Mr. [Russ] Yarger,

Welcome to the Barry County Drain Commission. My wife, Marge, & I are homeowners on Jordan Lake. We have been very involved, as you probably know, with lake level issues over the past 8+ years. While we now have a very workable plan for operation of the Jordan Lake Dam, many other issues with the flow of water through the County drain system remain.

Certainly, first & foremost, are the Brown Road culverts which are 200 yards downstream of the Dam. Not only do these culverts and Brown Road, by their design, constitute another Dam during periods of high water, but they further impede the flow because much debris and vegetation growth has accumulated over the years.

As a matter of fact, a good portion of the culverts and sections of the Little Thornapple have much debris blocking the flow as it was designed with the building of the Dam in 1958. Much has changed from the 1950 study of the area's water flow. In Ionia County, the drain ditches are much larger & better maintained, the field tiling is at least 80% greater and the storm sewer drains in the Village of Lake Odessa are much larger and more extensive.

It is my understanding that the purpose of the recently established Drain District was to provide funds to correct the flow problems beyond the Jordan Lake Dam. The December, 2007 tax statements for residents within the District indicate a charge for the Little Thornapple River. It is my understanding that the fund established through this tax collection was to be used to begin work on improving the downstream flow of the River. However, after viewing the Drain records at your office, it appears that much of these funds were used to pay the Engineering Consultants and the Attorneys for the paperwork establishing the Drain District.

With that said, the question still remains. When do you plan to begin clearing the culverts and River of the long accumulated debris?

Michael Cary
President, Jordan Lake Association