LIVING THE GOOD LIFE AREA RIPARIANS ENJOY UNIQUE ACTIVITIES, EVENTS YEAR-ROUND
THE FACEBOOK FRENZY
GROUPS, AGENCIES USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO PROMOTE CAUSES AND AWARENESS
IT’S ALL ABOUT SURVIVAL
PREDATORS, REPRODUCTIVE RATES KEEP THE NATIVE TURTLE POPULATIONS LOW
Also Inside: Cass Lake BAS parking plans
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROYAL OAK, MI 48068 PERMIT #792
GRAND OPENING! August 12, 13 & 14th New Kitchen and Bath Design Center Featuring exclusive lines of semi-custom cabinetry to exquisite completely custom furniture-style cabinetry.
Brookhaven • Wood-Mode • Wooden Hammer
visit us during
Milford Memories Come visit our new cabinetry design center during Milford Memories and browse our cabinet samples. Enjoy refreshments while sharing your ideas and letting us share ours. Our projects combine our designer’s expert knowledge with our clients’ unique style to create balanced and functional living space. We work closely with you to create a design to suit your lifestyle and budget.
economical to
EXQUISITE From simple to sophisticated, our design center features a wide selection of styles. The key to our success is truly listening to our client’s visions and goals. We specialize in turning design dilemmas into design advantages.
competitive pricing, precision
CRAFTSMANSHIP From start to finish, our experts will guide you through the design process. Our comprehensive design services include verbal consultations, floor and space planning. The possibilities are limitless.
Voted BEST CUSTOM BUILDER Five years running
voted in the Huron Valley People’s Choic
e Awards.
620 N. Milford Rd., Milford
www.MJWHELAN.com
248.684.4649 2
AUGUST 2011
www.oaklandlakefront.com
Our 62nd Year Life is Short Boats are COOL!
866.919.2628 OA K L A N D
Don’t Settle For a Limited Selection. See it all at Wilson Marine.
HUGE
ONLY MINUTES AWAY
175 PONTOON BOAT INVENTORY
600
BOATS
OF ALL TYPES TO CHOOSE FROM, IN STOCK
This Month’s
MANAGER’S SPECIAL LOWE 16’ FISHING BOAT
HUGE
PARTS AND ACCESSORIES DEPARTMENT
YAMALUBE Outboard Motor & Personal Water Craft MOTOR OIL
2011 ANGLER 160 T MERCURY 15HP 4-STROKE KARAVAN TRAILER
9,495
$
*
ONLY
ALL ON SALE AT
20% OFF
140 mo.
$
$1,000 DOWN | 96 MONTHS | 9.5 APR *Plus frt. prep, lic. title, reg. doc fee, tax, options
MARINE SERVICE
MECHANICAL FIBERGLASS • CANVAS *Howell Location
Williams Lk. Rd.
M-59 (Highland Rd.)
View our Entire Inventory
24-Hour WEB SHOPPING www.wilsonboats.com 866.919.2628
Cooley Lake Road
Richardson Rd.
Ñ
Union Lk. Rd.
Cooley Lk. Rd.
Oakley Park Rd.
WIL-CARE FIRST IN LINE AND DOCKSIDE SERVICE
HOURS MONDAY-FRIDAY 9-8 SATURDAY 9-6 SUNDAY 11-4
4440 Haggerty Rd. • Commerce Twp.
Haggerty
✪
OA K L A N D
EXCLUSIVE
www.oaklandlakefront.com
248-363-5240
wilsonmarineoakland.com OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
3
O
www.clubroyale.net
BOAT STORAGE INSIDE STORAGE - OUTSIDE STORAGE (LIMITED SPACE – CALL NOW!)
A
K
L
50 OFF
00
IF RESERVED IN AUGUST
Publisher
SUSAN FANCY
Business Manager
DENNIS BOGGS
Executive Assistant
CAROL BARR
Assistant Editor Staff Writers
TIMOTHY S. DMOCH KIRK PINHO ANGELA NIEMI, LESLIE SHEPARD, MICHAEL SHELTON
Staff Photographer
AMY K. LOCKARD
Photography Intern
STEFANO FERRI
Contributors
MIKE SCOTT, MARK H. STOWERS
Advertising Sales Representatives
CINDIE AUDIA, MINA BEAUMONT, DENISE ENGELBERTS, DEBRA GRUBB, LINDA STICKNEY, LAURIE WASKER
• FIBERGLASS REPAIR • MECHANICAL REPAIR • INSURANCE WORK
Sales Assistant/Proofreader
Get your boat repaired now - before you store it for winter 10% discount on labor for any repairs when you mention this in August
Inside Sales Representatives
Inside Sales Manager
Graphics Assistants
4300 Cass Elizabeth • Waterford • 248-681-9100 15 YEARS OF RELIABLE SERVICE
D
www.oaklandlakefront.com
BOAT SERVICE DISCOUNT
LOCATED ON ELIZABETH LAKE
N
LAKEFRONT Editor
$
A
KAREN WHIKEHART LORI SNYDER RHONDA LIBKUMAN, CINDY STAWICK, LESLIE TIMKO DENISE JUNGJOHAN, MARCIA REIMER, STACIE SABADY
IT Manager
JOEL STICKNEY
Circulation
DAN GRIFFIN
Accounts Receivable Manager Assistant Phone Address/Street Address/Mail
CAROLYN PETHERBRIDGE MABLE McCULLOUGH 248.360.6397 / 248.360.7355 7196 Cooley Lake Road Waterford, Michigan 48327 P.O. Box 14 Union Lake, MI, 48387-0014
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.
SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY OAKLAND LAKEFRONT • OAKLAND HOMES MONTHLYADVERTISER • WEST OAKLAND DIRECTORY
4
AUGUST 2011
www.oaklandlakefront.com
August 2011 • Volume 20 • Number 5
contents
Lake culture in Oakland Kayaking, water skiing, splashing through sandbars, or just enjoying the moonlight on the water. All of these sound like part of a fantastic vacation. Yet, for many lakefront property owners and residents, it's their everyday reality.
18 Social media
Times are changing. Facebook is no longer just a tool to connect with friends. YouTube is no longer just a way for students to put off studying for finals. They are turning into powerful tools used by environmental organizations and advocacy groups alike on a daily basis.
in every issue
:
8
26 Parking woes 36 County turtles The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is looking to renovate the Cass Lake boating access site at Dodge Park No. 4 and is giving the public, including those owning property on or living on the lake, a chance to weigh in on proposals at an Aug. 4 meeting at the state park.
25 – Snapshot: Barry Sherman 35 – Snapshot: William Roberts
Oakland County is home to at least eight of the 10 known species of turtles in Michigan, but predators and reproductive constraints make it a miracle that they have survived as long as they have. We examine all eight species and explain their physical characteristics and behaviors.
32 – Port of Call: Greens Lake 61 – Waterway Levels
GODDARD-TALMAY AGENCY 347 N. Pontiac Trail • Walled Lake, MI 48390
248-624-1531
6
AUGUST 2011
www.oaklandlakefront.com
index of advertisers August 2011 • Volume 20 • Number 5
21st Century Building Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Goodbye Geese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Aerial Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
J & D Marine Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Aggressive Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Lakefront Marine Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Allied Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Livingston Concrete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
American Marine Shore Control . . . . . . . . . .14, 42
M J Whelan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
American Soft Trim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Michigan Rockscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Anderson Boat Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Nick Page Landscaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Anne’s Canvas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Oak Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Aqua Weed Control, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Oakland County Water Resource Commission . .48
Aquacide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Pontoon Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Bev's Canvas Covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Professional Lake Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Blackbox Surf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Roll n-Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Boating Supply Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Scotty Lee's Landscaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Club Royale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
ShoreDocker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Colony Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Skier's Pier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
DSL Marine Transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Spark’s Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Dave's Mobile Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Spider Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Dock Squad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Sunset Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
ecoChic landscape design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
TT&C Beaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Farm Bureau Insurance - Doug Browne . . . . . . . .42
The Pond Guy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Freeway Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Walt's Point Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Glow-Mark Technologies LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Weed Razer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Goddard Talmay Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Wilson Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
lakefront real estate Coldwell Banker/Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Prudential HWWB Realtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Karen Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
John & Gayle Hannett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Keller Williams - Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . .50, 51
Real Estate One – Milford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Steve/Janet Stockton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50, 51 Max Broock - Birmingham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Kathy Broock Ballard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Cyndi Robinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 ReMax Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 John Wentworth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 SKBK Sotheby's International Realty . . . . .53, 54, 55
Morgan & Milzow Realtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Dan Gutfreund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Morris Richardson Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Lee Embrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Greg Morris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Ronni Keating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
THE GOOD L
D LIFE RIPARIANS BASK IN UNIQUE CULTURES OF COUNTY LAKES By Angela Niemi
W
ater skiing at dawn, kayaking away an afternoon, splashing through the sandbar, catching a fish for dinner, or simply sitting and enjoying the moonlight on the water. All of these sound like the components of a fantastic vacation. Yet, for many lucky lakefront property owners and residents, it’s their everyday reality.
And while it may not be Hawaii or some exotic Caribbean island, Oakland County — with its some 400 lakes — offers its own version of paradise to lakefront denizens. Of course, it all depends what someone wants in a lake. There are all-sport lakes that allow anything from power boats to paddle boats, and then there are lakes where motors are prohibited, such as Bloomfield Township’s Wabeek Lake, which riparian Larry La Bute enjoys for its serene atmosphere. “It’s always quiet and peaceful,” he said. “You can go out there any time, and it’s just quiet. You can just sit on the dock, look at water, and be able to watch fish swimming around.” The lakes themselves offer a natural beauty with many bays, sandbars, and islands like Apple Island in the middle of Orchard Lake, which hosts to over 400 species of flora. In addition, lakes offer a unique arena to foster different organizations, such as the Pontiac Yacht Club on Cass Lake, whose members — most of whom don’t live on the lake — have been sailing boats for over 75 years. “We have races on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays of each week,” said Pontiac Yacht Club member Esther Callahan. “We also offer adult sailing instructional programs, and a kids sailing instructional program, which is open to the public.” In addition to their annual invitational regatta and playing host to Detroit Country Day’s racing team, the club also hosts social events like weddings and graduations. The club also fosters its own sense of community. “We have an eclectic group of people from all walks of life that basically have one thing in common — sail boating, said club member Salo Korn. “People don’t care if someone’s a doctor or if they work in an assembly plant. It’s all about how good of a sailor you are. It’s an extremely friendly place. If someone sees that you’re working on your boat, they will walk up and ask if they can help.” In general, it seems as if lakes have a magical ability to inspire camaraderie and helpfulness, which can be pointedly seen in the numerous lake communities around the county. From water quality to safety to social gatherings, lakefront property owners often work together to ensure that they can take pride in the lakes they so love. Consequently, each lake community seems to develop its own culture centering on the lake and everything the water has to offer to the riparians who build their lives and families on it. Here’s a look at several of the lakes around the county and what they do to make their lake the “best kept secret” in Oakland County. White Lake ‘very peaceful,’ friendly, riparians say Memorial Day weekend is the start of boating season on most lakes, and White Lake — situated in Highland and White Lake townships — goes all out in welcoming that time of year. Every year, the White Lake Citizens League (WLCL) serves a Memorial Day pancake breakfast at the White Lake Inn, which donates their space to the league. www.oaklandlakefront.com
“It’s our big kick-off to the year. We usually have 700 to 800 people attend,” said Bob Parrett, the communications director for the WLCL. “It’s a chance to bring everybody together at the beginning of the boating season, to have all the neighbors get together and so forth,” said Tom De Santis, who Parrett described as the de facto “mayor” of the lake and the president of the WLCL. “We also have a ceremony at the end of the breakfast to remember all of those who died doing service to their country.” “It’s a day to commemorate all the veterans who live on the lake, as well as to celebrate the start of summer,” Parrett added. The breakfast also functions as a fund-raising event for the lake’s annual fireworks show on the Fourth of July, which typically costs around $18,000 a year. Other funds come from the league’s members, who pay annual dues of $25, and any other additional voluntary donations. “This is a big deal here,” said Parrett of the July 4 fireworks event. “It’s a big show, and it keeps getting bigger every year. Everybody really gets into it.” Usually held the Saturday before the Fourth of July, White Lake’s celebration of America’s independence features an annual boat parade in addition to the fireworks. People decorate their boats in accordance with the year’s theme and then make their way around the lake displaying their creativity. People onshore are then able to call in for the boat they like the best in a sort of American Idol-esque voting style. This year’s theme was Christmas in July. “We have prizes for the winning boats,” Parrett said. “This is a really big social day. All the people on the lake know the day and they want to invite friends over. There are always a lot of picnics culminating with the fireworks at night.” “The Fourth of July is the most memorable thing — especially the parade,” De Santis said. “This year we initiated a lead boat, which was a classic wooden boat. We got somebody to dress up as Uncle Sam and ride in the lead boat. It’s a very patriotic day. We had some very imaginative boats this year. The boat that won was pulling Santa Claus on a float (behind the boat) with reindeer. That was really good.” The WLCL also instituted another annual event this year in the form of a home tour in which participants go around the lake by pontoon boat, enjoying wine and cheese as they stop at five different houses on the lake. “We visit the really showcase homes on the lake,” Parrett said. “This year we were completely sold out. We had both lake and non-lake participants.” And even without planned events, White Lake remains a very social lake. “We have what we used to call ‘Friday Night HookUps’ where, in the summertime, boats just get together, tie up, and have a party. This carries over in the wintertime. Of course, instead of our boats, we all have to meet at someone’s house. We have a very friendly lake, especially for one our size, which may be OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
11
the fourth- of fifth-biggest in Oakland County. A lot of people know each other,” said Parrett, who said a lot of residents keep in touch with a monthly lake newsletter that is e-mailed to league members. A new weekly event recently established on the lake is sailboat races on Thursday nights. De Santis explained it was just an idea the WLCL had that came to fruition after a bit of encouragement. “It’s not only a nice thing for the people that like to sail, but if we ever get 10 sailboats — we have about four or five now — it will just be a nice thing to view for people that live on the lake, to see a colorful sailboat race,” he said. “So far it’s working out well. We just initiated it last month, and we’ve received a lot of favorable input.” Sail boating is not the only activity on the all-sports lake. “There’s just a lot activity — sail boating, fishing, water skiing, tubing,” De Santis said. “I think for the most part all those activities work in harmony. We haven’t had too much of a problem of fishermen upset with boaters, or vice versa. It’s a lake where people respect each other to make the lake as nice a place as possible,” A popular spot for boaters to gather to just hang out is a sandbar between a couple of the islands found on the lake. In addition to organizing the social events, the WLCL also ensures the cleanliness of the lake through weed control and water treatment efforts, of which the organization advises the White Lake Improvement Board. “It’s a well taken care of lake. I think people really appreciate that,” De Santis said. The lake community has also coordinated an effort to maintain Oakland County Sheriff’s Department Marine Division patrols during the boating season, after budget cuts significantly reduced the level of lake patrols. “It makes a big difference in the safety of the lake,” Parrett said. That’s helpful, since White Lake is an all-sports lake with public access for an additional 30 boats. However, Parrett said the lake is not as over-run as many lakes. There’s a “comfortable amount of activity” as the boat launch limit prevents the lake from becoming “really swamped with outside boaters.” According to Parrett and De Santis, residents really love their lake. “I think it’s a nice lake. It’s got character, and the shape of the lake is nice, picturesque. And a lot of good people live here,” De Santis said. Parrett agreed. “It’s a very friendly lake,” he said. “For most of the people, it’s like going on a vacation full-time. You wake up in morning and look out at the lake and it’s just very, very peaceful. And that’s all year, not just in the summertime when the water is open. It’s pretty yearround.” Fostering ‘its own type of family’ on Cooley Lake The main point of pride for many living on Cooley Lake, located in Commerce and White Lake townships, is the “growing sense of community on the lake” and the feeling that the lake creates its own type of family. 12
AUGUST 2011
