written." aterford resident Nick Valente submitted the resolution for the township's consideration after learning of the DNR's focus on decreasing the mute swan population. "I didn't know these swans were invasive and unwanted, and I was just going along with the DNR recommendation," Valente said. "It's just one option — to get a resolution rolling." Meanwhile, the Wolverine Lake Village Council approved a resolution that calls for the DNR, in conjunction with the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, to carry out the village's mute swan nest and egg destruction efforts on municipal property. Wolverine Lake's mute swan management program was revised about four years ago to eradicate swan nests and destroy eggs on public property. The village doesn't advocate the culling or euthanization of mute swans. "We do nest destruction and egg collection so we wouldn't have to do culling or killing," said Village Council President John Magee. According to Magee, there has been a surge in the mute swan pairings on village property. The village's Water Management Board conducts a waterfowl count once a year. "The nesting pairs have increased from 6 or 7 to 10 or 11," he said. "As the state population increases significantly, we also get a larger number of nests on the lake." Magee also noted that he is seeing a number of non-nesting transitory swans around the lake. "Both the mute swans and transitory swans are the two groups the DNR wants to decrease the populations (of)," Magee said. Egg collection and nest destruction in the village historically has been conducted by an outside contractor. Now the DNR, at no cost to the village, will be taking over that task. "The only thing that changes is now the DNR has funding to do this service for us," Magee said. The West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees also recently wrestled with the mute swan issue. In June, the township board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the removal of mute swans, and their nests and eggs, from township lakefront homes after Michael Mankvitz, a board member of the Middle Straits Lake Association, wrote a letter to township Clerk Cathy Shaughnessy on behalf of the residents of Middle Straits Lake regarding issues with aggressive swans in the area. Mankvitz stated that incidents with swans have
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included attacks on small boats, watercraft, kayaks, waterskiers, and wakeboarders that have resulted in injuries and erratic boating to avoid swans. However, following the resolution's initial approval, the township received feedback from other residents protesting the removal of the swans, which would have been handled by the DNR. Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste said she met with members of the Michigan Humane Society, who told her that the DNR's process of swan removal involves euthanasia and that the society considers that to be inhumane. "I don't believe it's the health and safety risk that it was made out to be," Ureste said. "Mute swans are no different than trumpeter swans." Trumpeter swans are considered to be native to North America, unlike the mute swan, according to state and federal wildlife officials. At a July 16 board meeting, the West Bloomfield Board of Trustees unanimously approved rescinding its previous resolution. Shaughnessy said that the township will not be taking any more action regarding the controversial issue. "We won't have our swans killed," she said. The board received feedback from township residents at the July meeting regarding the removal of mute swans. "We received a great deal of public outcry, as well as more details on the DNR program," said West Bloomfield Treasurer Teri Weingarden of the board's reversal on the
Wolverine Lake's mute swan management program was revised about four years ago to eradicate swan nests and destroy eggs on public property. issue. "Extermination of swans was not made clear to us at first. I thought it would be more like a goose roundup, which is more humane. We want to allow residents to remove swans in a humane way. The DNR can destroy the eggs and the nest before the swans." he DNR was expected to kill any swans rounded up and removed from the township, according to West Bloomfield officials. The rescinded resolution would have applied to the entire township, but lake associations would have had the option to opt out if they didn't want the DNR to come in and remove swans. Those in favor of the swan removal effort argued that mute swans are not a species native to the state and that their population growth has led to damage of the lakes' natural habitats and ecosystems. Arguments were also made that ducks, herons, and other waterfowl species are being chased away by the mute swans. â??
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snapshot
akland County Water Resources Commissioner John P. McCulloch is keenly familiar with many of the lakes in Oakland County — especially those with homeowner associations that have petitioned for a court-ordered lake level, which under state law his office is responsible for maintaining. "I think a great part of Oakland County's success has been due to the natural amenities (of the area), the beautiful lakes and rivers we have," he said. "In order to continue that success, we have to balance growth with maintaining those jewels. A big part of our job is ensuring the quality of the lakes." Initially elected to his current post when it was known as the Oakland County drain commissioner, McCulloch has been in his current role in county government for the past 12 years. Before that he served for 10 years as an
Oakland County commissioner, including spending five of those years as board chairman. McCulloch also served eight years on the Oakland County Drainage Board. "I think people take water and water quality for granted," he said. "I see my job as maintaining our water quality and seeing that the public is safe — not only making our drinking water safe, but by preventing or eliminating flooding and appropriately disposing of wastewater." As for lake living, McCulloch has fond memories of his own childhood growing up on Cooley Lake. "Every day was baseball, swimming, fishing, and water skiing," said McCulloch, who now resides in Royal Oak. "I absolutely loved it. It was a great experience." — Angela Niemi — Oakland Lakefront photo/Amy K. Lockard
