Wixom and Sanford Lakebottom Flood Debris Removal Begins

Please be advised that flood debris removal on the Wixom and Sanford lakebottom lands has begun and will continue through the summer. You will see equipment and crews on the bottomlands of both lakes removing uprooted trees, loose stumps, dock parts, boat lifts, hazardous substances like gas cans, watercraft, and other man-made objects within the 100-year floodplain. Trees and stumps attached to the lake bottom will be left in place. Some mowing of vegetation on the lake bottom will be done as part of this project, but only enough to allow crews to find and remove debris.

Work crews wear hard hats and high visibility vests so their heads are protected and they can be seen by other workers, particularly equipment operators. Please keep some distance between yourself and the work crews and equipment. The areas near crews and equipment are particularly hazardous for people who lack the proper personal protective equipment, including high visibility clothing.

Please understand that the crews are there to remove debris from the lakebottom, not to pick up personal items and return them to their owners. If you have personal items on the lakebottom lands, move those items to your own property so the items are not picked up and hauled away. Docks that are still attached to seawalls may be safely left in place, but loose dock pieces out on the lakebottom will be hauled away. If your boat lift is on or right in front of your property, it will be left in place, but boat lifts without an obvious owner will be hauled away. If there are dock pieces, boat lifts or other man-made flood debris close to your seawall that is not yours, please mark those items with red plastic tape and they will be hauled away. Personal property removed from the lakebottom lands and for which ownership can be identified, such as registered watercraft or items with the owner’s name and phone number prominently displayed, will be hauled to a storage area and an attempt will be made to allow owners to recover their property, no matter where the items are found.
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The goal of the flood debris removal projects is to prevent debris deposited by the May 2020 flood from moving downstream in the next high-water event (including after the lakes are refilled) and becoming a problem for someone. The flood debris removal project is being performed by contractors selected by FLTF and funded through an appropriation by the State of Michigan, with significant reimbursement from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
 
For a full list of lakebottom access and use rules, visit our website here: https://www.four-lakes-taskforce-mi.com/lakebottom-access.html.