This sense of family is further fostered with social events that are held all year. In February, Cooley Lake has its annual Winterfest held at the house and island of Chris Nesbitt, the “mayor” of Cooley Lake. In the summer, the island hosts weekly drop-in volleyball matches. What originally started as an impromptu gathering among neighbors has evolved into a full-blown winter festival. Neighbors travel via snowmobile and sleds to the island to enjoy a variety of activities, including a round of golf on the frozen lake. Food and drinks are plentiful since everybody pitches in potluck-style. “My favorite part of the Winter Fest is how it brings our Cooley Lake family — neighbors and close friends — together during the winter,” said Cooley Lake resident Karen Jagodzinkski. “It’s always so much fun watching everyone enjoying themselves, especially the kids.” In April, Cooley Lake residents work together in an annual cleanup effort to make sure the lake is all ready for the summer. “Residents and friends gather at a local grocery store parking lot, divide up the roads on and around the lake, and then pick up the trash that has accumulated over the winter,” said Cooley Lake resident Richard Hooker. “Afterward, we have big cookout and enjoy a nice social evening together, usually with a fire pit.” The Fourth of July is another major weekend for Cooley Lake, starting with a golf tournament at the nearby Union Lake Golf Course, which includes lunch and prizes for the winners. The festivities then move to the lake with a “luminary boat tour” during the evening. A boat parade, which Hooker said is becoming “increasingly popular,” is held the following day. The people at the Waterfront Restaurant are the judges, and prizes are awarded to the top three or four boats. “There’s quite a lot of creativity shown,” Hooker said. “My favorite this year was a speedboat decorated as a great white shark, complete with a mannequin protruding from its bloody jaws.” The middle of Cooley Lake is also home to a popular sandbar, where eight or 10 pontoon boats tethered together is a common sight. “People can move from boat to boat, catching up with friends and sampling offered food and beverages,” Hooker said. “The boat parade awards ceremony takes place at the sandbar and features a barge-like pontoon platform with two grills and a long table for a ton of wonderful picnic food.” In the winter, it’s not uncommon to see a pick-up hockey game or two sprout up on the lake. According to Hooker, a “great bastion of Red Wings fans” lives on Cooley Lake. “Throughout the winter, a lot of young and not-soyoung kids play hockey on impromptu rinks around the lake and dream of being Steve Yzerman or Pavel Datsyuk, while the more (or less) mature gather at Tom Hempel’s Lower Level Lounge to watch the Wings on his 84-inch projector TV and eat fantastic potluck meals,” Hooker said. www.oaklandlakefront.com
‘Always some kind of action’ taking place on Union Lake Like most other lakes, Union Lake’s big event is the fireworks show on the Fourth of July. But before it was made into an organized event, the main tradition on the lake — which straddles the border between West Bloomfield and Commerce townships — was a flare night, during which hundreds of flares would light up around the lake. However, once the fireworks show became a professional event, some lakefront owners started to light their flares the night of the fireworks display. Now, it’s not uncommon to see flares on both the night of the fireworks as well as on Independence Day. But for the past six years, the main event has been the professional fireworks show. “It’s been very successful,” said Carl Ostakewski, chairman of the lake’s fireworks committee. “To pay for the show, we canvass lakefront owners for donations. Basically, we are always trying to get up enough money to pull (the show) off. And so far, we’ve been able to do it for six years running.” For the remainder of the year, however, Union Lake is a bustle of impromptu activities and get-togethers. “What I like the best is that there’s always some kind of action going on on the water, no matter what time of the day or the year. It’s all very entertaining,” Ostakewski said. A sandbar located at the beginning of the bay leading to the Matter of Taste restaurant on Union Lake Road is a popular hot spot in the summer. “It’s a large sandbar and is always populated on warm days, the weekends, and holidays,” said Dale Mahrle, president of the Union Lake Shores Association. “A great number of residents will park their boats out there, set up some volleyball nets, and drink beer. It’s just fun in general. And to the best of my knowledge, we don’t have residents that object to that.” And while the sandbar remains busy, it’s not as crowded as it once was. “It was more crowded before Aggressive Marine closed. They used to rent out about 50 boats,” Mahrle said. “It’s still plenty busy. And I think most of the people who use the sandbar are residents because most of the boats are pontoons, and people don’t typically launch pontoons at the public access site.” Pontoon boats are also a large part of several flotillas on the lake. “We tie a bunch of pontoons together and have a pontoon flotilla,” said Julie Rogers, one of the main “movers and shakers” on the lake, according to Mahrle. “Everyone will bring a dish to pass, and we just hang out on the lake.” Rogers is hoping to initiate a boat version of a road rally where residents would give groups clues and tasks to perform on the water. Union Lake, which has a Facebook page, also hosts a Winter Olympics of sorts every few years on the lake. “We just started doing that a couple years ago, and www.oaklandlakefront.com
we hope to continue to do it every few years just like the real Olympics,” Rogers said, adding that the games were comprised of several different stops featuring basketball at one house, golf target shooting at another, as well as several other team events. There was even a podium for a medal ceremony for the winners. Rogers said they also get a pretty good Euchre rotation around the lake for get-togethers in the winter. But the summer still remains the lake’s busiest time of year, even in the early morning. “We have a whole group that water skis in the morning — several different groups actually. It’s a regular thing, and you know who’s out there skiing by what time it is in the morning,” Rogers explained, adding that Union Lake has a very close community. “It’s very easy to make friends on the lake,” she said. “We have a very social lake. We even have drop-in water volleyball when the water gets warm. The people in general seem very active and want to do things like that.” Ostakewski agrees. “People that live around the lake are very friendly and seem to be very active,” he said. “They have a lot to do with protecting the lake. They do things to keep the lake in a pristine condition.” Yet, the people living on Union Lake are not all about fun and games. When it comes to issues on the lake, the residents all come to the forefront to stand up and resolve it, according to Mahrle. Whether it’s rising lake levels due to a plugged drain or working with the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to ensure the public boat launch remains at its current capacity of 33 or so boats, the citizens of Union Lake band together to make sure their lake remains an enjoyable recreational experience. This includes obeying the laws of the lake, even without Oakland County Sheriff’s Department marine patrols. “The residents have been responsible for their behavior on the lake the past two years,” Mahrle said. “I haven’t heard of any major incidents that have been due to irresponsible boating. So far, it’s working out.” A resident on the lake since 1966, Mahrle said he feels Union Lake is a great place to live. “No. 1, it’s a beautiful and clean lake,” he said. “It’s an all-sports lake, which is beneficial to the kids — they all enjoy it. And frankly speaking, I like the people around the lake.” Maceday and Lotus Lake fun: Fireworks, Venetian Night It’s a 2-for-1 deal for lakefront property owners and residents of either Maceday or Lotus lakes in Waterford Township, since the lakes are connected through a channel. “The Maceday Lotus Lakes Association (MLLA) puts in two buoys every year to show how to get through the channel without hitting any logs. If you stay between the two buoys, you won’t hit anything,” said Deb Trosin, the social director of the MLLA. OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
13
248-887-7855
Serving The Lakes Area Since 1978
Visit our online store www.americanmarinesc.com
6777 Highland Rd. White Lake, MI
SEAWALLS Steel • PVC • Wood • Galvanized Steel Boulders • Rip Rap • Bio-Engineering
PERMIT ASSISTANCE
WIPE OUT WEEDS
DEQ Certified Commercial & Residential Sales & Installation
IN THE WATER SURROUNDING YOUR LAKE PROPERTY
FREE ESTIMATES
3,42900
$
Tax Included PACKAGE: Drivehead, 3 Rollers, Dock Mount
Docks
4’X10’ BW $249 • 3’X10’ BW $199 (Pricing Reflects Discount)
15 Off %
Expires 9/1/11
BEV’S CANVAS COVERS
135
$
Beach Rake
9995
GOODBYE GEESE Humane, EPA & FDA Registered Repellant
(248) 674-4492
2260 Scott Lake Rd.,Waterford www.bevscanvascovers.com 14
AUGUST 2011
AUGUST SPECIAL
Electric Staplers Vents Water Repellency UV Protectant Bimini Hardware Adjustable Straps Suppressant
Jet Ski Lifts
$
POOP
Snap Extenders Mooring Poles Snaps & Zippers Vinyl Cleaner Top Snapper Tools Rope Ratchets Portable Fire
Paddle King
99
$
An adult goose produces a pound and a half of droppings a day. Protect your family. Geese droppings can carry many diseases including e-coli.
Introductory Application
*Some restrictions apply
•Aluminum Docks •Boardwalk Docks •Vinyl Docks •Poles & Accessories
248-747-7456 mark@michlandscaping.com mark@michlandscaping.com 185 185 OXBOW OXBOW LAKE LAKE RD. RD. •• WHITE WHITE LAKE LAKE
www.oaklandlakefront.com
Other unique physical characters of the lake include a 120-foot-deep swimming hole. “It’s a gravel pit area which was used by the railroad many years ago,” Trosin said. “The railroad tracks are still in that area. And quite a few of our members do diving and have seen many different things down there. It’s very clear water. It’s not mucky or anything.” The clear water is largely due in part to efforts by riparian property owners to not use lawn fertilizer that may harm the water quality. People who live on the lakes also enjoy Sunset Bay in Maceday Lake with its sandy bottom — the prime location for flotilla parties. “These are always a lot of fun,” Trosin said. “We just go back and forth between the boats, snacking and socializing. Every third Friday is TGIF. We head to the bay, tie up our boats, and it’s a time to get to know people. This month’s TGIF has a Jimmy Buffett theme. We will decorate our boats, listen to some Jimmy Buffett, and have some margaritas.” Another popular gathering spot is the sandbar in Lotus Lake, where people often can be found tying up their boats and swimming. Trosin said the camaraderie on the lakes is one of the best aspects of living there. “Everybody gets along really well. And when we gain a new riparian owner, we advertise it in our newsletter and welcome them to the lake. We keep in contact with them and introduce them to all the various events on the lakes,” she said. The MLLA also puts out four newsletters a year to keep all other lakefront owners in the loop, as well as to educate people about environmental issues and historical tidbits about the lakes. One of the big events each year is the Fourth of July. In addition to a fireworks show, there’s a kids’ bike parade in the community with juice, cookies, and prizes, followed by a boat parade, which traverses both lakes. The fireworks are then set off from barges as people enjoy the fireworks from their boats or the shore. In August, there is a boat rally where participants go around the lake looking for clues before heading back to the clubhouse for music, dinner, and drawings for the winners. August is also the month in which the Venetian Night is held, where boaters go to different houses for appetizers and dessert. The last house, according to Trosin, is usually the host of a big, fun party. And then the association also tries to bring entertainment to the lakes. “This year we are having a Spray Masters show where people do tricks on their (water) skis like at Cedar Point. They are absolutely fantastic,” Trosin said. Pontiac Lake: ‘The best kept secret in Oakland County.” “Pontiac Lake is probably the best kept secret in Oakland County,” according to Pontiac Lake Homeowners Association President Joyce Cornwell. “The lake is fabulous. It’s probably one of the most scenic lakes in the county because of all the natural state land around us.” This includes a beautiful beach at the east end of the lake — located in Waterford and White Lake townships www.oaklandlakefront.com
— that is a part of the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area. The state park also offers lakefront property owners many other recreational activities — all right in their backyard. “Where can you live where you can have a boat and water toys in the summer and in the winter your cross country skis and snowmobiles, all in your backyard? And then there is all this natural area you can use. There are so many facilities on the state land, too — hunting, archery, and skeet shooting,” Cornwell said. The recreation area also offers a world-class bike trail, horseback riding, campgrounds, and golf course, all of which are within a short distance of Pontiac Lake riparians. The lake is also home to at least four islands featuring homes and cottages. And while the lake may not be as clean as a swimming pool, Cornwell believes see believes it comes pretty close to being so. “We have a very active weed management board,” she said. “There are a lot of concerned citizens that live on the lake. It’s not a swimming pool, but believe me, the effort they put into keeping the weeds maintained and controlled make swimming in the lake more like a swimming pool every year. They do a fabulous job and need to be commended.” And while they do not have a professional fireworks show, Pontiac Lake is definitely not lacking in pyrotechnics, as individuals put on their own shows, which Cornwell described as incredible. “We had spectacular fireworks for four straight nights. We didn’t even know where to look — they were all such fabulous displays,” she said. The lake is also very active with a kayak group meeting at an island every Thursday night to kayak the lake together. The lake’s islands are also the designated meeting spot for a group of morning water skiers who organize their routes so that there is no interference from skiers enjoying the water at the same time. “There’s all ages and levels, Cornwell said. “We have some experts and some novices. We even have a water ski course.” And of course, one of the biggest annual events in Oakland County is held at Pontiac Lake: Quake on the Lake, a weekend-long hydroplane racing and family entertainment extravaganza that includes car shows, vendors, music performances, children’s activities and more at the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area. “It’s a major party on the lake,” Cornwell said. Lake Sherwood’s water is its sidewalks, where friends meet Lake Sherwood in Commerce Township hosts a bevy of social activities and is full of volunteers hoping to make their lake the best it can possibly be, which can be easily seen by the Lake Sherwood Homeowners Association newsletter. The newsletter is chock full of community announcements, tips, pictures, and notices on upcoming social events. OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
15
Among these events are an Easter egg hunt, a perennial exchange, a Halloween party in the park, and an informal Christmas party, which allows the community to gather together when the weather is too cold to go on the water. However, it’s the lake that really brings the community together. “We don’t have sidewalks. We have the lake,” said Gloria Hughes, the association’s social chair. “When you’re on your boat, that’s when you wave at people. And then we have events so that people can mingle.” One of the lake’s social events is the annual Fourth of July boat parade held before the fireworks display. Decorated boats cruise the channels of the lake. A local band was also hired for July 4 to play music on the lake. “There’s a bunch of social activities we try to incorporate,” Hughes said. “We’re always trying to think of something that would interest our residents.” Those things include a ski show featuring various acrobatics and an annual fishing derby. Other big events include an island party for adults only, as well as music on the lake. Also, the lake’s three islands can be rented out to host campouts or to have social affairs like graduation parties and weddings. “We just started having concerts on the lake,” Hughes said. “You can just hang on a raft and listen to some music. We had parents and kids telling us we need to do this every week. And whenever an idea is brought up, we’re always eager to expand on ideas. We’re constantly, thinking of ways to do them.” And as an all-sports lake, Lake Sherwood is bustling with skiers, tubers, and boaters. However, their private lake status helps keep the activity at an enjoyable level. Lake Sherwood also maintains a serious attitude about marine safety and water quality. In addition to setting money aside in the association’s budget for water maintenance and a limnologist, residents of Lake Sherwood take classes to educate themselves on water quality and how they can defray their costs while keeping their lake healthy and clean. “We’ve always been a very proactive association,” Hughes said. “Between the social events and the volunteers themselves running our numerous committees, we are a unique lake. You don’t have to participate, but it’s refreshing to know that there are so many people who do and do a lot of hard work. They’re passionate about maintaining the lake. And everyone is always willing to help each other. It’s very friendly. It’s a wonderful place to raise a family.” Lake Orion’s 550 acres: ‘Where living is a vacation.’ While considered a medium-sized lake at 550 acres, Lake Orion is also home to 23 miles of shoreline, due in large part to the lake’s unique configuration and numerous canals. “The lake had a high demand for additional housing 16
AUGUST 2011
units,” said Lake Orion Lake Association (LOLA) President Jerry Richards. “So a series of canals were built so that several homes could have water access. And with its very irregular shape, the lake also has many bays.” The lake also features 11 islands, nine of which house structures and buildings. “This is one of the better lakes to just tool around on as it has so many islands and coves,” said Carl Cyrowski, who has lived on the lake for the past 20 years. Richards said the lake’s current culture can be summed up by the community’s motto: “Where living is a vacation.” “There’s a lot of truth to that model,” he said. “It really sets the stage for the activities we have out here. We have a public access (site) and two marinas on our all-sport lake. It’s an all-sand lake, too, which makes it nice for social gatherings.” The lake’s sandbar is considered to be a popular place to drop anchor and enjoy the day. “The sandbar is only 3 or 4-feet-deep,” said LOLA President-elect George Hanley. “And there are usually 30 to 40 boats anchored side by side with people playing in the water.” Another popular hang out is Dollar Bay, which earns its name for being as round as a silver dollar. When boats tie up together, it “creates a very party atmosphere,” according to Richards. Lake Orion also is the home of a boat club. However, it does have one antiquated rule — to be a member “you have to be of male gender.” “Some guys take a fair amount of heat from their wives,” Hanley said. A relatively new boat to the lake is the Princess Cruise, a 75-foot-long commercial boat, which can be seen cruising the lake on the Fourth of July weekend or during the Dragon on the Lake event. The lake’s Fourth of July celebration includes a flare night, which follows a Venetian Day parade where decorated boats cruise around the water. Before Lake Orion started having a fireworks display, homeowners around the lake would light flares. To this day, flares are still lit as part of the tradition, along with the fireworks. “The fireworks are really a nice display,” Richards said. “They draw people both from within the community and from the surrounding area.” Cyrowski, the president of the Lake Orion Fireworks Association, said they are always trying to make the show better every year. “The show is typically 40-minutes-long,” he said. “This past year, we had one of the best shows we’ve ever had. The responses we got, including on our Facebook page, were very, very positive.” Dragon on the Lake is also a big event held in August. Last year, dragon boat races were a part of the festivities and were a success, according to Richards. “The people who brought boats were impressed with our community (because) they have never seen as www.oaklandlakefront.com