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t's been a mild winter and a hot summer with very In fact, evaporation and dry weather spells account little precipitation during both, and long-range for the two biggest difficulties when trying to maintain forecasts from the National Weather Service in lake levels in the summer, which is all related to the White Lake Township seem to predict that we will hydrologic cycle. not see a change anytime soon. That scenario In the winter, the ground is frozen, so any doesn't bode well for Oakland County lake levels precipitation that falls doesn't enter into a lake. But — which in some cases are already low — and those when the snow begins to melt, a lot of water is going who use the county's lakes. into adjacent waterways and lakes, resulting in rising "From August into September we are looking to be water levels — especially since in early spring, prior to above normal in temperatures and still below normal in the grass growing and tree leaves blooming, the water rainfall," said Danny Costello, a meteorologist and is sucked out of the ground at a much slower pace. hydrologist working at the National Weather Service When the tree leaves and grass begin to grow, they station in White Lake Township. take more water from the ground. That water is The lack of precipitation and higher temperatures replenished by large sources of surface water, or lakes, have caused a moderate drought in Oakland County. and put back into the ground. And with that comes brown grass and lower lake levels. Thus, lake levels have a tendency to drop all summer "Mild winter conditions with lower than normal long since the water that should be feeding a lake is snowfall along with little rain have resulted in lower being used by growing plants. That water won't return lake levels throughout the county, which poses a serious to a lake unless there is precipitation, which comes concern for boat owners," said from evaporation of waterways and Oakland County Water Resources the transpiration of plants. If there is Commissioner John P. McCulloch. no precipitation, lake levels go down, Lower water levels have been seen only returning after a rain event. As Lower water levels have across the state, affecting water levels the summer continues, the cycle been seen across the in Lake St. Clair and the Great Lakes. repeats itself, resulting in fluctuating "I know lakefront property owners lake levels. state, affecting water and boat owners get angry and There are a few means that can levels in Lake St. Clair frustrated when low lake levels affect be used to attempt to control lake their use and enjoyment of the water," levels, such as the use of control and the Great Lakes. McCulloch said. "But unfortunately we structures. are at the mercy of the weather. If we A control structure is an artificial don't get significant rainfall and adequate runoff from barrier used to regulate the level of the lake, such as a snow melt, low lake levels will continue to be a problem dam, a weir, a pipe or any other similar type of barrier. we have to deal with." The level of a lake can also be controlled by using an Most problems for boaters stem from boat motors augmentation well to put additional water into a lake, hitting the bottoms of sand bars and needing to extend or a pump can be used to lower a lake level. docks out farther into deeper water so boats aren't The Water Resources Commissioner's Office operates resting on the bottom. and maintains 36 lake level control structures and eight Another concern is aquatic vegetation which, lake level augmentation well pumps in the county. In according to Costello, will grow more due to receiving some cases, the level of more than one lake is more direct sunlight because of the lower water levels. controlled by a single control structure. The office has According to Steve Korth of the Oakland County court-ordered responsibility for maintaining normal Water Resources Commissioner's Office, this often poses water levels for 54 Oakland County lakes. problems for people on canals. A lake's legal level represents a lake's surface water "The water in canals aren't deep enough to begin level as compared to sea level. Legal levels are with and losing several inches causes a problem with established by Oakland County Circuit Court judges increased weed growth, which cause problems with under state statute, but Part 307 of Public Act (PA) 59 getting boats out of the canal," he said. of 1995 delegates the responsibility of participating in Without any kind of lake management device, the legal proceedings to establish and maintain normal whether it's a dam or augmentation well, lake levels are lake levels to the county's Water Resources left to rise and fall at the mercy of weather conditions. Commissioner's Office.
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waterway levels
Following are the waterway level readings for lakes and rivers across Oakland County, as compiled by personnel in Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner John P. McCulloch’s office. Legal levels are denoted by elevation in feet from sea level. Current (one month prior to press time) levels are denoted both in elevation from sea level and as plus or minus the legal level in hundredths feet. Prior year elevation from sea level is provided as a comparison. River depths are measured from the river bottom, at the point of measurement.
LAKE
LEGAL LEVEL
7.27.12
+ OR -
PRIOR YEAR
NOTES & REMARKS
Angelus
950.00
949.65
–.35
Bevins
910.40
910.09
–.31
949.98 910.67
Big
1017.30
1016.71
–.59
1017.24
Winter Lvl: 1016.70
Bunny Run
965.95
966.22
+.27
966.15
Winter Lvl: 965.45
Bush Lake
913.60
912.98
–.62
913.57
Cass
929.22
929.22
Legal
929.44
Cedar Island
934.00
934.35
+.35
934.40
Cemetery-Dollar
968.50
968.41
–.09
968.63
Clinton River
2.10
1.88
–.22
2.16
Commerce
906.80
906.98
+.18
907.02
Winter Lvl: 927.87 2)
Crystal
917.50
917.18
–.32
916.19
7) Winter Lvl: 917.00
Dawson Mill Pond
928.60
928.54
–.06
928.80
6) Winter Lvl: 927.25
Duck
1016.63
1016.50
–.13
1016.70
Fox
930.00
929.90
–.10
930.08
Huron River
1.08
0.90
–.18
1.06
Indianwood
992.62
992.78
+.16
992.80
5) Winter Lvl: 992.12
Lakeville
952.30
952.20
–.10
952.33
Long (Commerce Twp.)
933.00
933.12
+.12
933.00
Loon
949.30
949.10
–.20
949.43
2), 3)
Louise-Huff
962.27
962.14
–.13
962.42
8)
Middle & Lower Straits
930.70
930.25
–.45
930.68
Mohawk
949.30
949.14
–.16
949.42
Oakland-Woodhull
957.50
957.54
+.04
957.63
Orchard
930.50
929.97
–.53
930.53
Oxbow
942.75
942.40
–.35
942.80
Oxford-Multi
1017.80
1017.90
+.10
1018.00
Pontiac
962.83
962.49
–.34
963.22
Schoolhouse
949.30
949.12
–.18
949.44
Scott
951.00
949.60
–1.40
949.62
Sylvan-Otter
928.60
928.63
+.03
928.90
Tipsico
1015.39
1,015.39
–.69
1015.14
Union
927.07
927.04
–.03
927.23
Upper Straits
930.80
930.42
–.38
930.83
2), 3)
1) 2), 3) 6) Winter Lvl: 927.25
Van Norman
966.70
966.52
–.18
966.78
2), 4)
Walled & Shawood
932.80
932.20
–.60
932.92
Winter Lvl: 932.10
Watkins
950.00
949.98
–.02
949.72
Waumegah
1049.90
1049.64
–.26
1049.62
White
1019.10
1018.92
–.18
1019.15
Williams
965.42
964.93
–.49
965.70
NOTES: 1) Oxford-Multi includes: Cedar, Clear, Long, Squaw, Mickelson & Tan Lakes. 2) Waterford-Multi (WML) includes: Cemetery (Middle), Dollar, Greens, Maceday, Lotus, Lester, Van Norman, Williams, Mohawk, Wormer, Schoolhouse, Silver, Upper Silver and Loon Lakes. 3) The Loon Lake control structure also controls Mohawk, Wormer, Schoolhouse, Silver and Upper Silver Lakes. 4) The Van Norman control structure also controls Greens, Maceday, Lotus and Lester Lakes. 5) Lake Angelus, Huron River and Clinton River levels not under the jurisdiction of this office. 6) The Dawson Mill Pond and Sylvan-Otter Lakes are controlled by the Price Dam. 7) Crystal Lake is controlled by the Walter Moore Dam. 8) Lake Louise and Huff Lake are controlled by the Ruth Johnson Dam.
