The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is moving forward with a plan to draw down Hall Lake Dam at Yankee Springs Recreation Area in Barry County.
The phased plan to lower the lake elevation follows a routine inspection and engineering analysis of the dam by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
“Given its classification as a significant hazard dam, the worsening condition of the culvert and embankment, the prohibitive cost estimates to undertake replacement by the state or local municipality, and the risk of expiration of grant funding for the project, reducing the lake level by decommissioning, or drawing down, of Hall Lake Dam is the only viable option,” Joseph Jandernoa, park manager at Yankee Springs Recreation Area, said in a news release.
Barry County residents push back against Hall Lake project
Despite the urgency of the aging dam’s stability, residents have expressed concerns. According to media reports, the Yankee Springs Township Board of Trustees voted unanimously July 8 to formally oppose the DNR’s plan.
The DNR said public input started off as an integral part of the dam’s future; however, when the dam impoundment conditions worsened, the issue needed to be addressed quickly.
“When it became clear that local governments and agencies were unable to assume full responsibilities for the dam, the DNR determined that drawing down the impoundment was the appropriate course of action,” the news release says.
The DNR says the failure of Hall Lake Dam could cause environmental damage or disrupt essential services downstream as the status of the dam previously received a condition rating of “poor.”
How soon will Hall Lake’s level drop?
The project calls for an initial drawdown of 3 feet in July 2025, and another 3 feet next June.
A gradual drawdown of not more than 6 inches per week will protect fish and wildlife, as well as stabilize sediments as much as possible, according to the DNR.
The final project is expected to be complete by fall 2026. It is funded by an EGLE Dam Risk Reduction Grant.
The DNR said once the project is complete, the smaller body of water can still be used by residents.
“Once the project is completed, a smaller body of water will continue to exist for outdoor recreation, similar to its original lake size,” Jandernoa said. “And fortunately, there are other small lakes within Yankee Springs Recreation Area that can provide recreational experiences like those available on Hall Lake. These include Williams Lake, Long Lake, Baker Lake and Chief Noonday Lake.”
What to know about Hall Lake
Hall Lake is a natural lake between Grand Rapids, Lansing and Kalamazoo, about 37 miles north of Battle Creek. It is a popular area spot for boating and fishing,
Originally, Hall Lake was only about 8 acres in size with a maximum depth of about 6 feet, according to a DNR report.
Hall Lake is one of 156 lakes in Barry County.
How old is the Hall Lake Dam?
The dam was added in 1965 to make the lake deep enough to stop once-common winter fish kills, but the lake only increased by 4 more acres, to its present size of 46 acres, according to a DNR report.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan DNR plans to shrink a Barry County lake due to aging dam concerns
Reporting by Jalen Williams and Rhonda Clark, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