many as we had for a first-year event,” he said. While they only had nine boats racing last year, they hope to have 30 this year — an achievable goal since they already have 20 registered. Another part of Dragon on the Lake is a lighted boat parade contest. While 30 boats registered to take part in the themed parade, more showed up; there were about 55 boats total in the parade. “We thought maybe we would get 10 boats,” Richards said. “The theme of course was dragons. And everyone had a different idea what a dragon would look like. “It was a big event,” Hanley added. “I screwed up with my boat though. I made my boat look like a dragon fly — with a 6-foot wingspan and Christmas lights.” Lake Orion also has an “excellent reputation for bass fishing,” according to Hanley. “There’s a fishing tournament every other week. There are people out there fishing all the time,” he said. “It’s a point of destination for the Bass Anglers of Southeastern Michigan. They fish the lake for competition points,” Richards added. There is also a beautiful park on the lake — Green’s Park — where many youngsters learned to swim before programs were established at the local high school. “The swimming program dates back to years ago when the children guidance program put together a swim program with licensed swim instructors and life guards,” Richards said. In order to keep their lake safe and healthy, LOLA focuses in on three key areas — membership, government liaison, and water safety and quality. The association was originally created in 1977 when a rather alarming idea was being spread around the rumor mill about the DNR increasing the lake’s public access from 34 boats to 130 boats. “We needed a group that could effectively interface with the DNR. We were able to negotiate the improvements, and everything worked out,” Richards said. LOLA also opted to hire the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department Marine Division to keep the waters orderly and safe. “With 23 miles of shoreline fully developed, with between 800 or 900 houses with each having a boat or two, in addition to two marinas and a public access, on a hot weekend the lake seems like the Indy 500,” Hanley said. “There’s lots of people having a good time, but on 500 acres with the potential for 2,000 watercraft, it gets really busy.” The association also provides boater safety classes and boat inspection days. It also arranged to have an educational seminar for lakefront property owners on how to properly clean their boats to prevent the transportation of invasive species such as Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels. Water monitoring efforts involve measuring phosphorus and dissolved oxygen levels, as well as identifying plant species. “By studying the test results over time, we are understanding what happens to our water quality and www.oaklandlakefront.com
how to promote friendly landscaping to keep our lake clean,” Richards said. “We have buffer areas where we don’t do fertilization. We also have site cleanups at the park and at the DNR launch site.” A program to protect the shoreline from erosion was also initiated after Lake Orion riparians stated on a survey that it was a concern. Volunteer groups on the lake also target aquatic weeds and other invasive plants as they work together to implement effective treatments. Overall, Lake Orion is a community full of pride and love for its lake. “The best thing about the lake is the camaraderie of the people. Everyone is always excited about doing things together to support the community and to have fun,” Cyrowski said. Once you experience Watkins Lake, you will want to remain there “Watkins Lake is big enough to be an all-sports lake but small enough for all the riparian homeowners to feel a sense of community,” said Ann Moss, the president of the Watkins Lakefront Owners Association. The sense of community is partly the result of the association’s active social organization. “We have varying activities to meet most (members’) interests,” she said. Finley Bay is a popular spot to host these events. The annual pontoon breakfast — where everyone brings a dish to share — is held at the bay, as is the annual ladies’ Howl at the Moon. The lineup for the Fourth of July parade also starts in Finley Bay. Decorated boats vie for top spots. There is also a contest for the best-dressed house in two categories: day time and night time. Also occurring on the Fourth of July is the Super Soaker event before the parade, and the flare lighting at night. Other activities that occur on the lake, located in Waterford Township, are Sunfish sailing regattas, home tours, and an annual family picnic. In addition to planning social activities and keeping the local community abreast of lake news on the association’s website, the homeowner’s group remains organized with a three-year budget plan to handle any lake issues, including weed harvesting. The water level of the lake is stabilized through the use of an augmentation well, while the water quality is routinely monitored. The sense of community and maintenance is further enhanced by the privacy of the lake, according to Moss. “We’re a private lake, and without a technical public access site, it affords us a uniqueness that we appreciate here on the lake. It also helps us maintain the lake itself,” she said. “In short, once you’ve experienced our lake you want to remain here. We love our Watkins Lake.” ❏ OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
17
The times, they are a-changin’
Est. 2006
•Tandem •Touring •Race •Surf •Planing Hulls •Custom Art •Displacement Hulls •Greener/Stronger/Lighter •Call for a Free Demo
Custom paddle boards and surfcraft made in Oxford, MI Ask about our trade-in used board program
Fast Flat Water Race Boards www.blkboxsurf.com / campbellscoatings@gmail.com
YOU NEED REHAB...... Lakefront Rehab Specialist
248.830.4122
Supplying The Boating Community Since 1946!
SUMMER’S HERE! Oakland Lakefront Offer
20% OFF Your in-store purchase of One Item Priced $19.99 or more.* Offer Expires 8/31/2011 • OL0811
THOUSANDS OF DISCOUNTED MARINE ACCESSORIES boatsupplies.com • moreboatsupplies.com
Boating Supply Center 2093 Orchard Lake Rd., Sylvan Lake, MI 48320
• 248-333-1441
L TO CAL IVE E REC
Weed Removal - Sand - Sunshine
E FSRTIMEATES E
$100.00 OFF Squad
SELECT REHAB Bundels BUNDLES Select BEACH Beach Rehab
R
MOBILE MARINE SERVICES
248-889-2353 DockSquad.com * Dock Squad Inc. must present to redeem
20
AUGUST 2011
www.oaklandlakefront.com
T
imes are changing. Facebook is no longer just a tool to connect with friends. Twitter is no longer just way to follow the crazy thoughts and actions of celebrities like Lady Gaga and Charlie Sheen. And YouTube is no longer just a frivolous way for college students to put off studying for finals. Instead, social media outlets such as these are turning into powerful tools used by environmental organizations and advocacy groups alike. Cliff Lampe, an assistant professor at Michigan State University in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media, says there are three reasons why this is true. The first is that Twitter and Facebook each provide a one-stop source for people to get all the information on their own individual interests — without the user having to put in much effort to receive all that information. “Instead of having to draw people to the group’s own individual site, they can send a message out to a channel that people are already using, such as Facebook or Twitter,” he said. “This message will show up in a stream along with other messages from their friends. By doing it this way, the message is found in a place more central to people’s lives. It’s a targeted broadcast.” The second reason involves savvy advocacy groups hoping to “crowd-source” knowledge from user bases and create grassroots participation. Crowdsourcing is trying to find a way of completing a task or a solution to a problem by asking a wide range of people or organizations if they can help, typically by using the Internet. The third is because social media is “kind of cool,” according to Lampe. “It’s a newer form of technology, and it’s a source of self presentation,” he said. And a larger demographic is beginning to utilize social media. It’s not just for the young kids anymore. “More and more people are using social media,” Lampe said. “A recent survey showed that 61 percent of online adults are using social media, and it’s growing by leaps and bounds, especially as more people get access to computers.” The use of social media also provides an economic advantage to advocacy groups because it’s relatively www.oaklandlakefront.com
cheap. Twitter and Facebook are both free to join. Essentially, all the group is paying for is the human time it takes to send out messages. “It provides a space to reach audiences without having a heavy technology base of its own,” Lampe said. “And these sites are where the people are. If you are trying to reach people, you need to go where they are participating.” According to Lampe, another reason social media is popular among the public and advocacy groups is its “interactive nature” and the fact that people are able to put their feedback directly into the system. This becomes even truer with the newest trend: mobile applications, or apps. “This trend towards mobile apps continues to grow as more people continue getting smart phones allowing them to participate in social media wherever they are at,” said Lampe, adding that he expects advocacy groups to start developing their own mobile apps. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) first started utilizing social media in 2009. The DNR’s Twitter account is used primarily to spread DNR news by posting press releases. Facebook is a way to make the connection between the DNR and its followers “more personal and immediate,” according to Debbie Munson-Badini, one of the DNR’s spokespersons who manages the social media for the department. “It has been a resource for people to ask us questions about our regulations or our policies,” she said. “Within 24 hours, they are getting a response back. We also share a lot of photos on Facebook, and people share theirs back. It’s just fun to see what people are up to outdoors and what we are up to in the department.” The DNR has also been using YouTube as another informational tool to post how-to videos on things like gutting a deer, or by highlighting some of the workshops the DNR has put on with videos of key speakers. However, Munson-Badini said they’re still looking into how to best utilize their YouTube channel. “If people have ideas of what they would like to see us posting on there, just let us know,” she said. OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
21
According to Munson-Badini, both Facebook and Twitter have been “extremely successful” for the DNR. On Facebook, the department has accumulated over 9,000 fans with more than 450,000 views of their posts every month. So far, the DNR has received a lot of positive feedback on its use of social media. “We have received a lot of comments on Facebook saying, ‘Wow, it’s so nice to talk to a real person and to get an immediate answer,’” Munson-Badini said. Yet while the department has experienced success so far, the DNR is a bit hesitant at this time to broaden those horizons. “We definitely know that there are other platforms out there that we could use, such as Flickr or LinkedIn or Foursquare, but we’re really focusing on the three we’ve chosen,’” Munson-Badini said. “We want to excel at the social media we already have.” And the DNR appears to be succeeding. It was recently held up as an example by e-Michigan as to what other state agencies should be doing on social media. “We took it as a compliment and a sign that were doing something right. We are always looking for feedback as to how to improve customer service,” Munson-Badini said. The DNR first started to utilize social media after seeing the trend set where people were interacting online with friends and receiving news that way. “We figured it would be a great way to connect with a different group of users we hadn’t connected with before,” Munson-Badini said. “The interesting part is we thought we would attract the younger generation. However, the majority of our users on Facebook are in the 35-45 age range, with a quite a few in the 45-55 range. So we’ve been able to get to all of the age groups kind of by accident. It just goes to show how widespread social media use is, and that it’s not really going away anytime soon — if ever.” The DNR is also tapping into the mobile app trend with their Michigan Camping and Recreation Locator, now available for free for Blackberry, Android, and Apple mobile devices. The app allows the user to search for state forest campgrounds, parks, trails, and boat launches that are near their current location. It also allows users to pull up a statewide list of all state recreational facilities and narrow it down by amenities. Munson-Badini said the department is looking to keep its options open to expand the app after it receives feedback and troubleshoots any issues it may have. “We want to see the app help increase our attendance at state parks and campgrounds,” she said. “We want to see more people using them and some more reservations.” But state agencies aren’t the only ones getting in 22
AUGUST 2011
on the act. For example, Pam Labadie, a marketing specialist for the Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC), said that while the organization has been using Twitter and YouTube “a bit,” the real action has been on Mark Zuckerberg’s brainchild. “We’re mostly focusing on Facebook because a little bit of internal research that we’ve done here shows that existing membership uses Facebook mostly,” she said, adding that the HRWC’s page is primarily used to post announcements about upcoming events the group is taking part in, but also sharing news articles from third parties. “We are having conversations with people about current issues and we are talking to folks to volunteer.” Clinton River Watershed Council (CRWC) Education and Stewardship Director Michelle ArquettePalermo also has harnessed the power of Facebook to generate lastminute interest in volunteer opportunities. “We did it one day last week,” she said. “I put it out on our Facebook page and we had one student, and my son and two of his buddies, ask when they could come. The kids were here within an hour and had the project done two hours later.” Paige Filice, a program associate for the Michigan Sea Grant’s Clean Boats, Clean Waters program, said typically the same information — things like volunteer training sessions and details about the program — are posted on the group’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. But increased interest in the effort has caused Clean Boats, Clean Waters to expand its social media content focus a bit. “Now that we have quite a few followers, I’m mainly posting articles on invasive species,” she said. “If anything, we are reaching out to people we wouldn’t have otherwise,” she said, adding that the program — which is dedicated www.oaklandlakefront.com
to training volunteers to educate boaters about aquatic invasive species and how to stop their spread — has been “tagging” others in their posts to gin up interest from other programs, as well. Michigan Lake and Stream Associations (MLSA) Executive Director Scott Brown said that, while the association’s social media outreach has been “useful,” MLSA represents lakefront property owners — who he said are “typically 50-plus-years-old” — and the association’s social media outreach is something that could be improved upon. “We could devote a little more time to some of the information that’s out there,” he said. “But, again because of our demographic, we haven’t put that much emphasis on it. Right now, our big effort in the virtual media world is out website. Most of our members are website users, but they have not delved (into social media).” Patrick Geans, communications coordinator for the East Michigan Environmental Action Council (EMEAC), said that, in addition to the “standard variety” of Facebook and Twitter, the group also recently started a Tumblr blog. “It’s not as popular as Twitter and Facebook are now, but it’s probably where those (sites) were four or five years ago,” he said. There are “a lot of different layers” to the group’s social media outreach, according to Geans. “I think the primary thing that we use it for right now is dissemination of information,” he said. “A lot of it is local articles of interest here to the local community, or the environmental community beyond Detroit. If I see an article that I think is relevant to an issue going on in Detroit — for example, incinerators or tar sands processing — I will share it.” The main thing, the crux of the www.oaklandlakefront.com
social media barrage, is generating a public dialogue on issues pertinent to environmental causes, said Geans, who personally operates and helms EMEAC’s outreach efforts on these sites. “One thing we are trying to do more of going forward is actually building communities — not so much posting articles that I, or some other writer, write — but also go to other people’s sites and starting conversations. A lot of people have sites these days, Facebook and Twitter accounts, but what really kind of builds the community we want to try to build is starting up a conversation. That would allow you to do all the other things mentioned before — advertise events and promote certain things.” The action council’s YouTube account has also been a focal point recently. The group has been doing more documentation of its work in the field and began developing “a record of things we do through the year.” Most agreed that their organization’s social media outreach has been useful in disseminating information and attracting attention to their causes. “It’s been a good vehicle to kind of get our message out,” said Chip Tischer, community liaison for the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office. “We post public service announcements on our Facebook page and photographs. It gives us another avenue to get that message out.” And many noted that the organizations have really just scratched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to utilizing the social media sites to their full capability. “We are really just learning to explore the possibilities,” EMEAC’s Geans said. “We haven’t really tapped into what it could do. A lot of organizers tend to be from an older generation a lot of times, and we have to bridge that gap with those who are younger and more familiar with the technology.” In addition, Arquette-Palermo of the CRWC said she would like the sites to continue to drum up fund-raising support and point people in the direction of First Giving, an online fund-raising site for events and causes. “At my fund-raising page, when I look at who donated to my page, 80 percent of them are people who got it through my Facebook page,” she said. “They are my friends, or they are friends or fans of the organization. I have 19 total donors, and I only see two of them that did not come from Facebook. “I know for a lot of organizations, it’s very successful. It’s one of the things I would like to learn more about. I would like to be able to use that more, and a lot of organizations do it successfully.” ❏ OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
23
Call Tom 248-681-4250
✓ Winter Storage $199.99 ✓ Summer Storage $59.99 Special 5 Services Package $499.99
Call Tom 248-681-4250
Tom’s Pontoon & Marine Services Lighted and Secured storage yard in area of M59 & Cass Lake rd. Waterford, Mi.