2)
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A normal level is considered by state law as the level brief rain showers help, but we are getting to the or levels of the water of an inland lake that provide the hottest and driest part of summer. We are just hoping most benefit to the public; that best protect the public for some relief." health, safety and welfare; that best preserve the Thunderstorms can help, Costello said, but even then natural resources of the state; and that best preserve there are issues because some areas will get "dumped and protect the value of the property around a lake, upon while some others don't." according to the Water Resources Commissioner's Office "During this part of the summer even when it does website. rain, a lot of it doesn't make it to the lakes," he said. "All In order to establish a legal lake level, at least twothe thirsty plants get to it first. So the lakes are down, thirds of lakefront property owners who have property but they don't seem to be terribly down. I've seen that actually abuts a lake must sign a petition to a worse. We are holding our own, and right now we are county board of commissioners. Action is then initiated at the peak climatologically of the warmest part of the to determine the normal level of the lake. The resulting year. Average temperatures will start to go down soon. action is generally a feasibility study conducted by a In my opinion, from the hydrologic side of things, I licensed professional engineer. don't see things getting worse." The feasibility study determines what the lake level With a few exceptions, most of the lakes monitored should be, based on research culled from historical lake by the Water Resources Commissioner's Office showed levels and seasonal fluctuations; the decreases in lake levels for the week location of septic tanks, sea walls, of July 20. Nevertheless, most lakes docks and other physical features; were able to stay close to their legal downstream impacts; fisheries and levels overall. Thunderstorms can help, wildlife habitat protection; and As of July 20, Cass Lake in West Costello said, but even watershed hydrology. Bloomfield, Waterford, Orchard Lake The board of commissioners has Village, and Keego Harbor was 0.03 then there are issues the authority to require a payment feet above its summer legal level, because some areas will while Cedar Island Lake in White from the property owners, collectively, of $10,000 or the total cost of the Lake Township was 0.32 feet above get "dumped upon while feasibility study, whichever is the its summer legal level. North and some others don't." lesser of the two amounts. South Commerce lakes in Commerce Once a legal lake level is set by the Township were listed at being 0.10 circuit court, the Water Resources Commissioner's feet above their summer legal level. Office takes responsibility for monitoring and Loon Lake in Waterford was measured at 0.05 feet maintaining a lake's legal level. below its legal level on April 15. Six bodies of water in the county with legal levels Orchard Lake was listed as 0.38 below its legal level monitored and maintained by the office don't have a on July 20, and Oxbow Lake in White Lake Township winter level set by the Oakland County Circuit Court. was 0.22 feet below its summer legal level. Those bodies of water are the Huron River, Scott Lake Schoolhouse Lake in Waterford was measured at 0.03 in Waterford Township, Lake Angelus, Bush Lake in feet above its summer legal level. Holly Township, the Clinton River, and Upper Straits Union Lake in Commerce and West Bloomfield was Lake in Orchard Lake Village and West Bloomfield listed at 0.03 feet above its summer legal level on July Township. 20, while Walled Lake and Shawood Lake in the cities When the level of a lake is measured at lower than of Walled Lake and Novi were 0.48 feet below their its legal level, the Water Resources Commissioner's summer legal level. White Lake was 0.13 below its Office has a few remedies available, such as an summer legal mark. augmentation well, which is sometimes used to raise Indianwood Lake in Orion Township was 0.14 feet lake levels if they're too low and circumstances call for above its summer legal level on July 20, while Lakeville it. Other than an augmentation well or a dam, there Lake in Addison Township was 0.05 below its summer isn't much that can be done about low lake levels legal level. besides hoping for precipitation and moderate air Waumegah Lake in Springfield Township was 0.21 temperatures. feet below its summer legal level, and Sylvan-Otter Lake "There's not much we can do," Korth said. "These was 0.05 above its summer legal level. â?? www.oaklandlakefront.com
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snapshot
alled Lake Firefighter Carol Leach will be raising money for charity by swimming the length of the city's namesake on Sunday, Aug. 12. A 10-year veteran of the Walled Lake Fire Department, Leach has volunteered to swim the 1.25-mile stretch that begins at Novi's Lakeshore Beach and finishes at the Bayside Bar and Grille dock at E.V. Mercer Beach in Walled Lake to raise money for the Caring Voice Coalition. "One of our family friends has a life-threatening and chronic disease that requires medication that the organization pays for," Leach said. "If they didn't (pay for it), she said she would be out on the streets." The Caring Voice Coalition's mission to is empower patients who live with a life-threatening chronic disease through comprehensive outreach programs and services aimed at financial, emotional, and educational support.
