Lake augmentation – a solution to low inland lake levels? Part 2

Jane Herbert, Michigan State University Extension -

After a drought year, lake residents may be considering augmenting lake levels. MSUE Q&A document outlines regulation of water sources for lake augmentation projects.

Part 1 of this article discusses multiple regulations affecting lake augmentation projects. Michigan State University Extension, in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Institute for Fisheries Research, has developed a user-friendly Q&A document that answers some common questions about recent (2008) regulation of water use in Michigan.

State regulation affecting potential water sources for a lake augmentation project is found under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act Part 327 and has to do with the use of groundwater or surface water in Michigan. A Michigan Department of Environmental Quality guidance document explains that “Depending on the size of the withdrawal proposed to service the augmentation project, it may be regulated under a new law passed in February 2006. Withdrawals over 100,000 gallons per day (averaged over a 90-day period) are required to report to the DEQ. Permits are required for proposed withdrawals greater than 2 million gallons per day from groundwater or inland wetlands, lakes, or streams (averaged over a 90-day period), or greater than 5 million gallons per day from the Great Lakes (averaged over a 90-day period).”

In most instances, a lake augmentation project will fall into the category of a large-quantity withdrawal as defined in the paragraph above. As such, a proposed project is subject to Michigan’s Water Withdrawal Assessment Process (the mechanism by which Michigan complies with the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact). The first step of the “process” is accomplished through a free Internet-based screening tool designed to assess potential ecological impacts of a proposed large quantity withdrawal from groundwater or surface water.

 MSU Extension Bulletin WQ-60 entitled, Considering aquatic ecosystems: The basis for Michigan’s new Water Withdrawal Assessment Process, provides background information on the screening tool and how it works.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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