Happy Holidays 2025

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 entered 2025 with uncertainty yet were able to resolve the legal and financing issues and rapidly restart construction on all four dams where work had paused. We end the year with all four dams under construction and still on schedule and within the estimated budget that was established after the appeal/lawsuits.

We also made substantial headway with finances, establishing a bond financing plan and the Four Lakes Housing Assistance Fund, receiving $12 million in grants from the State of Michigan and federal government, and issuing the first Capital Assessment.

Restoring the lake levels is a major step in restoring the surrounding environment and lake ecosystems, but there is still much work to do. Thankfully, we have the people, financing, plans and passion to be optimistic about our future.

Thank you for your continued support of our mission. On behalf of the FLTF Board of Directors and staff, we wish you a happy, healthy and safe holiday.

Dave Kepler, Chair and President, FLTF