This will be Leach's fourth time swimming for a cause. Over the last four years, she has committed to swimming the length of Walled Lake to raise money for fire department needs or charity. "For the last two years I've been swimming for charity because they need the help more than the department does since the economy is so bad," she said. Leach is no novice in the water. She has been swimming her whole life and has worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor. Spectators are encouraged to attend the event. Donations or pledges will be accepted. Checks, payable to Caring Voice Coalition, can be dropped off or mailed to the Walled Lake Fire Station at 1499 E. West Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390. — Leslie Shepard — Oakland Lakefront photo/Damon Tang
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Flowering rush common in Oakland County waters
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I
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In fact, if it's not in flower, recognition becomes very difficult because flowering rush closely resembles many native emergent aquatic plants, such as the common bulrush, according to the Midwest Invasive Plant Network (MIPN). Now is the time of year lakefront denizens can detect the presence of flowering rush, which is locally abundant in Oakland County. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has flowering rush listed a Restricted Plant Species in the state. According to the Agriculture Department, restricted plant species are those that may occur within the state and are generally considered as nuisances or economically detrimental; and as such, targeted plants, and their fragments, seeds or a hybrid or genetically engineered variant are restricted. Flowering rush is found throughout the northern United States and Canada, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It's observed throughout Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and southern Ontario, as well as in northern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Flowering rush has been found in the southeast Michigan counties of Macomb, Wayne, Monroe, Washtenaw, and Oakland. It's easiest to identify when flowering. Flowers grow in umbrella-shaped clusters and each individual flower has three white or pink petals. They form a distinctive flat-topped spray atop the stalk. Flowers are only produced when the plant is in very shallow water or on dry sites. The flowering rush also has green stems that resemble bulrushes but are triangular in the cross section. Emergent leaves of the flower rush grow as high as 3-feet-tall, and are stiff and narrow. The leaf tips may be spirally twisted. Meanwhile, under water, the leaves are limp. Flowering rush also has an extensive root system that can break into new plants if disturbed. According to the MIPN, flowering rush blooms in late summer through early fall. The plant prefers www.oaklandlakefront.com
shallow or slowmoving water. However, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, it can grow as an emergent plant along shorelines and as a submersed plant in lakes and rivers. As with most aquatic invasive species, the flowering rush can pose a problem to native species because it may crowd out native plants, which in turn could affect fish and other wildlife. And while a single flowering rush plant may not pose a problem, the plant has the ability to form dense stands that could potentially interfere with recreational lake use. Flowering rush is just one of over 180 aquatic invasive species (AIS) from around the world that have made their home in the Great Lakes Basin. These foreign species range from fish to invertebrates, from microscopic organisms to aquatic plants. And many of them are posing a threat to the Great Lakes and Michigan's inland waters by competing with native species for food and habitat, preying on native species, disrupting ecosystem stability, and negatively impacting water quality, as well as commercial and recreational activities. The invaders cost millions of dollars in annual prevention and control. According to the Michigan Sea Grant website, it's estimated that aquatic invasive species continue to arrive in the Great Lakes at a rate of one every eight months. Michigan Sea Grant is a part of the National Sea Grant College Program and is a cooperative program between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Through research and outreach programs, the organization helps to promote better understanding, conservation, and use of Michigan's OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
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8226 Highland Rd. • White Lake MI 48386
248.666.2854 34
AUGUST 2012
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coastal resources. Aquatic invasive species become introduced to the Great Lakes region in a variety of ways. Some are unwanted fish and aquatic plants released from aquariums. Some are imported for commercial purposes — like the Asian carp, which were brought to the United States to control algae in fish farms along the Mississippi River. They then escaped during flooding that occurred in the 1990s before moving quickly up the Mississippi River and into the Illinois River, the Des Plaines River, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, and the Calumet-Sag Channel to become a threat at the door of Lake Michigan. Other AIS hitchhike along with unsuspecting boaters and freighters. It's believed that the flowering rush was first introduced from Europe as a garden plant. However, the plant is also able to grow well in wet places, such as marshes, backwaters, lakes, and shorelines. It was first found in Michigan in 1918, according to Indiana's Department of Natural Resources. While using the exotic plant in gardens has most likely been the primary means of dispersal over long distances, flowering rush can spread on its own once it reaches a local watershed with the aid of rhizomes. Root pieces can break off and begin to form new plants. Local wildlife like muskrats may also be instrumental in the spread of the exotic plant, as they may use it to build their homes. Finally, boaters can also contribute to the spread of flowering rush, as the plant may get attached to their equipment and spread from an infested waterway to a previously uninfested one. Like most aquatic plants, flowering rush abundance varies within a lake depending on the local site changes and changes in weather, since annual changes in temperature and water clarity can influence aquatic plant abundance. Flowering rush is sensitive to changes in water level. As a "pioneer" plant, it easily invades areas that www.oaklandlakefront.com
are not occupied by other plants — one of the reasons to protect native shoreline plants so as to prevent flowering rush from spreading into those areas. Removing native plants may allow ideal conditions for a flowering rush invasion. Meanwhile, decreases in water level may expose new sites for flowering rush to make its home. There are a few methods for controlling the spread of flowering rush, provided you can accurately identify the plant. To decrease the abundance of the plant, cutting it below the water surface is an effective method of control, according to the Minnesota DNR. Cutting does not kill the plant but decreases the abundance. As such, multiple cuts may be required throughout the summer to keep the plant in check. And to ensure that cutting the plant doesn't result in new growth, all cut plant parts should be removed from the water. A method to remove isolated plants is hand digging. However, all root fragments have to be removed, since any disturbance to the root system will cause the small reproductive structures on the roots to break off and spread to other areas of the waterway to reproduce. For this reason, raking and pulling — two methods that disturb the root system but do not remove it — are not recommended. Meanwhile, the narrow leaves of the flowering rush make it very difficult to kill the plant with herbicides because they easily wash away from the leaves. Herbicides can be more effective on dry banks or in shallow water, according to the MIPN, but there is no herbicide that is selective for flowering rush, which may cause other valuable, native wetland plants to suffer, as well, when herbicides are used to target flowering rush. ❏ OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