* For this price you must reserve by 09/30/2011 with a $100.00 deposit. 1) Pick up and hauling from your boat ramp to our facility. 2) The full winterizing of your Outboard Motor (io’s could be extra). 3) Full end to end shrink wrapping with a min. of three (3) hanging damp rids in your boat and all proper ventilation. 4) Winter Storage in our secure and lighted storage yard. 5) Spring time start up ... we will make sure your battery(s) are charged and check that your motor starts.
* We can also price individual services separately if needed – Just ask !
✓ All types of Pontoon Hauling ✓ Local & Long distance
Call Tom 248-681-4250
✓ All types of Repairs, Canvas & detailing ✓ Tri-Tube hauling specialist
Or email:
seaway5@comcast.net
✓ Campers, trailers and other items welcome for storage
Before
After
REPAIRS AVAIL A WALL BLE A E scottylees.com S • • • • •
Boulder/Limestone/Wood/Vinyl/Steel Seawalls Retaining Walls/Pavers • Established 1990 • Free Estimates Waterfalls • Quality Workmanship Turn Key Operation • Satisfaction Guaranteed Fully Insured Before
After
Mention Code: GN1604 • Free shipping on Muck Away™ only.
24
AUGUST 2011
www.oaklandlakefront.com
barry sherman
arry Sherman and his wife just happened to come across their current home on Charlack Lake "by accident." After 28 years with the Livonia Police Department, Sherman retired as a lieutenant, and he and his wife were looking for an "area with more land, a more rural setting" than Livonia where they both grew up and raised their children. Although not looking specifically for lakefront property, Sherman and his wife ended up buying one of the 58 homes on Charlack Lake and have enjoyed living on the lake since 2002. "Basically, I can walk out the doorwall and fish, the grandkids can swim, and I just enjoy the natural beauty of lakefront property," he said. Although he no longer works as a police officer, Sherman is the chairperson of the Criminal Justice Department and an associate professor at Madonna
snapshot
University, while also serving as a member of the Highland Township Board of Trustees. He is also on the Charlack Lake Improvement Board "by default" since he's been the president of the Charlack Lake Homeowner's Association for the past eight years and as such serves on the board as a riparian representative. "I can't get anybody to take over (as president) for me," he said. The lake improvement board is mainly used for routine activities such as aquatic weed control, goose control, and fish stocking. "We've stocked the lake with bass, crappies, perch, and, in the past, pike before the population grew so much." — Angela Niemi — Oakland Lakefront photo/Amy K. Lockard
Cass Lake boating access site the focus of Aug. 4 meeting to discuss two options
The first design concept (above left) The second design option (above right) would separate vehicular circulation of would provide a single-lane roundabout the boat launch users and the park day and would maintain the current combined boat users, and launch and would have day use traffic boat launch flow. It would parking in also provide a close proximity boat launch to the boat prep lane and launch site and minimize boat farther away launch parking from adjacent Cass Lake along the residential lakeshore, the properties, DNR says. according to the DNR.
Parking woes spur improvement plans By Michael Shelton
WE WE TREAT TREAT COMPLETE COMPLETE EXTERIOR EXTERIOR OF OF THE THE HOME HOME FROM FROM EAVES EAVES TO TO GROUND GROUND
NEW CUSTOMERS RECEIVE
10% off First Treatment CALL: 248-820-1577 or 586-783-1577
We also control:
ANTS - SPIDER/CLOVER MITES BEES - WASPS - AND NEST REMOVAL
www.spidercontrolinc.com
™
SPIDER CONTROL INC MICHIGAN'S OLDEST AND LARGEST SPIDER CONTROL FIRM
“The Original Spider Control”
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1949
Licensed & Insured • Owner Operated Since 1949 • Residential & Commercial
NEED REPAIRS? ALL OUTBOARDS ALL INBOARDS ALL I/O’s CLEANING & DETAILING PONTOON CARPET & RE-DECK SPECIALISTS DOCK & HOIST INSTALLATION SALES / SERVICE TUNE UPS PONTOON HAULING
“One Call Does It All!” Visit us at www.dslmarine.com
DSL Marine Transport & Services 5421 Perry Dr., Waterford, MI
248-894-0086 28
AUGUST 2011
www.oaklandlakefront.com
T
he Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is looking to renovate the Cass Lake boating access site at Dodge Park No. 4 and is giving the public, including those owning property on or living on the lake, a chance to have their say. A special public meeting on the proposal has been scheduled by the DNR for 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4 inside Dodge Park No. 4 in Waterford Township at the boating access site. According to the concept plans presented by the DNR on the dodge4.com website, renovation of the boat launch site is needed to address the deteriorating pavement and to reduce congestion on the site during busy summer days. According to Kristen Bennett, the DNR's Regional Manager, one of the proposed plans will keep the current number of access site parking spaces at 80 and eliminate one roadway typically used by nonboaters, or "day users," and redirect them to a different route through the park. The other proposal would slightly decrease the number of parking spaces at the access site and would utilize a roundabout to separate boaters and day-users from having to drive through the same area once they enter the park. The DNR states that it has no plans to exceed the current number of parking spaces at the access site and that it will also introduce the best practices for storm water management where practical. Visitors to dodge4.com can also take an online survey in which they can give their input on what they like about the two proposals. Jim Cote, the Keego Harbor Police Department's marine officer, said that the entrance to the park is a single-lane gravel access road that goes into a paved parking lot where the boat launch is located. When beach patrons use a portion of that road at the same time as those looking to launch their boat at the access site, it can get pretty congested, according to Cote. "The way you drive to the boat ramp, they let the road become a dirt road. It does need paving," said Oakland County Commissioner John Scott (RWaterford, West Bloomfield), whose district also includes Keego Harbor. "The parking is laid out very poorly. It's very difficult to get your boat to launch and find a parking spot." DNR states that it aims to not only improve the pavement conditions, but also improve parking and circulation at the boating access site, as well as improve barrier-free access and improve access between the boat launch and modern restroom. www.oaklandlakefront.com
"We're looking at a better way to address the access to the site and improve the flow of traffic, as well as the quality of pavement and accessibility," said Jordan Byelich, a DNR Waterways Development Planner. "We're trying to improve what's there and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, because the cracks in the pavement affect people in wheelchairs." The Dodge Park No. 4 boating access site has been in service for over 50 years. The park is popular among boaters, as well as those who visit for a picnic a day at the beach on Cass Lake (situated in Waterford and West Bloomfield townships, Keego Harbor and Orchard Lake Village). Waterford Township officials support an initiative to improve the park's boating access site parking lot in some manner. "Anytime any property in Waterford seeks to improve an existing facility, it's welcome," said Waterford Township Community Planning and Development Director Bob Vallina. "Everything has a life cycle and the lot needs to be repaved from time to time. "Additionally, new technology comes up that wasn't available in the past, like roundabouts — they work in many situations throughout Oakland County and the Road Commission for Oakland County views them as valid traffic control devices." Vallina noted that he has not yet viewed the access site redevelopment plans proposed by the DNR, but sees roundabouts as a viable option given that the parking lot doesn't lend itself to high speeds and roundabouts are designed to improve traffic flow. "From a professional standpoint, a roundabout could work and is a very valid option for the DNR to evaluate and install at the park," Vallina said. est Bloomfield Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste is asking township residents to visit the website featuring the access site renovation plans and view the designs. She said she will post a link to dodge4.com on the township's website and Facebook page. "I encourage residents to read and study all of the available information and to take the survey," she said. "The survey will permit them to voice their opinions and concerns." Keego Harbor City Manager Linda Voll said she hopes improvements to the site will bring in more families. "Having ADA accessibility is a wonderful change and making the traffic flow easier inside the park is also a plus," she said. The two renovation designs were put together by
W
OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
29
Beckett & Raeder, a landscape architectural planning, engineering, and environmental services firm based out of Ann Arbor. ccording to the dodge4.com website, the first design concept would separate vehicular circulation of the boat launch users and the park day users, and will have boat launch parking in close proximity to the boat launch site and farther away from adjacent residential properties. The first design option would also provide an accessible pier to help disabled people access watercraft. It would connect the upper hillside with the lower day use area. Upper hillside parking would also be promoted for day use activities and shelter. The DNR adds that the first design option would result in 500 less lineal feet of roadway and more room on the waterfront to allow future pedestrian connection to the upper hillside without the adjacent wetlands being impacted. "I like what I see in the future plans for Dodge Park," said Sid Rubin, a Keego Harbor Councilman and an owner of a residence on Cass Lake. "The elements that are of particular value to the enhancement plans are the addition of acceptable piers to assist people with disabilities in accessing watercraft, the connection of the upper hillside with the lower day use area, and the improvement between the boat launch and the modern restrooms."
A
The second design option would provide a singlelane roundabout and would maintain the current combined boat launch and day use traffic flow. The DNR adds that the second design option would provide a boat launch prep lane and minimize boat launch parking along the lakeshore. It would also provide better watercraft access to the handicapped, improved access between parking areas and the restroom, and storm water management practices. Keego Harbor Mayor John Fletcher, another Cass Lake homeowner, said that he likes the idea of a roundabout inside the park. "I'm happy the state will invest in the park because it is heavily utilized," he said. "The condition of the roadway is deplorable. We were sending people in the back lot. They put gravel over the asphalt. It will be a very welcome change to get in and get out. A roundabout would be welcome and long overdue." owever, Keego Harbor Councilman Joel Yoder said that he's looked over the designs, and called the proposed renovations "a waste of taxpayer money." "There is nothing wrong with the existing facilities," said Yoder, a Cass Lake homeowner. "I'm not one to waste money, be it taxpayers' money or my own money." However, Rubin said that his history with Dodge Park No. 4 dates back to 1956 and that he was the chairperson of the state's Waterway Commission when
H
www.LivingstonConcrete.Net 550 N. Old U.S. 23, Brighton, MI 48114
810-632-3030 30
AUGUST 2011
www.oaklandlakefront.com
there was an effort by a group of real estate investors to purchase Dodge Park No. 4 in the 1984-85 fiscal year. "As desperate as the state was to raise money back in the 1980s, the foresight of committee members of the Waterway Commission was to maintain the property and not cave to developers. It turned out to be a good investment for our state," Rubin said. "In recent years, the state has recognized the resurgence of the park and began renovation plans that make the park more interesting. Even the fishing pier was built in the area that fish like to play in." eego Harbor marine officer Cote said that he applauds the DNR for taking the position of shutting down the boat access site when it's parking lot is full and not just dumping more boats into the lake because it becomes overcrowded, making it extremely hard to manage the boat traffic on the lake. "I wouldn't say traffic has increased, but it seems that we have a lot of new people visiting the lake who are unfamiliar with the rules of operation of watercraft," he said. "Some of the rules include going counter-clockwise (around the lake), right of way, navigational rules and slow-no wake violations. It's like a motorcycle: You can buy it from the dealer, but you have an endorsement on your license for boater safety." Cote said that he has written about 17 tickets to Cass Lake boaters so far this year, including for people that don't have with them their boater safety certificate for personal watercraft operation. "It's a little blue card that they have to carry with them," he said. Plans for redeveloping the Dodge Park No. 4 boating access site without expanding the boat ramp's parking area (which serves as a way to limit public access to the lake at any given time), or even reducing parking spaces, will likely please riparian property owners. But that may not make much of a difference in boater gatherings at an infamous Cass Lake natural feature, according to some officials. One of the most populated areas on the weekends in Keego Harbor is its famous Cass Lake sandbar, which is measured at a half-mile long and 400 to 500 feet wide. Cote said that the crowds on holidays such as the Fourth of July and Labor Day can attract anywhere from 2,500 to 3,500 people at a time. Fletcher said that on a busy weekend, about 600 to 800 boats congregate at the sandbar, off the lake's eastern shore. In 2007, illicit activity at the sandbar reached a boiling point with many complaints among boaters and
K
www.oaklandlakefront.com
riparians of foul language; loud music; questionable behavior; alcohol consumption; illegal drug use; intentional trespassing on riparian property; interference with the lake's navigable waters; public nudity; indecent exposure; public urination; fights; and other disturbing acts by people gathering on the sandbar. The Keego Harbor City Council submitted a proposal to the DNR to implement special rules to control sandbar use and boat traffic, but the DNR turned it down. Now, with the Oakland County Sheriff's Department Marine Division having made cuts to its patrols because of its budget challenges, Cote is a lone ranger patrolling Cass Lake. But he said that things have calmed down as compared to the past. "I think it's getting a little better. We were overwhelmed in 2007," he said. "Ninety-eight percent of the people out there are great people and they're families and they're just out to relax and have a good time. There aren't as many watercraft anchored on the sandbar as we used to have. We don't have as many problems, but we continuously have medical problems and issues where people are injured. "Arrests for drunken boating are up," he said. "I've made five arrests this year for operating while intoxicated and one for operating while impaired." He added that he has written several tickets for loud stereos on boats and has reported a pair of watercraft injuries. Mayor Fletcher commended Cote for what he called a "fabulous job," and added that rowdiness on the sandbar has decreased by 70 percent. letcher also said that most of the boating traffic on the sandbar doesn't come from the Cass Lake access site inside Dodge Park No. 4, but rather from the lake's residents and also watercraft from two nearby marinas, including one next to Dodge Park No. 4 and another off of Cass Elizabeth Road. "Dodge Park has a minimal effect on the sandbar because, when you look at the concentration of boats, that's not a Dodge Park or public access problem," Fletcher said. Rubin, who also heads the Vistas of Cass Lake Association, said that there was a period of time that Dodge Park No. 4 was not as attractive to residents and, for many, a long, boring trip from Detroit. "I never wavered from my belief that one day Dodge Park would become a destination haven for Oakland County residents to enjoy the serene surroundings that Dodge Park and Cass Lake has to offer," Rubin said. â??
