The Last Two Years
In the 1920s, the Edenville, Sanford, Smallwood and Secord Dams were built to generate electrical power, creating four lakes. While interstate electric grids and efficient large generating plants diminished the value of the hydroelectric facilities over the past nearly 100 years, the lakes have become a naturalized part of the environment and have created significant economic, recreational and social benefits to our community and the counties of Gladwin and Midland. The fisheries and ecosystems that have developed around these systems have been an asset to the communities and the state. 

Purchase Expected to Be Final by Early 2022
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Today, Boyce Trusts and Four Lakes Task Force (FLTF) signed a $9.4 million purchase agreement for the acquisition of Wixom, Sanford, Secord and Smallwood Dams and lake bottoms. The purchase agreement is a major milestone in maintaining the legal level of all four lakes in accordance with the Circuit Court order and Part 307 of the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. The sale of properties will occur over the next two years, with a final close for all properties in January 2022.

The Four Lakes Task Force responded, by letter to FERC, to Boyce's March 15 Motion asking FERC to reconsider revoking the Edenville License and proposing the subsequent transfer of the license to Wolverine Hydro, LLC. You can find it in our Document Library.

The letter was authored by the Sanford Lake Preservation Association, which was renamed, "Four Lakes Task Force" last year. The Four Lakes Force consists of members from all four of the lake communities. Since the original filing to FERC was by SLPA and WLA in this matter, we used the former name, SLPA, to author the response letter.

To be very clear: this is not Sanford speaking for Wixom. It is the Four Lakes Task Force speaking on behalf of all four lakes, as delegated by Midland and Gladwin County.