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“Homes of Quality Are Our Specialty”
800 S. Woodward Ave. • Birmingham, MI 48009
WELCOME HOME TO PRIVATE ESTATE LIVING
Beautiful spring fed 470+ acre Lake Angelus is located just 18 minutes north of Birmingham. Designed by Bill Baldner of Clifford Wright Architects, this one of a kind custom built 10,000 sq. ft. home is on an 8 acre lake front estate where horses are permitted. Spectacular views of private Lake Angelus from high ground with over 250 ft. of lake frontage. First floor master bedroom, family room open to kitchen, floor to ceiling windows, fieldstone fireplace, hardwood floors, 3rd story cupola, 2 story 40’x10’ foyer, walk-out lower level with 40’x25’ finished recreation room, and a 4 1/2 car garage. Boat house with 2 bedroom apartment above -- much more -- fabulous! $2,975,000 LAK2025
MAGNIFICENT LOWER LONG LAKEFRONT
Situated on a beautiful 1.5 acre lot with gorgeous gardens. David Lubin design home with impeccable interior with finest qualities and amenities throughout. Two-story 27’x20’ marble foyer with winding dual staircase. Great room with 20 ft. ceiling and Palladium window with great lake views. Gourmet quality kitchen with granite tops/island. Master suite with fireplace and luxurious bath with jacuzzi and stainless steel. Two large walk-in closets. All bedrooms with baths and walk-in closet. Finished lower level 36’ x 30’ rec room with dance floor, kitchen, daylight windows. $2,445,000
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LOWER LONG LAKE FRONTAGE
130 ft. of frontage on this magnificent soft rustic contemporary with elevated wooded setting and southern exposure offering spectacular lake views. Open flow for entertaining. Beautiful newer $150,000 kitchen, master bedroom with large walk-in closet jacuzzi, skylights, lots of western cedar, stone and glass. Office 15’x12’ with sliding door to courtyard/could be 6th bedroom. $1,200,000 LOC155
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Free standing neutral condo with panoramic views. First floor master bathroom. Major renovation in the last 6 years. New kitchen with black granite counters and island. Viking stove, Sub zero. New hardwood floors on 1st and 2nd floors. New windows, door walls and front door. New staircase to lower level. New master bath with jacuzzi tub. New master bedroom walk in closet. New powder room. All new rec lights throughout. New slate floor in lower level family room. Lower level second kitchen, powder room & new bath in lower level bedroom. $695,000
151 FT. OF LOWER LONG LAKE FRONTAGE
Great location behind Kirk In The Hills Church. Walkout potential, nice elevation, the street has 2-3 million dollar homes. Lower Long Lake is a terrific fishing lake and can also access Forest Lake and Upper Long Lake by pontoon boat. $795,000
www.oaklandlakefront.com
Janet Direct: 2900 Union Lake Rd., Suite 210 Commerce, MI 48382
248-366-7200
Steve Direct:
248-755-7600
248-755-7500
janet@TheStocktonTeam.com
steve@TheStocktonTeam.com
Zillow - Preferred Agent
800-396-5204 + Ext. # for recorded message Text Key # to 90210 for text message
The Stockton’s are the Lakes Area’s #1 Team! P. TW CE R E MM CO
ALL-SPORTS UNION LAKEFRONT SPECIAL •2-3 bedroom brick ranch + finished walkout •Bright and open floor plan, brick fireplace •2 car attached garage, elevated deck and patio GORGEOUS LAKE VIEWS @ $378,800 #212034479 EXT. #215 • KEY #276273 P. TW ND A L RT HA
127 FT. OF BULLARD WATERFRONT - TREED .43 ACRE •Incredible views, 2,116 sq ft + walkout, 4 bed, 3.5 bath •Granite, hardwood, wet bar, part fin w/o + appliances •Circle drive, elevated/tiered decking, patio, 1st flr laundry A RARE FIND @ $259,900 #212051318 EXT. #234• KEY #248366 LD FIE OM O L B ST WE
STUNNING VIEWS ALL-SPORTS UNION LAKEFRONT! •Great location, 75 ft. sandy shoreline, 200 deep-treed lot •Possible walkout site, seawall, Walled Lake Schools •Existing home, 2-3 bedrooms, 2 baths, basement GORGEOUS LAKE VIEWS @$495,000 #212017000 EXT. #205 • KEY #248367
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BRENDEL LAKEFRONT RANCH WITH FINISHED WALKOUT •Diamond in the rough set on 1.7 wooded acres •2,000 sq ft + finished walkout, 3 bedroom, 2 bath •2 fireplaces, deck, patio, green house, 2 car garage POSSIBILITIES @ $239,900 #212072154 EXT. #236 • KEY #248358 . WP DT N A HL HIG
BEAUTIFULLY UPDATED HOME ON ALL-SPORTS DUCK LAKE •2.962 sq. ft., 4 bedroom, 2 bath, vaulted dining •Library, great room, stone fireplace, vaulted family room •Granite kitchen - ss appliances, 1st flr laundry, basement MUST SEE @ $374,900 #212060746 EXT. #246 • KEY #258416 . WP ET RC E MM CO
ALL-SPORTS UNION LAKEFRONT BUILDING LOT •210 ft. deep, 45 ft. sandy shoreline, walkout site •Utilities, city water and sewer at street •Walled lake schools, build your dream home RARE OPPORTUNITY @ $359,900 #212055074 EXT. #264 • KEY #278040
. WP ET RC E MM CO
LAKEFRONT RANCH HOME ON ALL-SPORTS LONG LAKE •3 bedroom, 1.5 bath, open floor plan, Florida room •Great room, snackbar kitchen, new flooring •Covered deck, dock, seawall, 2 car garage MUST SEE @ $349,900 #212075900 EXT. #241 • KEY #248372 P. TW CE ER M M CO
BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED LOT - 327 FT. LAKE FRONTAGE •4 bedroom, 3.5 bath, dining room, granite kitchen •Great room, family room, fireplace, second kitchen •3 car garage, decks, patios, beach, seawall, dock GORGEOUS @ $514,000 #212070498 EXT. #287 • KEY #258747 E LAG VIL E RIN LVE WO
BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME ON ALL-SPORTS WOLVERINE LAKE! •Two lots, gorgeous lake views and sandy shoreline •.61 acre w/125’ frontage & .39 acres w/76’ frontage •Utilities, sewer and water at street, close to shopping STARTING @ $89,900 #212060387 EXT. #291 • KEY #261788
www.TheStocktonTeam.com
SPECIALIZING IN LUXURY LAKEFRONT & CUSTOM RESIDENTIAL HOMES
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1160 LAKE ANGELUS SHORES
850 LAKE ANGELUS SHORES
Ultimate Lakefront Estate - Newer construction, 2.5 acres with 192 ft. Lake Frontage, 4 bedroom, 4.2 baths, 5,000+ sq ft., boat house, 6 car heated garage with caretakers apartment landscaping, gated entry, park like setting & landscaping. Every possible amenity and upgrade you can think of. You will not be disappointed!
Fabulous South Shore Lake Angelus Home - Newer - 6 bedroom, 5 full and 2 half bath, 4,500 sq. ft. above grade and an additional 2,650 sq. ft. in finished walkout lower level (with 13 ft. ceilings). First floor master suite, gourmet kitchen, open floor plan, stone fireplace, lower level in-law quarters, 5 car heated garage, 1+ acres, new permanent dock, fabulous deck across entire front of home to showcase the views.
$2,799,900
$1,899,900
PRISTINE AND PRIVATE LAKE ANGELUS YOU’LL THINK YOU’RE IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN. Crystal clear, spring fed, 470+ acre private Lake Angelus. Water Skiing and sailing. No jet skis. 15 minutes north of Birmingham/Royal Oak/Southfield. Call me for your personal tour. 2074 LAKE ANGELUS SHORES Fabulous 4 bedroom ranch on “Shores Drive”. First time on the market. 3,000 sq. ft., 2.5 baths, sunsets, 6 car heated garage. Private setting.
2478 LAKE ANGELUS LANE Very affordable Lake Angelus home with great views and ready to move in for summer. 3-4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3,672 sq. ft. above grade with add’l 1,300 sq. ft. in finished walkout lower level. 2.85 acres.