F
OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
31
GREENS LAKE
Photo courtesy of Aerial Graphics - Exclusive Images of Every Michigan Lake - 1.616.956.0419 - AerialGRAPHICS.
P
ORT OF CALL
Location: Independence Township Total Water Acres: 117 Lake Type: Natural Lake Character: Warm and cold water — two story Total Shore Length: 2.3 miles Lake Bottom: Fibrous peat, marl, muck, pulpy peat Best Fishing: Panfish, pike Greatest Depth: 55 feet Islands: None Public Access: No
.COM
www.aggressivemarine.com
4158 Pioneer Drive Commerce Twp., MI 48390
248-360-7225 (rack)
COMPLETE ENGINE REPAIR AND SERVICE •Major or minor engine repair •Our mechanics have a combined 40 years experience •Full Winterization •We are a Mercury Marine certified dealer with a full line of Mercury parts and accessories
NEED A PLACE TO STORE YOUR BOAT? We offer indoor storage for over 400 boats, and outdoor storage for over 300 boats. •Pick-up and Delivery Available
INDrtiOngOatR sta
$
SAVE UP TO 70% ON SOLAR TODAY!
eco
450
OUTDOOR starting at
150
$
for the season
Chic
landscape design • Full Service Electrical Contractor • Solar Panel Systems – Save up to 70% • Automatic Backup Generator Systems – Sales, Service, Installation, Maintenance
Financing Available
30 OFF $ 150 OFF Generator, Wind or Solar System
Sustainable Garden Solutions Natural lakeshore designs • Strategies to deter geese Native Plantings for wildlife habitat Professional consultations and presentations Rain gardens and barrels for water quality • Low-mow strategies Maximize lakefront beauty, minimize the impact
design@ecochiclandscape.com 248-978-2300 • www.ecochiclandscape.com Certified Michigan Natural Shoreline Professional
$
Services of $150 or More
FREE Estimates
800-964-7070 248-623-4900
Previous Awards 2009, 2008, 2007
LICENSED & INSURED REPAIRING • REMODELING • REENERGIZING • SALES SERVICE • INSTALLATION • WARRANTY • MAINTENANCE Family Owned & Operated with Over 30 Years of Experience 34
AUGUST 2011
www.oaklandlakefront.com
william roberts
illiam Roberts has held the title of mayor in the city of Walled Lake for decades, but recently took on a new title: Reverend. After many years of service to the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, Roberts finally — and formally — "answered the call" and was ordained as a priest on June 21. He was appointed an Episcopal chaplain in Detroit immediately following the 1967 riots in that city, where he rushed to do what he could after learning the city was is chaos. "I went down there that night and was there through Thursday, working on bringing food to the city of Detroit to help the innocent people that were just stranded because everything was closed or burned up," he said. "I remember going up on the roof of the diocese center and looking out over Detroit burning. The dean of St. Paul's Cathedral was standing with me and said, 'This reminds me of Coventry when it was being bombed (during World War II).' It still sends chills through me." Roberts is now one of three priests assigned to St.
snapshot
Anne's Episcopal Church in Walled Lake. "I was ordained on a Tuesday and scheduled to celebrate my first Eucharist the next Sunday. Then a member of the congregation died and his grand-daughter asked that I preside over the services. So I had the committal on Friday, a Saturday memorial Eucharist, and then celebrated the Sunday parish Eucharist. It was quite a first week." Roberts is not only a man of faith, but also one of public service. He's the longest serving elected official in Oakland County, having served on the Walled Lake City Council since 1968 with only a brief hiatus; and being the city's mayor from 1973 to 1977, then from 1986 to the present. He's also been a lakefront resident most of his life. "Living on Walled Lake is peaceful, refreshing and inspirational," he said. — Tim Dmoch — Oakland Lakefront photo/Amy K. Lockard
dying to
beat odds
for survival
Predators, reproductive capabilities make living to full maturation difficult for turtles
C
an you imagine your mother tucking you in all nice and cozy only to leave for good after she’s all done? Well, that is exactly what happens when female turtles lay their eggs That’s right. Turtles lay their eggs, bury them, and then they’re on their own. The mothers don’t wait around for them to hatch or guard them while they are just eggs. In fact, the mothers may not ever see their offspring. “All nesting turtles lay their eggs, bury, cover, and leave them,” said James Harding, a herpetologist at Michigan State University (MSU). “There are very few nesting turtles that provide post-laying parental care. Rarely do they guard their nests. In one species, females may actually attract new hatchlings and lead them to feeding grounds, but most species do not provide post-nesting parental care. Baby turtles are on their own once they hatch. But they all have built-in instincts to survive. They don’t need parental care.”
Nevertheless, for better or worse, the turtle offspring only have themselves to rely on. Unfortunately, that often means for the worse, especially if there are raccoons nearby. “Probably one of the biggest problems for turtles in Michigan is the really high raccoon population,” Harding said. “After humans, raccoons are public enemy No. 1. They are very good at finding nests and eggs. They just go around the lakes and wetlands finding baby turtles. They’re quite an enemy. And humans have made the environment so suitable for raccoons — the
MANUFACTURER CERTIFIED MECHANICS for your brand motor INSURED FOR YOUR PROTECTION
YOUR NEIGHBOR FOR 37 YEARS Dependable • Affordable • Service and Sales
Check Out Our De on Leftover Mo als Ever ything Must dels! Go… Make an Offer! EV
EVERYTHING MUST GO SA LE!
ACROSS FROM PONTIAC AIRPORT
6477 Highland Road (M-59) • Waterford, MI 48327
(248) 666-9922
www.andersonsboatsales.com
OAKLAND COUNTY’S LARGEST BOAT PARTS INVENTORY OVER $1 MILLION PARTS IN STOCK! Calabria, Alumacraft, Stingray and Award Winning Manitou Pontoons, Biscayne Bay, Yamaha, Volvo, Mercruiser, Johnson, Force, Mercury, Suzuki, Evinrude, Nissan, Honda, OMC
2011 END-OF-YEAR PONTOON SALE
Big Discounts on Remaining 2011 Pontoons
STINGRAY BLOWOUT SALE!
Huge Factory Discounts Get One While You Can!
WATERSPORTS CLEARANCE SALE
Up to 50% OFF 2011 Inventory Aqua-Weed Control, Inc.
Weeds? Tired of Lake Pros Use! Use What The Your Lake and Pond Management Specialists Since 1975
Variety of Products to Control Most Lake Weeds
• • • •
Control Weeds Around Docks and Beaches • EPA Approved Easy to Apply • Order Online Call for Free Catalog Weed Cutters and Rakes also Available
Boulder Sea Walls Boulder Retaining Walls Limestone Walls & Stairs Rock Garden Projects Over 15 Years Experience • Free Estimates Licensed and Insured • Guaranteed Workmanship
BEFORE AFTER
As seen on: Rob Trott’s Great Lakes Outdoors Television Fed Ex (248) 634-8388 Shipping www.aquaweed.com
Visa/Mastercard Accepted
38
AUGUST 2011
(517) 861-0207 • curtis@michiganrockscapes.com www.michiganrockscapes.com Like us on facebook
www.oaklandlakefront.com
population is sky high and is pretty much preventing turtles from producing at all.” While young turtles also face threats from other animals including skunks, foxes, and even fish, Harding says that it’s really the raccoons and people turtles have to fear. “They have lots of enemies, but the raccoons out-number (those enemies) 10 to 1 or 20 to 1,” he said. As for people, turtles are extremely sensitive to habitat destruction and road mortality. “Human development serves to reduce turtle species numbers and gives them even more obstacles to survival,” Harding said. Human development is especially problematic when it eliminates nesting spots critical to the reproduction of turtles. “Turtles need open, sunny spots to nest,” he said. “Some can nest in sod, but sometimes grass roots grow over the nest, making it hard to survive. Between cement seawalls and solid sod surrounding the lake, it really limits places where they can nest. With the developed shoreline, they really need to have some open, sandy spots — otherwise they may not survive. But there are a few places where lakefront owners will actually maintain a sandy spot on their property for turtles to come nest.” And if they are fortunate to find such a place to nest, the turtle population is then hindered by a low reproductive rate, which is due to a number of reasons. “As a rule, it takes a long time for most turtle species to mature,” Harding said. “This means a very slow population turnover. Unlike a rabbit or squirrel which becomes reproductively mature at a year old, some turtle species can take as many as 20 years to become reproductively mature.” One such species is Blanding’s turtle, which can take at least 15 years to mature, if not 20. The snapping turtle usually takes at least eight to 10 years before reproducing. “There’s one thing that I always tell my students to remember about turtles: the reason we see turtles is because of their long lives, because their reproduction capabilities would never make up for the losses in the population,” Harding said. “Their long lives compared to other species give them a bit of an edge to be able to survive the heavy mortality of their young and juveniles.” If a turtle can survive to adulthood while avoiding predators and becoming a victim of vehicular www.oaklandlakefront.com
manslaughter, they may live to be decades old. “The important thing to remember about turtles is not that they can live long lives, but that they must live long lives because in order for a female turtle to replace herself and one male before she dies, she needs to survive perhaps 20 or 30 years first to mature,” Harding said. And then once they do mature, there is the matter of the viability of both the eggs and the nests. “Most nests are eaten by predators, and very few of the eggs in the nest that do survive hatch,” Harding said. “One or perhaps 2 percent of the nests may survive, and then from that perhaps 1 to 2 percent of the hatchlings will survive. They don’t have very much recruitment into the population each year.” And yet, many species of turtles have been around for over 225 million years. They must be doing something right, as they survived when the dinosaurs did not. However, turtles may be joining the dinosaurs in the not too distant future. “Suddenly, over the last 100 years their survival has become threatened,” Harding said. “A quarter or a third of the world’s turtle population is gravely endangered.” This has led conservation and advocacy groups to name 2011 the Year of the Turtle in order to raise awareness about the need to preserve and protect many species of turtles found around the world. The state of Michigan currently is home to 10 species of turtles, including the: • eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina); • spiny soft-shell turtle (Apalone spinifera spinifera); • common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentine); • common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus); • Blanding’s turtle (Emys blandingii); • painted turtle (Chrysemys picta); • red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans); • common map turtle (Graptemys geographica); • spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata); and the • wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta). Of these 10, Oakland County is home to at least eight of the species. The wood turtle is not found in the county, and while the eastern box turtle used to range in Oakland County, Harding said he fears that the species has become extirpated, or locally extinct. “The box turtle certainly ranged into Oakland County,” he said. “It’s Michigan’s OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
39
One of America’s Most Comprehensive Pro Shops
Showroom, Service & Storage
www.wakeandsurf.com
Since 1986
FUNSHIP CLOSEOUT $37,890
New & Used Boats Brokerage • Financing Available
2012 Models Arriving Soon!!
EXPERT SERVICE & STORAGE
WATERFORD
“Serving Oakland County Boaters for 25 years!!”
www.skierspier.com
2505 Dixie Highway Waterford, MI 48328
248-674-8800
DAVE’S MOBILE MARINE, INC. •WE BUY AND SELL MOTORS• Pontoon Hauling IO & Outboard Repair Lower Unit Repair Tune-ups Service Calls
Winterizing Shrink Wrapping
WE COME TO Y OU DAVE (248) 666-9248
Economical ramps for any shoreline Just add pressuretreated lumber.
For Boats, PWCs and Pontoons
1-866-400-9776 • www.shoredocker.com 40
AUGUST 2011
www.oaklandlakefront.com
only terrestrial turtle, and Oakland County is not a really friendly place for terrestrial turtles with all that traffic and human activity. It’s rough for them to survive there.” However, the county’s plethora of lakes, wetlands, and other aquatic environments make it good environment to support a high diversity of aquatic turtle species — although Harding cautions that the heavy development over the past 50 years hasn’t been kind to the turtle population. Of the eight species definitely found in Oakland County, Harding said snapping turtles, painted turtles, and the common map turtle are fairly common, whereas the spotted turtles — which is on the state’s threatened species list — are the rarest. Here’s a look at the eight species still found in Oakland County.
Spiny Soft-shell Turtle This turtle is of the medium-to-large variety, and according to Harding is “unmistakable” with its flat, smooth shell and long, pig-like nose. Its carapace — the dorsal part of its body — is rounded and can be tan, brown, or olive. In males and juveniles, the carapace is marked with black dots or circles, while the females have dark blotches. The plastron — the ventral or belly side — is white with gray patches over the plastral bones. Both the carapace and the plastron lack scutes and are soft and flexible. The “spiny” moniker originates from the small spines at the front of the carapace. The neck is very long, and a yellowish, black-bordered stripe can usually be spotted on the sides of the head. Females are larger, darker, and have shorter tails than males. The length of an adult female’s carapace is anywhere from 7 to 19 inches, while an adult male’s is from 5 to 9 inches. Spiny soft-shell turtles can be found in rivers and large lakes, and they prefer sandy or muddy bottoms. While they will bask on logs or sloping banks, they spend most of their time buried in sand or mud in shallow water where they can use their snorkel-like noses and long necks to get air. However, they are also able to breat he under water by absorbing oxygen through their throats and cloacal linings. This may be a possible explanation for their sensitivity to pollutants that are also responsible for killing fish. The favored delicacy of these turtles is reported to be the crayfish, but they will also feast www.oaklandlakefront.com
on aquatic insects, snails, tadpoles, and fish. Sometimes nicknamed “leatherbacks” or “pancake turtles,” the spiny soft-shell turtle is a very fast swimmer. And while these turtles are surprisingly agile on land, they rarely grace it with their presence unless they are nesting. While their main defenses are concealment and speedy getaways, their sharp jaws also enable them to deliver painful bites if the situation calls for it. Most nesting occurs in June, with females seeking open, sunny sites near the water and depositing from four to 38 spherical, brittle-shelled eggs in each nest. Most hatchlings emerge in August or September, though some overwinter in the nest and emerge in spring. While locally common in the southern threequarters of the Lower Peninsula, pollution and exploitation by people have reduced or even eliminated the population in some areas. The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulates the taking of spiny soft-shells with closed seasons, minimum size and possession limits, and special licensing and trapping regulations.
