Watson Township Board members Thursday evening unanimously adopted a resolution to set in motion the process of establishing a drainage district for flood-plagued Big Lake.
About three dozen residents showed up at the meeting to ask for relief from high water, flooding, water over the road and assorted and associated problems.
Though all of the residents were upset about conditions, none were ready to lay blame on just one cause. Though some have talked about the Timber Ridge Bay residential development having an impact, they quickly identified other factors.
“There’s been too much rain,” said Rhonda Nowakowski. “I used to have a beach, but now I don’t.”
Even worse, the flooding has caused property values to decline, motor vehicles to be damaged while traveling over water-logged roads, difficulties for public safety vehicles to get to some of the homes, and perhaps worst of all, straining the septic systems to the point that are now overflowing.
Gary White estimated that there is at least 10 inches of water on the private road that runs to the lake.
Another resident claimed her letter carrier wouldn’t deliver her mail today (Thursday).
Tom Cardiff said, “I have a neighbor who is completely surrounded by water with septic backup. I don’t see him here tonight, but he’s got it pretty bad.”
Another woman claimed, “We’ve been vacuuming water out of basement for the last six months.”
Another resident asserted, “I’ve lost about 20% of my property to the lake. Docks are underwater and there challenges for emergency services. Big Lake is up four or five feet over the past 10 years.”
Linda Zarabski insisted, “This is the highest the water’s ever been and it’s been coming up since 1957.”
Michael Stanley said, “We were sitting here 10 years ago telling you about this and nothing has been done.”
He was told that none of the current board members were serving 10 years ago.
Supervisor Kevin Travis said the private road is a huge problem, but the township doesn’t own it because it was allowed to be private years ago by county officials.
Travis proposed that a drainage district be established, much like the one at Selkirk Lake several years ago. The residents who stand to benefit from the work share the costs of the project.
The Township Board adopting a resolution asking County Drain Commissioner Denise Medemar to establish the district means the project will be get under way sooner than if residents petition for it.
A silver lining was brought up with the news recently from County Commissioner Gale Dugan that Allegan County is eligible for disaster funding because of heavy rains and flooding. Grants could help with absorbing the costs.
The board’s resolution identified drainage to run through Pickeral Lake, through a culvert and then Shagnasty lake.