$975,000
$699,000
2405 LAKE ANGELUS ROAD Horses, horses, horses 6.25 acres - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 3.5 baths, horse barn, pole barn, tack room, corrals, walkout lower level, 3,200 sq. ft.
2378 LAKE ANGELUS LANE Fabulous lake views. 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2,000 sq. ft. ranch with 1,600 sq. ft. in finished walk out lower level. deck, paver patio, 2 car garage, stone seawall.
$999,900
$899,900
2445 LAKE ANGELUS ROAD - VACANT LAND 2.38 acres - 106’ x 999’ - cash - land contract - $649.900
LEE EMBREY 248-283-8151
E-MAIL: LEMBREY@ SKBK.COM
348 E. MAPLE • BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 248-283-8151 WWW.SKBK.COM
CHECK OUT LEE’S WEBSITE AT WWW.LEEEMBREY.COM OR WWW.LAKEANGELUS.COM
www.oaklandlakefront.com
OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
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DENISE SIMMONS
248.496.4847 deniseworks4you@yahoo.com
16801 NEWBURGH RD. LIVONIA, MI 48154
Absolute Must see! Very Rare 5 Acre, Wooded Lake Front Estate With over 5900 square feet of living space on Private 270 +/- Acre ALL sports lake. 250 Ft. lake frontage with breath-taking views. Nantucket-style home completely remodeled exterior & interior in 2006-2007. 50 Foot Long Gourmet kitchen with 15 ft. granite island, double Stainless Steel Appliances. Huge master suite with fireplace & deluxe spa bath. Open floor plan. Oxbow Lake is one of the larger lakes in the “Lakes Area� and is 270 +/- acres and over 50 feet deep from end to end. This private lake has no off water access or DNR boat ramps. Enjoy year-round activities, watch nature unfold, play on the 80 foot sandy beach. This property is pristine and a warm and welcoming family home. $799,000
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Gated Heron Bay. All Sports Upper Long Lake. $1,750,000
Bloomfield Hills Schools. All Sports Pine Lake. $1,350,000
Custom Built by Lorimer. All Sports Van Norman Lake. $650,000
JEFF BARKER Top 1% of Realtors Nationally
4120 Telegraph Rd. Bloomfield Hills, MI www.oaklandlakefront.com
248.425.6000 www.jeffbarkerhomes.com OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
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CYNDI ROBINSON 20 Years of Successful Experience!
(248) 431-4571 cell www.cyndirobinson.com realestateone.com/crobinson
560 N. Milford Rd. Milford
TOP AGENT, ACREAGE & LAKEFRONT SINCE 1989 LAKEFRONT AND ACREAGE SPECIALIST!
LIVE ON THE LAKE FOR LESS! GE EA CR A D AN KE LA
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13 ACRE ESTATE IN MILFORD AREA! Exceptional all stone and cedar home with 579 - 1,600 feet of frontage on water. Exotic woods throughout. Tigerwood floors, rosewood and walnut species used for custom cabinetry. Gallery style spaces and large outbuilding for workshop/storage. Five car garage capacity with home elevator. $995,000. MLS#211088932 (809H3)
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LAKEFRONT ON KELLOGG & TAGGETT LAKES All brick, 4 bedroom, 5.5 bath, 4,114 sq. ft. home. Exterior with stone accents, master ensuite with 2 walk in closets, 2 baths and connecting exercise room! Spacious kitchen with dual Jennaire gas range/griddle tops. Home theatre. Walkout includes fireplace and wet bar/second kitchen. Lower level workshop, 5 car garage, 2 lakes. $549,321 MLS#211115821 (4534T3) T ON EFR AK L EY WN DO
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HIGHLAND VALLEY One of the nicest lots in the sub! Backs to private Kyle Park and Downey Lake. Enjoy wooded and lake views. Canoes and kayaks allowed. Home features 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, an island kitchen with granite counters. Hardwood floors in entry, dining, kitchen and den! Unfinished walkout is bright with lake picture window. Beautiful decking! $319,900 MLS#212022371 (788J3) T ON FR KE A L ITE WH
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SPREAD OUT & ENJOY THE SIZE OF THIS YARD! Beautiful lot with mature trees! 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1 half bath home sits on a square acre. No association or sub rules so you can add a pole barn, extra garage, off paved Duck lake Road. Split rail fenced on 3 sided Pet area fenced by deck. Pool is round with decking. Hot tub neg. Generator plug. 1 year warranty. Privileged on allsports White Lake. $154,000 MLS#212064547(2845C3) T LO KE LA
WOW! MINUTES FROM MILFORD! 7 ACRES All paved roads. Stunning soft contemporary features master on main, den, formal dining, sun room/family room. Beautiful home! Open floor plan. Ceramic entrance, kitchen and bath. Beautiful pond has fish/fountain. Walking trails. Room for horses and pole barn! 4 bedroom, 2.1 bath, large garage. $419,000 MLS#212037729 (1683P3)
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TIRED OF TEAR DOWNS? Attention to detail & features found in upscale homes. Perfect executive home. All Pella casements. Paver walk. 2 story entry w/bridge. 2 story, 2 sided limestone fireplace. Maple & granite kitchen. Full wall pantry. Dumb-waiter to garden. Den-library on main, possible 3rd bed (no closet). Bath on main w/soaker tub/shower. Heated drive, patio, dock. 1 yr warranty! $289,900 MLS#212032857 (3604L3)