Common Snapping Turtle Michigan’s largest turtle is characterized by its big head, pointed nose, hooked upper jaw, and long, thick tail with a row of thick scales along the top. Its carapace is black, brown, or olive with pointed marginal scutes along the rear edge and can be anywhere from 8 to 18.5 inches long. While snapping turtles often reach a weight between 10 to 35 pounds, the largest recorded weight for this turtle was an 86-pound captive specimen. The shell is often covered with either algae or mud. While young snappers have three length-wise keels on their carapace, large adults may have shells that are nearly smooth. The yellowish plastron is small, cross-shaped, and leaves much of the turtle’s ventral side uncovered. According to Harding, this lack of protection may explain the snapping turtle’s well-known biting defense. Snapping turtles inhabit a variety of aquatic habitats but are most commonly found in slowmoving rivers, marshes, and muddy-bottomed lakes with dense plant growth. They rarely bask, but they will travel terrestrially when seeking a better habitat or nesting sites. This may result in a deadly journey for some since many are killed while crossing a roadway. This is one turtle you don’t want to cross OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
41
DUST EVERYWHERE
ALLIED
CONSTRUCTION
NEW ASPHALT DRIVEWAYS
Serving The Lakes Area Since 1978 6777 Highland Rd. White Lake, MI
Hewitt Lifts & Roll-A-Dock
15% Off
Expires 9/1/11
Paving the way into your Future!
•Driveways •Parking Lots •Roads
248-887-7855
Visit our online store www.americanmarinesc.com
- Complete Excavation & Site Services Commercial • Residential
Asphalt Paving Specialists since 1972
FREE ESTIMATES We Do The Job No Subcontractors 2 Paving Crews
www.alliedasphalt.com Winner - Michigan Department of Transportation Quality Award Michigan Department of Transportation State Prequalified Contractor
248-625-9581 42
AUGUST 2011
www.oaklandlakefront.com
because they are particularly aggressive out of water. They don’t hesitate to strike at any potential enemy, including people. The snapping turtle’s long, powerful neck and sharp jaw are key in its ability to deliver a damaging bite. However, in the water, the snapper is less likely to bite as its preferred mode of defense is to hide in the mud or swim away. Snapping turtles are not particularly picky eaters, as they will consume a variety of foods including insects, worms, leeches, crayfish, snails, tadpoles, frogs, fish, birds, small mammals, carrion, and a variety of aquatic plants. All meals are consumed under water. Contrary to popular belief, these turtles don’t harm game fish populations under natural conditions, according to Harding. While large snappers will sometime take young ducks and geese, the effect of such predation on waterfowl populations is minimal. “They are important members of the wetland ecosystem, and routine persecution is unjustified,” Harding said. “This is the turtle species most in demand for meat and for making turtle soup, and their minor consumption of game species is certainly balanced by their contribution to human food and sport.” Most breeding activity occurs in the spring and early summer with nesting taking place from late May into July. The female seeks a sunny site with moist sand or soil and will travel a considerable distance from the water to find such a site. In marshes, muskrat houses, dikes, or road edges are often used as nesting areas. Females can lay anywhere from 10 to 96 spherical eggs, resembling something like Ping-Pong balls, buried in the nest. The larger the female, the larger the eggs in size and number. If the eggs manage not to get destroyed by predators, they will hatch in 55 to 125 days. Hatchlings are black and have a carapace an inch long with very long tails. Despite their instincts to hide and their ability to give off a musky odor and play dead when touched, few baby turtles will make it to adulthood.
Common Musk Turtle A very small turtle with a narrow arched brown or black carapace usually 3.25 to 5.37 inches in length and a pointed, protruding snout, common musk turtles usually have two yellowish stripes on each side of their heads. Two or more soft, pointed barbels are usually seen on the chin or throat. The yellow or brownish plastron is very small and many www.oaklandlakefront.com
of the scutes are separated by skin. The male musk turtle has broader areas of skin between the plastral scutes than the females, as well as a longer, thicker tail tipped with a stiff spine. These turtles live in shallow, slow-moving, or quiet waters with some aquatic vegetation. Poor swimmers, they crawl along the bottom of shallow lakes nosing under or around objects for food. While they may occasionally climb out onto rocks or branches to sun themselves, they rarely bask out of water. During the summer, they are most active in the early morning and evening, with some populations being quite nocturnal. They have a varied diet consisting of insects, snails, crayfish, worms, tadpoles, and aquatic plants — all of which are consumed under water. They earned the moniker “stinkpot” due to their ability to give off an unpleasant musky odor from glands under the edge of their shells when disturbed. They will also bite if handled. Nesting season for musk turtles is from May to August. Some may dig a normal nest cavity, while others simply deposit their eggs under shoreline debris or fallen logs or in the sides of muskrat houses. Each female will lay between two to nine elliptical, brittle, hard-shelled eggs, which will hatch in 60 to 80 days into tiny black hatchlings less than an inch long. If they can manage to stay alive, those reaching adulthood may live for many decades. The current record for a captive turtle is over 54-years-old. Musk turtles are mainly found in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, although a few have been found in the northern half.
Blanding’s Turtle This turtle is medium-sized with an elongated, dome-like carapace that is smooth and usually black with a variable number of yellowish spots and streaks. The adult carapace length is typically between 6 and 10.5 inches. The Blanding’s turtle also possesses a long neck. Its head is dark with brown or yellow spots, while the chin and underside of the neck are bright yellow. The yellowish plastron has a dark blotch at the outer edge of each scute, and there is usually a flexible hinge between the pectoral and abdominal scutes that can allow a frightened turtle to lift the front and back of its plastron and close up its shell. However, hinge flexibility varies greatly among individuals, with some specimens having little to no shell closing ability. OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
43
A Sandy Beach in One Day! ELIMINATE THE PROBLEMS OF MUCK AND WEEDS
•30 years experience •Invented and Patented “Sand-Pro” Beach Sanding Process •DEQ Approved •DEQ Permit Assistance
SAND & WATER MIX
(517) 546-3035
WATER FROM LAKE
www.ttcbeaches.com
e-mail: ttcbeaches@yahoo.com
A Sandy Beach in One Day! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
GUARANTEED SANDY, STABLE LAKE BOTTOM REGARDLESS OF EXISTING CONDITIONS
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER NO SITE DISTURBANCE
Same Location Since 1930 Located on M-59 on Pontiac Lake
P•O•I•N•T
BOAT SLIPS AVAILABLE
ASK ABOUT: •Boulders/Seawalls
SEAWALL SPECIALIST
WOOD • BOULDERS • STEEL • VINYL
M A R I N A Marine Parts and Accessories Mechanical and Electrical Repairs Shrink-Wrapping, Winterizing & Outside Storage Pontoon Hauling - Low Rates, Licensed & Insured Row Boat & Canoe Rentals - Motors Available Prop Repairs & Cover Repairs
LIVE BAIT
Minnows, Shiners & Suckers Nightcrawlers & Worms Mousies, Waxworms & Spikes 8226 Highland Rd. Located on the North side of M-59, White Lake MI 48386 just East of Pontiac Lake Rd.
248.666.2854 44
AUGUST 2011
NICK PAGE LANDSCAPING
248-887-8500
•COMPLETE LAKEFRONT RESTORATION •BRICK PAVERS •SPRINKLER SYSTEMS •WATERFALLS •RETAINING WALLS •TREE REMOVAL •TREES AND SHRUBS
www.seawallinst.com
email: npage@seawallinst.com www.oaklandlakefront.com
Blanding’s turtles prefer shallow bodies of water with some aquatic plant growth and a muddy bottom, such as marshes, ponds, and river backwaters. They are often spotted during the spring and fall traveling over land if they don’t become road kill first. Many females seeking nest sites may even travel considerable distances before they find one. Mating occurs in the spring with nesting following in June. Females bury three to 21 elliptical, soft-shelled eggs in a sunny location. The hatchlings have dark gray or brown carapaces averaging about 1.25-inches-long when they emerge in late August or September. Most feeding takes place under wate,r where prey is captured with a quick thrust of their long neck. Blanding’s turtles prey upon crayfish, insects, tadpoles, frogs, and carrion. As timid creatures that rarely bite, Blanding’s turtles often rely on their shells for protection. They have the ability to live long lives, often attaining ages of 50 years or older. This turtle is fairly common throughout the Lower Peninsula.
Red-eared Slider This turtle gets its name from the broad red or orange stripe behind its eye, which sometimes extends to its neck. The turtle’s head, neck, and legs are greenish with yellow stripes, while the 5-to-11inch carapace usually has yellow and black longitudinal bands and stripes. The plastron is yellow with a dark, rounded blotch in each scute. Males are significantly smaller than females and have longer front claws. Older specimens may be harder to identify because they may become very dark, which hides the striped pattern on the skin and shell. Red-eared sliders prefer still water habitats such as lakes and ponds with abundant aquatic growth. Ardent sunbathers, they also prefer numerous basking sites in the form of logs or other emergent objects. The “slider” aspect of its name comes from the turtle’s ability to quickly slide from their basking spots into the water when disturbed. While the young are mostly carnivorous, as they grow older they expand their diet to include increasing amounts of vegetation in addition to their preferred tastes for crayfish, snails, insects, tadpoles, and carrion. Like the painted turtles, the male red-eared slider www.oaklandlakefront.com
also flirtatiously “tickles” its mate’s head and neck with his very long front claws as he woos her in the water during their courtship. Nesting usually occurs in June with females burying four to 25 elliptical eggs in a sunny location. It normally takes about 65 to 85 days for the young to hatch, and when they do, the babies are about 1.25-inches-long with bright green carapaces and yellow markings. Growth is rapid for this turtle, unlike others, and they can reach breeding size within two to four years. Unlikely to be native to Michigan, it’s believed that the red-eared slider established colonies after thousands of baby sliders were imported into the state for the pet trade, leading to isolated specimens turning up all over Michigan.
Painted Turtle The painted turtle — Michigan’s most common turtle — is a small, dark-shelled turtle and has a yellow-striped head along with red and yellow stripes on its neck, legs, and tail. Its smooth black or olive carapace is a length of 4 to 7 inches and has red markings along the edge. The plastron, while usually yellow, is sometimes tinged with red and has a long, dark central blotch. However, in some specimens, the blotch is nearly absent. Males are smaller than females and have longer front claws, as well. Male painted turtles are quite flirtatious. During courtship, he will swim backward in front of his intended mate, “tickling” her head and neck with his long front claws in the hopes of mating during the spring. Nesting follows from May into July when females seek sunny sites with slightly moist sand or soil near water. She lays from four to 20 eggs in the nest before carefully covering them. The eggs then hatch in about 70 to 80 days, but painted baby turtles from late nests will often remain in the ground over the winter after they hatch and emerge in spring. The inch-long hatchlings are able to survive the sub-freezing nest temperatures by producing a natural antifreeze. “They are very resistant to freezing,” Harding said. “These little turtles are able to survive temperatures that would kill other animals. Some young may be in the underground nest for as long as 10 months, and one of the reasons that these turtles remain so common may be because not only do they scatter their nests around but often these OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
45
The most efficient and effective tool made for removing submerged weeds.
Clears Your Lake or Pond Weeds in Minutes Using the Weed Razer is simple: 1. Give it a toss 2. Let it sink 3. Pull it in 4. Repeat
ur Visit o see e to it s b e w ontrol lgae c ond our A p r e th and o ucts! prod
Patent Pending
Clears a path 48� wide– returns weed free!
Toll Free: 877-356-6455 www.WeedRazers.com
Just a short note to tell you that bar none, the Lake WeedRazer works absolutely phenomenal. I have used every conceivable gimmick on the market for cutting weeds and this one works the best as advertised. –J. Murphy
9LVLW RXU QHZ ORFDWLRQ &UHVFHQW /DNH 5G
Oakland Lakefront Internet Directory Guide to Lake-Related Sites on the World Wide Web
:DWHUIRUG 0,
ZZZ VXQVHWERDWV FRP ZZZ VXQVHWERDWV FRP
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY Aerial Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.aerialgraphics.com BEACH RESTORATION TT&C Beaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.ttcbeaches.com BOAT COVERS Bev’s Canvas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.bevscanvascovers.com BOATS/NEW & USED Lake Ponemah Marina . . . . .www.lakeponemahmarina.com BOAT REPAIRS/FURNITURE American Soft Trim . . . . . . . . . .www.americansofttrim.com BOATING SUPPLIES Boating Supply Center . . . . . . . . . . .www.boatsupplies.com DOCKS & LIFTS American Marine . . . . . . . . . . .www.americanmarinesc.com
1HZ 8VHG %RDW 6DOHV 6HUYLFH 6WRUDJH %RDW +DXOLQJ
46
AUGUST 2011
LAKE MANAGEMENT SERVICES Aqua Weed Control, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . .www.aquaweed.com
Go direct or reach these lake-related websites at www.oaklandlakefront.com Ask about promotion opportunities on our website www.oaklandlakefront.com by phoning 248.360.6397 www.oaklandlakefront.com
hatchlings don’t emerge from the ground until the spring when more food is available and the weather is more favorable as opposed to in the fall.”
Common Map Turtle The map turtle possesses a greenish, olive, or brown carapace with a low keel and irregular pattern of yellowish lines that resemble roadways on a map. The adult male carapace lengths are between 4 and 6.3 inches, while adult female carapace lengths vary between 6.7 and 10.7 inches. Females also have much wider heads than males and stronger jaws, which allow them to enjoy a different diet of mollusks and snails, as opposed to aquatic insects. The skin on the head, neck, and legs is olive or brown with thin yellow stripes, and there is usually a small yellow spot behind each eye. The plastron is light yellow. Map turtles prefer to make their homes in larger lakes and rivers and can often be seen sunning themselves on emergent logs and rocks. Shy in nature, these turtles will dive into the water and hide under a log or submerged brush when disturbed. Because they are powerful swimmers, map turtles are able to inhabit waters with fairly strong currents, as opposed to other turtle species. Females dig their nest holes in sunny spots near the water, often on warm, rainy evenings from late May to early July. One or two clutches containing from six to 20 elliptical eggs are produced each year and will hatch after an incubation period of 65 to 80 days. The hatchlings are about 1.25-inches-long and will head directly for water upon emerging from the ground and can swim and dive well almost immediately. Others may choose to overwinter in the nest and emerge in the spring.
