To the Four Lakes Community –
This holiday season, I am filled with gratitude for the efforts that so many people and organizations have put towards restoring the four dams and lakes in Gladwin and Midland counties over the last five years. The construction work is very visible now, and it’s inspiring to reflect on just how many individuals have contributed their time, funds and expertise to this project to get to this point, where we are on a certain path to restore the lake levels and the benefits they bring.

We want to thank Congressman John Moolenaar, who advocated on behalf of the Four Lakes community to secure a  $2,250,000 grant for Four Lakes Task Force to install AMEP (architectural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing) equipment necessary for long-term operations and monitoring of Edenville Dam. The AMEP project consists of design and construction of the utilities system to operate dam components such as gates and de-icing units. AMEP work can also include the following: 

• Architectural: Constructing infrastructure for dam operations to monitor and control dams and gates
• Mechanical and Plumbing: Running pipes, laying down equipment, building handrails and installing walkways
• Electrical: Wiring for items like safety lights and lights in the control buildings, as well as power to the different hydrologic units and side seal units that are needed to operate the dams. There is also an instrumentation component that includes measuring water levels around the dam and installing controls

While these funds are directed to a specific project, they will help reduce overall project costs, which benefits everyone in the special assessment district.

FLTF, as the counties' Part 307 Delegated Authority, has been delegated to restore and maintain the lake levels. There are many restoration (mitigation) projects that will take place over the coming years as required by the permits to restore Edenville and Sanford dams. While Secord and Smallwood did not completely lose all their lake capacity, there is still community work needed to prepare the lakes to return.

​Click the buttons below to see a map and read descriptions of the planned environmental restoration projects. 

​Crews are beginning to place roller compacted concrete along the Sanford Dam embankment for the auxiliary spillway. This activity requires extended work hours and additional traffic.

​Beginning September 22 and lasting until around Thanksgiving, the crews will work from approximately 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Saturday. A small night crew and Sunday crew will also be on site. During the Monday through Saturday timeframe, approximately 30 trucks of materials each day will be delivered to the site, entering from the W. Irish Street site entrance.
Please contact us with any questions or concerns.

As announced during the July 9 webinar, we are pleased to support the launch of the Four Lakes Housing Assistance Fund. In collaboration with Midland Area Community Foundation and Mid Michigan Community Action, this fund will provide support for the Four Lakes Capital Special Assessment to individuals with low income.
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The funds will be managed by the Midland Area Community Foundation and the screening process will be managed by Mid Michigan Community Action. FLTF will not hold any funds or screen any applicants. We are excited to start the fund by providing a $100,000 donation, and will provide an additional matching grant up to $150,000 to assist with fundraising efforts. ​These funds are donated from Four Lakes Task Force in its capacity as a non-profit. This does not come from assessment funds, as the funds were raised by private donations.

We appreciate the enthusiasm many property owners have demonstrated to prepare the bottomlands for lake refill. While property owners are permitted to mow the first 40 feet of bottomlands in front of their property and remove debris, you are NOT permitted to perform any of the following activities:

• Dig or reshape the bottomlands without a permit
• Disturb the ground on the bottomlands
• Remove stumps or tree roots
• Use chemicals to treat vegetation
• Create fires or burn areas

Please visit the lakebottom information webpage for a full list of permitted and prohibited activities to perform on the bottomlands.