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WHITE LAKE HOME ON MAIN LAKE AND ACREAGE LOT! Terrific home on all-sports White lake. Move right in and enjoy! Fantastic views! Deep lot, room to play! Approx. 100 ft. on water. Soaring ceilings. Lakeside master suite has sitting room/sun porch. Solid surface counters in new hickory kitchen. Finished walkout. More! $649,900 MLS#212047281 (3900D3)
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NEW! WOODS AND WATER! Privacy by nature! See this lakefront on all-sports private Duck Lake, Highland. Huron Valley schools. Just minutes to Milford. See this Hunt Club inspired spacious colonial. Love lake living, enjoy large deck and hot tub for entertaining! Lot is over 1 acre, has dock, stone seawall. Finished walkout. Master suite with sitting/reading area overlooking lake, updated bath. $349,900 (1710I3)
LAKE LOT ON 2 LAKES! Now is the time to build! Affordable interest rates, builders are anxious for work! Located in Mallards Landing on Cul-de-sac. Fronts 2 lakes that connect! Beautiful homes in area. Almost one acre build site! Walkout possible. Past perk on file. EZ build restrictions. $69,900 MLS#212026422 (MAL3)
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540 FT. ALL-SPORT WHITE LAKE BUILDABLE LOT In Seven Harbors! Build your dream. Interest rates are low. Builders anxious for work! Walkout site. New well, septic for a 3 bedroom on site. Views of main lake! Not many lots available on a larger lake! No land contract. $142,900 MLS#212078005 (VACH3)
www.oaklandlakefront.com
Michael
Call NEW TREND Each Office Independently Owned and Operated
★
(248) 681-8500 (248) 553-5050
V i s i t w w w. T h e M i c h a e l Te a m . c o m
ORCHARD LAKE $1,290,000 Call Michael★
UPPER LONG LAKE $999,000 Call Michael★
WALNUT LAKE $1,999,000 Call Michael★
CASS LAKE $629,000 Call Michael★
ORCHARD LAKE $2,250.000 Call Michael★
ORCHARD LAKE $749,000 Call Michael★
CASS LAKE $1,290,000 Call Michael★
LOWER STRAITS LAKE $1,490,000 Call Michael★
ORCHARD LAKE $699.000 Call Michael★
PINE LAKE $4,500,000 Call Michael★
25 South Main St. Clarkston, MI L RT PO S LAL
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Take a Virtual Tour Online:
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INCREDIBLY BREATHTAKING Forested lakefront parcel. Site plan for (8) acreage parcels on all-sports (235 acre) Lake Oakland. Once in a lifetime opportunity! Build your dream home, while seven other building sites serve as an investment. 00-OAK $650,000 T RN OR HE RES T R N NO IGA H C MI
CROWN PALACE With 360 degree vistas of elite 450 acre all-sports Lake Angelus illuminate this palatial 7,700 sq. ft. estate. Flooded with cherry, granite, limestone and travertine throughout. European flavored exterior of solid granite and slate. 23-LAK $2,200,000
Kenice Schooley
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IMMACULATE CONDITION!!! Clarkston schools!! Includes extra build-able lot (75’x 150’), MLS 1306376007. Home includes everything ~ 2 garages, 2 complete kitchens, 2 fireplaces, 2 decks, parking pad for a motorhome & complete in-law suite on lower level. 173 ft. of Maceday Lake waterfront, maintenance free exterior, views from every room, 3 full baths, breakfast area & large concrete patio. 77-PAR $375,000 L RT PO S L AL
DESIRABLE LAKEFRONT WALKOUT In Clarkston schools. 0.6 acre lot has tranquil views of Foley Lake from the new rear deck. Remodeled kitchen and baths with granite and hardwood floors. Newer carpet and paint throughout. Freshly painted exterior with 2 car side entry garage. Second deck off master to enjoy lakefront view with the wildlife. 42-COA $248,000
Emily Ford
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BUILDER’S OWN PROPOSED BUILD On large, beautiful wooded lot on Maceday Lake. Enjoy 419 acres of water on Maceday & Lotus Lakes for boating, fishing, swimming, or just enjoy a quiet day on your own private beach. Vacant lot also for sale if you prefer your own builder. 35-DOR $184,900 For Vacant Land. $489,000 For New Build
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75 FT. OF DESIRABLE FRONTAGE On enviable 419 acre Maceday/Lotus Lakes. Featuring remote fireplace, fade resistant flooring, theater room, hand crafted bar, exotic granite counters, in-law suite, auto lighting, Swarovski chandelier, electric boat hoist and much more!! 74-MAC $899,999
625-1010
www.mmrealtors.com
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OWN YOUR OWN RESORT! Over 5,000 sq. ft. of captivating waterfront views. This striking lakefront, complete with expansive decking, is ideal for entertaining. Interior is the “Ritz” with special rooms for every family member. Enviable Kitchen/Hearth Room, explosive great room and a walkout finished to perfection. 44-MAJ $659,000
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Susan Tolstyka
Ron Serafini
Darlene Goodwin
Cheryl Karrick
SENSATIONAL LODGE RESORT Impeccably maintained. Nestled on 4 acres, plus a nearly 1 acre island playground located on all-sports Wildwood Lake. Sleeps a total of 36 guests! Commanding country kitchen with high end features. 15-VAL $750,000
$ Multi-Million Dollar Talent $ $
Darlene Darby
Karen & Jim Moreen
Tracey Wertman
Bob Newman
Pam Ford Morgan
www.oaklandlakefront.com
CHRIS PERO Associate Broker
275 S. Old Woodward Ave. Birmingham, MI 48009
248-797-0784 cell cgpero@yahoo.com
OVER $40 MILLION SOLD IN 2011 & 2012
5575 Shadow Lane, Bloomfield Hills Approximately one acre on Gilbert Lake. Incredible property and views. Finished walkout lower level. $1,500,000.