Spotted Turtle Spotted Turtles have smooth, black carapaces that are between 3.5 and 5 inches long and have a number of rounded yellow spots. The plastron is yellow or orange with a black blotch in each scute, which can cover most of the plastron in some specimens. The head, neck, and legs are black above, usually with a few scattered yellow spots. There is also usually one or more irregular orange or yellow bands on the side of the head. The skin www.oaklandlakefront.com
under the legs may be orange or pinkish. Males usually have brown eyes and brown or black lower jaws, while most females have orange eyes and yellow or orange lower jaws. Small ponds, bogs, and grassy marshes are where spotted turtles can be spotted. However, they require clean, shallow water with a mud bottom and ample aquatic and emergent vegetation. Spring is when spotted turtles are active and can be seen basking on logs or grass clumps. When disturbed, they dive back in the water and bury themselves in the mud. They can be commonly found traversing over land; however, these turtles are not often seen in summer because they are less active in hot weather and the growth of surrounding vegetation helps to conceal them. As shy animals, they rarely bite in self-defense. Their diet consists of a variety of small animals and plants that include insects, snails, worms, slugs, crayfish, tadpoles, duckweed, algae, and fruit. Mating usually occurs in April and May in shallow water. To attract mates, males will nip at the females’ legs and shell margins. They may also hope to gain the love of a fair maiden by picking fights with other males trying to woo the female to be their mate. Nesting happens in June with females moving to elevated, open space to lay anywhere from two to seven elliptical, soft-shelled eggs, which will incubate anywhere from 45 to 83 days depending on nest temperature and humidity. Baby spotted turtles have black carapaces with one yellow spot per scute, although the occasional hatchling will have a brownish carapace without spots. While spotted turtles are mostly found in the Lower Peninsula, destruction of their specialized wetland habitat and exploitation by pet collectors have led to a serious decline in their population numbers around the state. The DNR has listed it as a “species of special concern.” Harding said one of the most frequent questions he receives about turtles is “What can I do to help turtles?” “It helps when lakefront owners can give them a break and give turtles a spot to nest by tilling a bit of their ground,” he said. “Also, if they know there are a lot of raccoons around and that there is a turtle nest nearby, they can take a 3-foot piece of hardware cloth, spread it over the nest, and weight it down. This protects the nest from the raccoon until after the first few weeks and a couple hard rains have removed the scent of the turtles. After that, you can remove the screen. It doesn’t always work, but the raccoons have a more difficult time finding the eggs. You’re passively protecting the nest that way. And finally, if you can do so safely, don’t run over them on the road. That way you give it a half chance to keep surviving. These turtles don’t hold up well under the wheels of a truck.” ❏ OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
47
Remember, you’re not just washing your car
Practice good car care
Our Water. Our Future.
Did you know . . . four quarts of oil can form an eight acre oil slick if dumped or spilled down a storm drain?
Ours to Protect
7KDWÂśV EHFDXVH VWRUP GUDLQV IRXQG LQ RXU VWUHHWV DQG \DUGV OHDG GLUHFWO\ WR RXU ODNHV DQG VWUHDPV 6R RLO DQG GLUW\ ZDWHU IURP ZDVKLQJ RXU FDU WKDW JRHV LQWR VWRUP GUDLQV SROOXWHV RXU ZDWHU
What can you do? Simple. • 7DNH \RXU FDU WR WKH FDU ZDVK ZKHUH WKH GLUW\ ZDWHU LV WUHDWHG ‡ :DVK \RXU FDU RQ \RXU ODZQ RU GLUHFW WKH GLUW\ ZDWHU WRZDUG WKH ODZQ DQG DZD\ IURP WKH VWRUP GUDLQ • .HHS \RXU FDU SURSHUO\ WXQHG XS • 5HF\FOH XVHG ÀXLGV DQG QHYHU GXPS WKHP GRZQ WKH VWRUP GUDLQ
Help keep the oil where it belongs . . . in your car. 7R ÂżQG PRUH WLSV RQ KRZ WR SURWHFW RXU ZDWHU UHVRXUFHV SOHDVH YLVLW www.oakgov.com/riparian
Find out more at www.semcog.org
Anne’s Canvas
For all your canvas needs
J& D
Marine Service Certified Marine Tech
Brought to you by the Southeast Michigan Partners for Clean Water
Lakefront Marine Construction Inc.
Seawalls
•Wood •Steel •PVC
15% OFF
BOAT INTERIORS Offer expires 9/2/11
- Specializing In -
CUSTOM BOAT COVERS Waterford
248-623-3443
– Backfilling and Grading for a Complete Lakefront Restoration – – DEQ Permit Assistance Available – FREE ESTIMATES
“LOW RATES�
Pontoon Boat Re-deck & Carpet • Pontoon Hauling • Mobile Service • Engine Repairs • Detailing • Boat Transportation
248-895-7155 Licensed & Insured
Professionals Handle All Insurance Claims 48
AUGUST 2011
248-361-6977
Serving the Lakes Area for Over 20 Years.
UNDER YOUR HOUSE IS MY SPECIALTY •Basements
•Floor Leveling
•Foundations
•Remodeling
•Underpinning
•Tuck Pointing
•Helical Piers
•Resistant Piers
LICENSED & INSURED
GARY SPARKS CONSTRUCTION
248-889-5578 CELL: 248-787-3735
www.oaklandlakefront.com
lakefront real estate
Janet
Steve
Direct:
2900 Union Lake Rd., Suite 210 Commerce, MI 48382
Direct:
248-755-7600
248-755-7500
janet@TheStocktonTeam.com
steve@TheStocktonTeam.com
248-366-7200 Zillow - Preferred Agent
The Stockton’s are the Lakes Area’s #1 Team! DL AR CH OR
E AK
ALL-SPORTS ORCHARD LAKE FRONT - 1.73 TREED ACRE •Custom built sprawling ranch with full finished walkout •5 bedroom, 4.5 bath with over 5,500 living sq. ft. •3 car, decks, pavers, porches, 142 ft. shoreline, dock BEAUTIFUL @ $1,495,000 #211031628 • 1-800-396-5204 X223 . WP DT AN L H HIG
INCREDIBLE HOME - 197 FT. ON ALL-SPORTS DUCK LAKE •3,504 sq. ft. + finished walkout 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath •2 story great room, dining room, 2 fireplaces •2 kitchens, 3 car garage, deck, paver patio ONLY @ $729,900 #211073896 • 1-800-396-5204 X226 P. TW LD FIE M O BLO W.
2005 BUILT MAIN LAKEFRONT - GREEN LAKE •3 story Dutch colonial 3,230 sq. ft. + finished walkout •Custom quality 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath + lots of extras •Florida room, 2nd floor covered porch, 2 story garage A MUST SEE @ $499,900 #211031583 • 1-800-396-5204 X222
P. TW RD FO R TE WA
CUSTOM BUILT - ALL-SPORTS MACEDAY LAKEFRONT! •4 bedroom, 4 bath, all brick + finished walkout •Boasting 5,200+ sq. ft. of pure luxury living sq. ft. •1st and 2nd floor masters, huge volume rooms + 3 car A MUST SEE @ $759,900 #211017553 • 1-800-396-5204 X296
W.
LD FIE OM O L B
P. TW
STUNNING 90 FT. MAIN LAKEFRONT - ALL-SPORTS CASS LAKE •Private dead-end street, trees, spectacular views •2,778 sq. ft., 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2 fireplaces, jet tub master •2+ garage, 3 decks, dock, seawall, shed, W.B. schools!! A MUST SEE @ $649,900 #211063900 • 1-800-396-5204 X231 CE ER MM CO
P. TW LD FIE M O BLO W.
ALL-SPORTS UNION LAKEFRONT - SPANISH FLAIR RETREAT •Built in 2000 - 4,862 sq. ft. + 2,256 in finished walkout •High volume rooms - 5 bedroom, 3 full and 2 half bath •Granite, ceramic, jet tub, 2-way fireplace and more!! A ONE OF A KIND @ $749,900 #211075050 • 1-800-396-5204 X259 P. TW LD FIE M O BLO W.
MILLION DOLLAR VIEWS - ALL-SPORTS UNION LAKEFRONT •Open and spacious, 4 bedroom, 2 bath+ incredible views •Huge cathedral master + fireplace and private deck •4 car garage + huge storage loft, deck, dock and more! BEST BUY @ $499,900 #211058164 • 1-800-396-5204 X211
P. TW
INCREDIBLE SUNSETS - ALL-SPORTS COMMERCE LAKEFRONT •Opportunity knock, 2 incredible future building sites •4 bedroom, 1.5 bath summer retreat, enclosed porch •Island living, trees, circular drive, sandy shoreline A MUST SEE @ $399,900 #211031823 • 1-800-396-5204 X285
L ITE WH
. WP ET AK
ALL-SPORTS OXBOW LAKEFRONT - 1,19 TREED ACRE LOT •3,271 sq. ft. + finished walkout - custom contemporary •4 bedroom, 3.5 bath, windows galore, huge master •Multiple decks, 3+ garage, waterside deck and dock A BEST BUY @ $394,900 #211075518 • 1-800-396-5204 X271
www.TheStocktonTeam.com
Janet
Steve
Direct:
2900 Union Lake Rd., Suite 210 Commerce, MI 48382
Direct:
248-755-7600
248-755-7500
janet@TheStocktonTeam.com
steve@TheStocktonTeam.com
248-366-7200 Zillow - Preferred Agent
The Stockton’s are the Lakes Area’s #1 Team! P. TW RD FO R TE WA
ALL-SPORTS WOODHULL/LAKE OAKLAND LAKEFRONT •Dramatic and open with 4 bedroom, 2 full/2 half baths •3,500 sq. ft. of living space with finished walkout •3 decks, bonus room, courtyard garage and dock A MUST SEE @ $374,900 #211031582 • 1-800-396-5204 X247 P. TW RD FO R TE WA
GORGEOUS HOME ON ALL-SPORTS PLEASANT LAKE •1,704 sq. ft., 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, deck, gazebo •Great room with fireplace, granite kitchen •Master with bath, walkout basement, 2 car garage HURRY @ $299,900 #211031580 • 1-800-396-5204 X262 . WP DT OR F TER WA
GERUNDEGUT BAY - ALL-SPORTS CASS LAKE •Beautifully remodeled ranch home, stonefront fireplace •Dining room, Corian counter kitchen with appliances •Wood laminate floor, ceramic tile, crown molding, deck HURRY @ $219,900 #211027050 • 1-800-396-5204 X280
P. TW CE ER M M CO
DEED BOAT SLIP ON ALL-SPORTS COMMERCE LAKE •3,019 sq. ft., 4 bedroom, 3 bath, island kitchen •Cathedral living and dining, family room, 2 fireplaces •Daylight basement, large deck,m courtyard garage HURRY @ $339,900 #211073119 • 1-800-396-5204 X224 . WP ET RC E MM CO
ALL-SPORTS LOWER LAKE LAKEFRONT SPECIAL •2 houses for the price of 1 - lots of possibilities •House at street - remodeled 3 bed, 1 bath + att. garage •Lake house - 4 bed, 2 bath, 1,768 sq. ft., basement, needs TLC A MUST SEE @ $299,900 #211073682 • 1-800-396-5204 X232 . WP DT LAN H G HI
WHITE LAKE WATERFRONT RANCH WITH WALKOUT •1,661 living sq. ft., 3-4 bedroom, 2 bath, great room •Snack-bar kitchen, family room with fireplace •Enclosed carport, shed, deck, patio, dock, beach UNBELIEVABLE @ $149,900 #211026322 • 1-800-396-5204 X260
E RIN LVE WO
E LAK
100 FT. ALL-SPORTS WOLVERINE LAKEFRONT - .54 ACRE LOT •Meticulously maintained 2,093 sq. ft., 3 bed, 2.5 bath •Granite kitchen/nook, master w/fireplace, 2 walk-ins •Large deck, dock and seawall, shed and circular drive A MUST SEE @ $299,900 #211057584 • 1-800-396-5204 X297 . WP DT OR F TER WA
CHARMING HOME ON ALL-SPORTS WATKINS LAKE •1,170 sq. ft., 3 bedroom, deep treed lot, fireplace •Newer kitchen and bath with ceramic floor •Basement, 2 car garage, huge storage loft HURRY @ $259,900 #211031579 • 1-800-396-5204 X251 P. TW CE ER M M CO
VACANT LOTS IN GATED SUB - COMMERCE LAKEFRONTS •2 building sites - community park + tennis & gazebo •A must see panoramic all-sports lakeviews •Sub of high-end homes with Walled Lake Schools STARTING AT ONLY @ $89,900 #211038619 • 1-800-396-5204 X207
www.TheStocktonTeam.com
25 South Main St. Clarkston, MI
LA
KE
S LU GE AN
(248)
Take a Virtual Tour Online:
www.mmrealtors.com
ND LA IS
CROWN JEWEL 360° vistas of elite Lake Angelus illuminate this palatial 7,700 sq. ft. estate flooded with cherry, granite, limestone and travertine throughout. Constructed to precision. $2,250,000 23-LAK NT RO RF E T WA
G IN TT SE
C’EST MAGNIFIQUE! Exquisite French chateau nested on an idyllic 22 acre island and featuring an indoor pool, panoramic water vistas and 300 ft. of sandy beach frontage. $700,000 10-KNO
D L SO
DREAMS OF YESTERYEAR Voluminous 3,000 sq. ft. Victorian situated in the heart of downtown Clarkston on an oversized, wooded parcel with over 100 ft. of frontage on the serene Mill Pond. $355,000 91-MAI
SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL Radiant colonial poised on the shores of Lake Oakland boasts a romantic master suite, fire lit great room, dining with deck access, 2nd floor laundry, and a roomy yard. $289,000 32-MAN S RT PO ONT S R L AL KEF LA
S RT PO ONT S R L AL KEF LA
SPLENDOR ON THE LAKE Delicious 1,600 sq. ft. retreat with unmatched charm throughout: hardwood and ceramic floors, three season porch, stylish fixtures, built-ins, and a sandy beach. $249,900 62-WER
Kenice Schooley
625-1010
HEAVEN SENT Sprawling all-sports lakefront 3 bedroom, 2.1 bath ranch with a finished walkout, hardwood floors, fire lit living room, Florida room, and ample decking. $189,000 23-WAL
Emily Ford
D L SO SURF AND SAND Dreamy Lake Oakland contemporary with 5 bedrooms, 4.1 baths, cathedral great room, kitchen with hearth, library with French doors, finished walkout, and a heated 3-car garage. $597,777 35-LAK
H AC BE
ES EG VIL I PR
BEYOND BEAUTIFUL Sizzling 2,400 sq. ft. colonial with 3 bedrooms, 2.1 baths, extensive Brazilian cherry hardwoods, granite kitchen, extended moldings, 3-car garage and beach privileges. $275,000 11-SCE
D L SO REEL IT IN! Freshly renovated ranch with a basement on all-sports Williams Lake with new: windows, mechanics, floors and moldings, full bath, appliances, landscaping and more! $159,900 69-FOR
Ron Serafini
EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE • EXPERT PERFORMERS
Cheryl Karrick
LEE EMBREY 248-283-8151
348 E. MAPLE • BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 248-283-8151 WWW.SKBK.COM
E-MAIL: LEMBREY@ SKBK.COM
CHECK OUT LEE’S WEBSITE AT WWW.LEEEMBREY.COM OR WWW.LAKEANGELUS.COM
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.
