By Sterling McGinn
The lake level orders governing Big Manistique Lake and North Manistique (Round) Lake have been amended in the 11th Circuit Court in special hearings, which took place on Wednesday, June 4 in the Luce County Government Building.
Honorable James Lambros presided at the hearings as Circuit Judge Brian Rahilly had recused himself from the matter.
A petition was filed on February 11, 2025, with the Luce County Circuit Court to amend the orders for both lakes to begin getting the lake levels and delegated authorities in compliance with new regulations from Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE).
Following the Edenville Dam failure in 2020, which resulted in an environmental disaster, EGLE began reviewing all water control structures in the state. EGLE wants all lake level orders that are regulated by dams to be followed so the normal levels match the physical levels.
The Big Manistique Lake levels are controlled by a dam, located a couple of miles downstream on the Manistique River. The dam is owned by Luce County with responsibilities shared between Luce and Mackinac Counties.
Big Manistique Lake levels have been the subject of great controversy as some feel the lake level is too low, while others say it is too high.
The lake level order was originally set in 1948 and again in 1978. The level for many years was set at 686.0 above sea level. The old court order did not include a winter level, so every time the lake was lowered in the fall, it was in violation of the order. There was also no weather variation level included.
The lake levels will now be measured by North American Vertical Datum 1988 (NAVD88), which is a reference surface used in measuring elevations. This measurement is more consistent and precise.
The delegated authority for Big Manistique Lake is the Big Manistique Lake Authority, consisting of seven members comprised of Luce and Mackinac County Commissioners, township representatives and lake residents.
North Manistique (Round) Lake has a dam on the Helmer Creek with the Luce County Road Commission as the delegated authority. The old order for this lake contained a legal summer level of 713.0 feet above sea level and a legal winter level of 712.5 feet above sea level. Though this order contained a winter level, it did not include variation levels.
The lake level amendments also now allow for the creation of special assessment districts, which are geographical boundaries of properties that benefit from the lake level. Those properties would be assessed a fee that would appear on the owner’s winter tax bill. The fee would only be charged if costs occur. The costs will include the fees for the legal work of updating the orders and for future work that may need to be done to the dams.
Before costs are charged to the districts, public hearings will need to take place.
The new order for Big Manistique Lake is as follows:
The normal summer level is 686.0 feet, NAVD88. The normal summer level will be effective each year from the later of April 15, or ice out, to October 1 or up to November 1 if permitted or otherwise authorized by EGLE.
Luce and Mackinac Counties may begin raising the lake level in accordance with the seasonal operational adjustments authorized in the court order upon ice out each year.
The normal winter level is established at 685.0 feet NAVD88 effective each year from October 1 or up to November 1 if permitted or otherwise authorized by EGLE.
The counties will commence the drawdown of the lake on, or around September 20 to achieve the normal winter lake level by October.
The order for North Manistique (Round) Lake follows:
The normal summer lake level is 713.0 feet NAVD 88 will be effective each year from the later of April 15, or ice out, to October 1 or up to November 1 if permitted or otherwise authorized by EGLE.
The normal winter level is 712.5 feet NAVD88 each year from October 1 or up to November 1 if permitted or otherwise authorized by EGLE.
Both lake orders now include variation levels, which would be used for approved and permitted construction work, weather, or natural conditions and/or permitted operations of lake level infrastructure.
More information about the orders and upcoming hearings can be found on the lake level websites at www.manistiquelakelevel.net.