Duck Lake Dam flagged for significant maintenance issues after inspection

An inspection of two Grand Traverse County dams left Duck Lake standing out as the one most likely to need serious work, a finding that could carry consequences for water levels, shoreline property and future public costs if repairs are delayed. The Silver Lake Dam was described as having no major maintenance problems, but Duck Lake was flagged for potentially substantial maintenance needs, turning what might have been a routine review into a warning about one specific piece of county infrastructure.

That distinction matters because Duck Lake is not a minor feature in the county’s water system. Grand Traverse County says the dam was built in 1960, and the lake level was reaffirmed by a 2017 court order that tied the modern system back to the level first established in 1959. That same order allows a winter lake level six inches lower than the summer level to reduce ice damage along the shoreline. The county also says monitoring capability was added in September 2020, giving staff a daily view of levels and a faster way to respond to storm-driven changes.

The scale of the watershed helps explain why the dam draws close attention. County materials say Duck Lake is fed by more than 35 square miles of watershed, and inflow can exceed outflow by tenfold. Archived county records show the county has been dealing with the lake level for years, including a 1959 level report, a 1960 special assessment district base map, a 2012 dam inspection report and a 2015 dam inspection report. One December 4, 2012 inspection listed the legal level at 837.3 feet, said the outlet stream flows to within 18 feet of the lake edge and noted no erosion was present.

Silver Lake, by contrast, appears to be on firmer ground. County records list the Silver Lake Level Control System inspection report as dated October 23, 2018, with a legal level of 862.00 feet and the system located in Blair Township. That difference leaves county leaders facing not a systemwide dam problem, but a targeted issue at Duck Lake that could require engineering review, funding decisions and maintenance planning.

Drain Commissioner Andy Smits has been part of that discussion, including who can assess the dams and what expenditures may be necessary. The broader backdrop is statewide: Michigan has more than 2,500 dams, roughly 1,000 are regulated by the state, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy estimates about $1 billion is needed for dam infrastructure upgrades. EGLE says dam safety emergencies should be reported to its 24/7 hotline at 800-292-4706.