VIEW ALL LAKE ANGELUS LISTINGS AT WWW.LAKEANGELUS.COM 3421 OLD BALDWIN ROAD LAKE ANGELUS Fabulous sunsets from this beautiful 3+ acre Lake Angelus Estate 4 bedroom 4.5 bath, 4.5 car garage, 7,000 sq. ft., 1st floor master, 151 ft. lake frontage, paved road + 3 bedroom, 2 bath guest house. $1,499,900
W NE
PR
IC
299 GRAY WOODS LAKE ANGELUS Fabulous newer construction (‘04). Views, views, views with 10,000+ sq. ft.! 5 bedrooms, 5.1 bath, 4+ car garage, 2+ acres with 105 ft. lake frontage, finished walkout. Granite, marble, hardwoods. $1,795,000
E 2378 LAKE ANGELUS LANE Fabulous lake views. 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2,000 sq. ft. ranch with 1,600 sq. ft. in finished lower level. Deck, paver patio, 2 car garage, stone seawall. $869,900
W NE
PR
IC
E
742 LAKE ANGELUS SHORES Fabulous lakefront lot. 2,500 sq. ft. 1860s farmhouse with 3-4 bedrooms, 1 full and 2 half baths. Beautiful south shore location with 4.06 acres and 124 ft. of lake frontage. $849,900
2405 LAKE ANGELUS ROAD Horses, horses, horses 6.25 acres. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 3.5 car garage, horse barn, pole barn, tack room, corrals, walkout lower level, 3,200 sq. ft. $1,199,900
995 LAKE ANGELUS ROAD Vacant 5.37 acre parcel with 168 ft. of lake frontage on north side of Lake Angelus. Plans for 8,000+ sq. ft. home available. $999,900
CUSTOM LAKEFRONT AND RESIDENTIAL 321 INDIANWOOD RD. LAKE ORION Fabulous newer construction 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3.5 car garage, 1+ acre, gourmet kitchen. Views from every room. Custom upgrades throughout. Over 5,100 sq. ft. Designer’s own home. Too much to list. $849,000
www.oaklandlakefront.com
6739 ROYAL HARBOR INDEPENDENCE Van Norman Lake Subdivision. Entire sub - 3+acres, over 500 ft. lake frontage on Van Norman Lake. 2,400 sq. ft. new construction home. 7 additional lots make into 1 lot or buy home and split off lots or finish sub. Bank owned. ALL FOR: $480,000
OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
53
DAN GUTFREUND Realty Specialist
dan@skbk.com Cell
Direct
248.731.1030
248.978.5774
348 E. MAPLE BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 WWW.SKBK.COM
THIS IS A BUILDER’S DREAM! This jewel of a property is located on exclusive Club Drive and is a 5-minute walk from Forest Lake Country Club. Spectacular views with 350 ft. of frontage on Forest Lake with access to Lower and Upper Long lakes. Build your dream home, live the lakefront lifestyle and benefit from the Bloomfield Hills school district and community. Please contact Dan Gutfreund at SKBK Sotheby’s International Realty for further information on this spectacular property at 248.978.5774.
54
AUGUST 2011
www.oaklandlakefront.com
Ronni Keating 248.330.9750 rkeating@skbk.com
TOP PRODUCER
348 E. MAPLE BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 WWW.SKBK.COM
FABULOUS UPPER STRAITS LAKEFRONT PROPERTY NEVER ON THE MARKET BEFORE
$1.5 Million - $2.8 Million Parcels • 3+ acre lots on Pontiac Trail with 200 ft. or more lake frontage on Upper Straits. • 3 parcels available - 2 with homes on property. Other amenities include horse arena, outbuildings and FAA approved helicopter landing pad. • Available as one site of pristine acreage or several lakefront estate size homes. Land survey and personal tour available. Don’t miss this opportunity to have an amazing home on this magnificient property and highly desirable lake. www.oaklandlakefront.com
OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
55
JOHN & GAYLE HANNETT John’s cell phone (248) 939.3191 www.thehannetts.com
“Homes of Quality Are Our Specialty”
800 S. Woodward Ave. • Birmingham, MI 48009
W NE
ICE PR
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. $2,750,000
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. $1,250,000 LOC155
133 FT. ON BEAUTIFUL LOWER LONG LAKE BEHIND “THE KIRK”
Renovated ranch with 9 ft. ceilings in great room, dining room, kitchen with great views of lake from most rooms. Custom features: hardwood floors, crown moldings, built-in custom shelves and cabinets in great room, dining room and lower level family room/library. Master with 12’x12’ closet. Great 2,000 sq. ft. walkout lower level entertainment area with walls of windows. Large bar, permanent dock, large deck. $749,000 INW1418
56
AUGUST 2011
www.oaklandlakefront.com
CYNDI ROBINSON 20 Years of Successful Experience!
(248) 431-4571 cell www.cyndirobinson.com realestateone.com/crobinson
560 N. Milford Rd. Milford
TOP AGENT, REAL ESTATE ONE - MILFORD OFFICE FOR 15 YEARS IN A ROW! LAKEFRONT AND ACREAGE SPECIALIST!
LIVE ON THE LAKE IN 2011!
FOUR STAR CUSTOM DESIGNED ON WHITE LAKE Captures panoramic lakeviews, yet on quieter part of bay to White Lake. Built in ‘94 with attention to details. 2 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, Pella casement windows. Paver walks. 2-story entry with bridge. Spiral stairs, 2 side fireplace, granite kitchen, maple cabinets, heated drive. White Lake. $309,900 MLS#211028656 (3604L)
ALL SPORTS WHITE LAKE LOT Dream home lake site on all-sports White Lake. On one of Oakland County’s largest lakes. Buildable lot ready for your plan or sellers. All leg work done. Plans, permits and engineering approved septic. Seller has removed older home, had perks, surveys and drawings for plot plan. $119,900. MLS#211056161 (3016W3)
LAKE LOT ON 2 LAKES! Highland Township, Oakland County. Build your lake house on this super site in Mallards Landing on 2 lakes and a cul-de-sac! All large sites. Three large parks in sub. These 2 lakes connect! Taggett and Kellogg Lakes are about 100 acres in size total. $69,900 MLS#211062079 (MAL3)
ALL-SPORTS LOWER PETTIBONE LAKEFRONT Milford/Highland. Woods and water! Highland Rec State Land. See this terrific ranch, redone inside and out. Two bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage. Paved street. Travertine floors, American cherry cabinets. Granite counters and tumbled backsplashes. Walkout. Master with deck access patio. $249,900 MLS#211077057 (1427L3) LD SO
SOUTH BAY SHORES ALL-SPORTS DUCK LAKE Private all-sports 270 acre lake with no public access. Large lot and area of all newer homes. Three bedrooms, 2.1 baths, loft is possible for 4th bedroom. Walkout for added sq. ft. when finished. Finished 3+car. Sandy beach. On bay with the best main lake views! Over 3,100 sq. ft. Huron Valley schools. Minutes to Milford. $558,500 MLS#210110813 (2916V3)
www.oaklandlakefront.com
G IN ND PE
WHITE LAKEFRONT ALMOST 1 ACRE Three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, 2,155 sq. ft. with 115 ft. on lake. All redone. Beautiful custom maple/granite kitchen with stainless appliances. Sharp snack bar divider between breakfast and family dining or living room. All new windows, siding, doors and trim. New 3+ car (35’x24’) heated garage. Doorwall off master. Framed bath area lower level. Walkout from 3 levels. 2 large sheds. $334,900 MLS#211032862 (3670D3)
HIGHLAND - DUCK LAKE - AXFORD ACRES! Updated ranch on all-sports private Duck Lake! The views will amaze you! New roof, and new granite counters in kitchen in 2011. Features 3 bedrooms, 3 baths. A finished walkout with second kitchen. Storage galore. Great place to live! Beach on Ramada Strees. Nearby elementary school. Hugh great room views the lake. Finished walkout offers huge family room/Florida room and home office. $344,900 MLS#211037456 LD SO
ALL-SPORTS PRIVATE DUCK LAKE Bayfront 6 bedroom, 4 full/1 half bath home. 77 ft. of beach, large yard on cul-de-sac. Open plan with lots of light and soaring ceilings. Deck, updated roof and plumbing. New cooktop. Newer master bath. Full walkout lower level with family room and full bath. Entry level office or in-law suite. Hot tub. Koi pond. $299,500 MLS#211058655 (3978C3)
OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
57
Now Taking New Listings! Get to know
Karen Thomas
Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel # 1 Agent in the Lakes office You’ve seen her name and “face” around the lakes for years. But perhaps you have noticed more of those “other agents” signs… Did you realize that is because Karen’s listings sell faster?! With faster sales and higher prices (not to mention less stress for the sellers!) Karen’s signs are not in the ground for long! Karen Just Sold:
• 289 Shorebrook • 310 Woodcrest • 8656 Newport • 7904 Flagstaff • 980 Sunset •7970 Flagstaff • 7850 Barnsbury • 5784 Majestic Oaks
Commerce Commerce White Lake W. Bloomfield Waterford Commerce W. Bloomfield Commerce
Thinking of making a move? It’s not too late in the season. Call Karen & start packing. Free Home Warranty When you list your home with Karen Thomas before October 1. (Must present this ad)
Karen Thomas Associate Broker - Certified Residential Specialist 248-505-3066 Karen@KTsellsHomes.com Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel - 2600 Union Lake Road - Suite 150 - Commerce, Michigan 48382 248-387-6049
58
AUGUST 2011
www.oaklandlakefront.com
Hardwood Lake! 3 bedroom, 2 bath waterfront home on all-sports Hardwood Lake! Walkout basement, attached garage, master bath with his and her sinks! Walk-in closets, utility room and a great view of Hardwood Lake! 1,800 sq. ft.! MLS#126341/42
Call Greg Morris today at 989-329-4396!
Hardwood Lake!
3 bedroom, 2 bath waterfront home on all-sports Hardwood Lake! Walkout basement, attached garage, master bath, family room and a great view of Hardwood Lake! 1,664 sq. ft.! MLS#126343/44
Call Greg Morris today at 989-329-4396!
www.oaklandlakefront.com
OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
59
60
AUGUST 2011
www.oaklandlakefront.com
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 Angelus
LEGAL LEVEL 950.00
7.22.11
+ OR -
949.98
–.02
PRIOR YEAR
NOTES & REMARKS
950.03
Bevins
910.40
910.67
+.27
910.56
Big
1017.30
1017.24
–.06
1017.50
Winter Lvl: 1016.70
Bunny Run
965.95
966.15
+.20
966.05
Winter Lvl: 965.45
Bush Lake
913.60
913.57
–.03
913.62
Cass
929.22
929.44
+.22
929.44
Cedar Island
934.00
934.40
+.40
934.30
Cemetery-Dollar
Winter Lvl: 927.87
968.50
968.63
+.13
968.50
Clinton River
2.10
2.16
+.06
3.51
Commerce
906.80
907.02
+.22
907.27
Crystal
917.50
916.19
–.59
917.90
7) Winter Lvl: 917.00
Dawson Mill Pond
928.60
928.80
+.20
928.78
6) Winter Lvl: 927.25
Duck
1016.63
1016.70
+.07
1016.83
Fox
930.00
930.08
+.08
930.21
Huron River
1.08
1.06
–.02
1.18
Indianwood
992.62
992.80
+.18
992.89
Lakeville
952.30
952.33
+.03
952.38
Long (Commerce Twp.)
933.00
933.00
Legal
933.22
2)
5) Winter Lvl: 992.12
Loon
949.30
949.43
+.13
949.52
2), 3)
Louise-Huff
962.27
962.42
+.15
962.30
8)
Middle & Lower Straits
930.70
930.68
–.02
930.70
Mohawk
949.30
949.42
+.12
949.95
Oakland-Woodhull
957.50
957.63
+.13
957.64
Orchard
930.50
930.54
+.04
930.55
Oxbow
942.75
942.80
+.05
942.90
Oxford-Multi
1017.80
1018.00
+.20
1018.20
Pontiac
962.83
963.22
+.39
963.62
Schoolhouse
949.30
949.42
+.12
949.80
Scott
951.00
949.62
–1.38
949.57
Sylvan-Otter
928.60
928.90
+.30
928.98
Tipsico
1015.39
1,015.14
–.25
1015.40
2), 3)
1) 2), 3) 6) Winter Lvl: 927.25
Union
927.07
927.23
+.16
927.32
Upper Straits
930.80
930.82
+.02
930.88
Van Norman
966.70
966.78
+.08
966.80
2), 4)
Walled & Shawood
932.80
932.92
+.12
933.20
Winter Lvl: 932.10
Watkins
950.00
949.72
–.28
949.94
Waumegah
1049.90
1049.62
–.28
1049.91
White
1019.10
1019.15
+.05
1019.21
Williams
965.42
965.70
+.28
965.48
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)
Y EKL l WE Leve @ e Lak ates ont.com r d Up ndlakef kla oa
MICHIGAN’S TOP PRODUCER 2010 Luxury Homes & Lakefront Lifestyle
Bloomfield Hills Lakefront Luxury Living Acreage
All-Sports Pine Lake Estate Size Lot
North Oakland’s Finest Lakefront with Guest House
$1,995,000
$1,600,000
$995,000
Orchard Lake Lakefront on Rolling Acre
Updated Orchard Lakefront with Sunset View
Cass Lake Lakefront Setting
$975,000
$949,000
$749,999
Orchard Lake Lakefront Private Street Condo Alternative $689,000
K A T H Y BROOCK BALLARD
All-Sports Upper Long Lake on Spectacular Lot $679,000
248.318.4504
KATHY@MAXBROOCKHOMES.COM 275 S. Old Woodward Ave. Birmingham, MI 48009
Buildable Site in Orchard Lake with Deeded Out Lot
Upper Long Lake All-Sports Lot
$489,000
$235,000
KATHYBROOCK..COM
www.oaklandlakefront.com
OAKLAND LAKEFRONT
63
On all in stock water vehicles. Save up to $1,000.
FULL SERVICE PARTS & ACCESSORIES
Fiberglass Shop • Service Department • Indoor & Outdoor Storage
HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. noon-5 p.m.
Flint
•
EXIT ❂ 84 Fenton US 23 M-59
(810) 629-2291
3241 Thompson Rd. • Fenton, MI 48430 (Exit 84 on US-23)
64
AUGUST 2011
• •
Pontiac
I-96
Ann Arbor
Detroit
*Plus freight & tax, after rebates
website: www.freeway-sports.com
www.oaklandlakefront.com