FROM THE PRESIDENT

Since I started to write this September article, I have reviewed previous Hooter articles, correspondence to and from Congressmen, Senators, Federal EPA, DNR and our Township Board, and I find there is very little the people on this lake have not been told concerning the drain problem. Indeed, this board has spent the last five months writing letters, making phone calls and meeting with these different agecies. The Road and Drain Commissions call us the trouble makers. They have fully expected all the residents of this lake to be up in arms because of what this drain will do to their investments on the lake. But since that has not happened they feel very comfortable with their plans for this project.

We understand the condemnation suit against Meier Flowerland is this month and that court ruling will probably decide whether or not there will be a drain into Woodland Lake. We are continuing to fight this because we feel it is wrong to dump road drains in our rivers and lakes -we compiled a book of all the information we have collected and mailed these to people we hope can help us. including the Governor. The Brighton Township Supervisor and Board of Trustees wrote a strong resolution demanding environmental impact studies before the Road and Drain Commissions proceed any further with this project.

The Organization of Woodland Lake is the first ever environmental group to march in the Howell Melon Parade. We received standing ovations all along the parade route. It was fun and the message “Storm Drains Kill Lakes” we hope will make a difference.

But our other duties call. We want to inspect areas of the dam, clean out brush and make some repairs. The DRAWDOWN will begin on Sunday morning, OCTOBER 14th. Anyone who can help with this project, please give me a call. Because of this work the drawdown will be earlier then usual, so please make a note of this date, OCTOBER 14, 1990.

There are important consultations going on with the Township Board that will affect Woodland Lake. The City of Brighton wants to expand and are trying to get the four surrounding townships to merge with them. It is another raid to gain land and tax money. We must attend board meetings and let the board know how we feel about living in a city.

The Master Plan for this township should be complete by December - we must insist that the Zoning Ordinances NOT be changed to make it easier for developers. The O’Hara developers were told this could happen with the master plan. So, please attend the Board Meetings. What happens there affects all of us. We can’t complain if we don’t make our wishes known. It there’s one thing I’ve learned fighting this drain, it’s we as citizens and taxpayers must be alert to what politicians and bureaucrats are working on. Whatever it is, it is usually not in OUR best interest.

By: Effie Tompkins

The following article is from THE MICHIGAN RIPARIAN. To subscribers ri/re to this magazine write to Riparian, 11262 Oak Ave. Three Rivers MI 49093. There is much knowledge for only about $6. 00 per year

THE MICHIGAN CONSTITUTION MANDATES

PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

    ARTICLE IV, Section 52. The conservation and develop­ment of the natural resources of the State are hereby declared to be of paramount public concern in the interest of the hea/th, safety and general welfare of the people. The Legislature shall provide for the protection of the air, water and other natural resources of the state from pollution, impairment and destruc­tion.’

    Many acts have been passed since 1963 by the Michigan Legislature to carry out this mandate from the Constitution. Among them are, The Michigan Environmental Protection Act, 127 of 1970; Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act, 347 of 1972; Inland Lakes and Streams Act, 346 of 1972; Wetland Protection Act, 203 of 1979.

    Section 3 of the Wetland Protection Act identifies some of the benefits of wetland conservation. A loss of a wetland may deprive the people of the state of some or all of the following benefits:

    (i) Flood and storm control, (ii) Wildlife habitat, (iii) Pro­tection of subsurface water resources, (iv) Pollution treat­ment by serving as a biological and chemical oxidation basin, (v) Erosion control by serving as a sedimentation area and filtering basin, absorbing silt and organic matter, (vi) Sources of nutrients in water food cycles, and nursery grounds and sanctuaries for fish.

    An example of the protection of water resources by wetlands serving as a filter is described in a report by Dr. William Weidenbacher and Dr. Peter Willenbring which was presented at the third Annual Conference of the North American Lake Management Society on October 18-20, 1983, at Knoxville, Tennessee. In their study of Lake Jose­phine, a 118 acre lake located in the St. Paul suburb of Roseville, they measured the concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorous, chlorides and Secchi depth transparencies of the lake. The study compares the concentrations of chemi­cals in the lake during the three years of 1977.79, when storm runoff flowed directly into the lake, with the concen­trations during the years 198 1-83, after the storm runoff was channeled through a wetland before entering Lake Josephine.

    The study also reported on the concentrations of chemi­cals entering the wetland from storm runoff, and compared those concentrations with the amount measured in the out­let of the wetland and before it was discharged into Lake Josephine. Their findings are summarized in the chart which follows: