Lake Level Spring 2019
Wall Lake continues to have excess water levels through spring 2019.
Jim Dull, Barry County Drain Commissioner, has examined Wall Lake and its drain, understands that excess water levels exist in Wall Lake, has seen the shoreline erosion at Wall Lake, and is working to improve the flow of excess water out of Wall Lake. We have been advised that this year we can expect the drain canal from Wall Lake to the dam to be cleaned out, and the undersized culverts in the drain canal leaving Shallow Lake to be removed and replaced with larger culverts.
The past decade has brought above average precipitation, and many southwest Michigan lakes, including Wall Lake, have suffered from elevated lake levels. Wall Lake ie experiencing shoreline erosion, for example, and other lakes have similar or worse problems, including water flooding into homes.
Jim Dull's comments in an April 11, 2019 article in the Hasting Banner, Specter of spring rains spur anxiety in flooded areas, are sobering. When asked which area lakes that are experience high water issues and flooding, he said, "Baker Lake, West Gilkey Lake, Indian, Pine Lake, Shelp Lake, Crooked Lake, Long Lake, Wall Lake, Cloverdale Lake - every one of them."
The below photographs were taken at the dam on June 22, 2019 and show water flowing over the dam spillway. The water above the dam is at the same level as the water below the dam. The water level on either side of the dam is six inches above the spillway. This problem has been increasing during this spring. This is a serious problem because it indicates that inadequate drainage from Shallow Lake is causing flooding upstream from Shallow Lake. The elevated water in Wall Lake has no where to go. The Drain Commissioner continues to advise us that he is working on a solution to this problem.
The below photograph was taken at the dam on April 25, 2019 and shows water flowing over the dam spillway.
The below photographs were taken at the dam on April 25, 2019 and show the water above the dam being just a few inches higher than the water below the dam. This is a serious problem because it indicates that inadequate drainage from Shallow Lake is causing flooding upstream from Shallow Lake. This is particularly disturbing because we had no significant precipitation in the days immediately preceding 4-25-19. Had we had significant precipitation in the days preceding 4-25-19 it is possible that the water levels above and below the dam would be the same, and the elevated water in Wall Lake would have no where to go. This has occurred several times in recent years.