For more information and additional pictures of this home, please go to www.ChrisPero.com Recognized as a leading producer in the Wall Street Journal and Hour Detroit www.oaklandlakefront.com
OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
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Town & Country 32121 Woodward Ave. #100 Royal Oak, MI 48073
CONNIE BARNARD
248.766.3504 cell 248.952.0825 fax http://www.conniebarnard.com
7030 Willow Magnificently Sited on 174 ft. of Union Lake Frontage Architecture, Quality, Luxurious Amenities and Unsurpassed Detail Make This Exquisite Home a One-Of-A-Kind • Dramatic Use of Custom Designed Premium Flooring, Crown Moldings, Wall Coverings & Cabinetry • Three Bedrooms (2 Suites), 3.1 Bathrooms • Dryvit Exterior Finished with Lush Perennial Gardens and Stunning Covered Terrace • Incredible Sunsets $1,300,000
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www.oaklandlakefront.com
New D epartm Jamie Clover ent Ad Rural D of Agricultu ams re and evelop ment D irector
Keith Creagh New DNR Director
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ust a little over a year and a half after Gov. Rick Snyder made his first appointments to the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development director positions, he has once again had to decide who should be running both departments. Of course, that's only because Snyder recently tapped DNR Director Rodney Stokes to become the administration's special adviser for city placemaking, prompting a shuffling of positions within the DNR and Agriculture Department. Snyder has chosen Keith Creagh to take over at the DNR and Jamie Clover Adams to head the Agriculture Department. In his new capacity for the state government, Stokes will work with cities to help them become more vibrant and inviting by enhancing their existing resources. "Michigan's cities are brimming with unique natural and man-made assets that can be cultivated in ways which attract families and visitors, retain talented workers, encourage investment, and enhance our overall quality of life," Snyder said. "Rodney has the talent and experience to make that happen. His expertise in the areas of natural resources, outdoor recreation, policy development and civic engagement make him well suited to partner with cities in these efforts. A strong Michigan needs strong cities. Rodney's work will be key to that success and we're fortunate to have a person of his caliber at the forefront of this critical initiative." "I am excited to take a lead role in fostering more vibrant urban communities," Stokes said. "I firmly believe that great states have great cities, just as great states nurture and protect their natural resources. This appointment affords me one more opportunity to make Michigan a more dynamic, inviting place to be." After Snyder's election in 2010, Stokes was picked as one of his first cabinet appointees. Previous DNR Director Rebecca Humphries had retired earlier in 2010 to take a position with Ducks Unlimited. Stokes began his professional career with the DNR in 1977 and held several leadership positions within the department, including service as chief of www.oaklandlakefront.com
the Parks and Recreation Division, legislative liaison, chief of staff, acting chief of the Law Enforcement Division and chief of the Office of Science and Policy. Following Stokes' appointment to his new role, Snyder then appointed state Agriculture Department Director Keith Creagh as the new DNR director. "Keith is a natural choice to become our next DNR director," Snyder said. "He has a strong understanding of Michigan's conservation, economic and environmental needs, vast experience and ability to bring people together, and a love of our state's great outdoors that will make for a seamless transition." "I am honored to serve as director of the Department of Natural Resources and to work with such a dedicated group of professionals," Creagh said. "I will strive to uphold the department's great standard of excellence and build upon its past successes. As a lifelong outdoor enthusiast, I understand the importance of the state's natural resources to Michigan citizens. Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and other outdoor pursuits are not just hobbies in this state. They are a defining part of who we are as Michiganders." Gordon Guyer, a former director of both the DNR and the Agriculture Department, praised Creagh's appointment as DNR director, calling it "outstanding." "I've had the privilege of working with Keith both as agriculture director and as a Neogen board member," Guyer said. "He is uniquely qualified for this position and I can't think of a better fit to take the helm at the DNR. He has a tremendous ability to take a tough issue and build consensus. Keith's passion for our natural resources, tourism and agriculture industries will help us revitalize and reinvent Michigan."
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reagh has a vast amount of management experience, including policy development, strategic planning, and operational leadership. He had served as the Agriculture Department director since January 2011. He first began working with the state government in 1974 and has worked in a variety of capacities for the Agriculture Department, including land use deputy director with the DNR and Agriculture Department, where he coordinated a multi-agency implementation plan in response to OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
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recommendation from the governor-appointed Michigan Land Use Leadership Council. Creagh also provided leadership for the Farm Bill and conservation programs, which brought together conservation organizations, state and federal agencies, and local conservation districts to establish conservation practices in the state.
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hroughout his tenure with the state government, he has gained experience with invasive and exotic species, conservation easements, and environmental stewardship, as well as working closely with stakeholder groups, federal agencies, the state Legislature, and the U.S. Congress. Creagh was also director of industry affairs for the Neogen Corporation, which is a company that develops and provides food and animal safety solutions to the agri-food industry. During that time, Creagh established and maintained relationships with the scientific community and state and federal regulatory agencies. Creagh holds a bachelor's degree in forestry from Michigan Technological University. He is also an avid outdoorsman, which should serve him well as the head of an organization such as the DNR, an organization "committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations." And of course the state's natural resources includes lakes. One of the priorities of the DNR is to encourage fishing among the younger generation and to do so by providing introductory experiences, access to equipment, access to aquatic resources that support fishing, access to a guide or mentor, and social support fishing. The DNR also monitors the health of the state's fish population by tracking and understanding the pathogens and disease that cause fish mortality, including viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) and bacterial kidney disease. As part of its efforts to manage fish health, the DNR has employed rearing strategies in its hatcheries to reduce disease outbreak, and has also conducted surveillance on wild fish populations for a broad range of pathogens. The DNR also manages the public boating access sites that can be found on many lakes throughout Oakland County. The DNR director serves at the pleasure of the governor and receives an annual salary of $140,000, plus benefits. According to DNR www.oaklandlakefront.com
spokesperson Ed Golder, benefits for state workers are 40 percent of the employee's annual salary. To fill the empty director post within the Agriculture Department, Jamie Clover Adams, previously the state Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) Policy and Legislative Affairs director, was chosen by the governor to take over for Creagh. "Michigan's food and agriculture industry is one of the most important to our state's economy, and Jamie has the experience, knowledge and skills to provide the necessary leadership to assure Michigan food and agriculture continues to play a prominent role in our state's economic recovery," Snyder said. "She will be an excellent director for (the Agriculture Department)." "I am honored to serve the people of Michigan and am anxious to get to work to meet Gov. Snyder's goals for agriculture," Clover Adams said. "We will strive to double our exports, work to significantly increase farm verifications, and help grow the value chain from farm to fork." Clover Adams has a wealth of experience that spans decades in working with both the agriculture industry and legislative policy development. She has served as the secretary of the Kansas state Department of Agriculture from 1999 to 2003, and was the deputy chief of staff to state Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville. Before that she served as the director of the Senate Majority Policy Office.
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lover Adams was raised on a farm in Michigan, and holds a master's degree in public policy from Georgetown University and a bachelor's degree in general studies from the University of Michigan. Creagh said he approves of his successor. "Jamie has great vision and leadership capacity," he said. "Her experience makes her well suited to become (the Agriculture Department's) next director." The Agriculture Department director serves at the pleasure of the governor and receives an annual salary of $140,000. According to department spokesperson Jennifer Holton, Clover Adams has a pension similar to other state employees and does not utilize the state health insurance benefit. The Agriculture Department's mission is to "assure the food safety, agricultural, environmental, and economic interests of the people of the State of Michigan are met through service, partnership, and collaboration." All appointments became effective on July 9. â?? OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
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