PRESQUE ISLE – On August 10, 2026, the Presque Isle County Circuit Court will hold a hearing to establish seasonal lake levels for Grand Lake. The proposed change would establish seasonal lake levels so Grand Lake can be drawn down six inches each fall and refilled to the currently established lake level each spring.

Currently, the legal lake level for Grand Lake is set at a single, year-round level. The implementation of seasonal lake levels will allow the County to maintain a higher lake level in the summer for boating and recreation, and a lower level in the winter to alleviate issues such as shoreline erosion, ice damage and spring flooding.

“The County has recently received a significant amount of feedback from property owners requesting we consider implementing seasonal lake levels,” explained Bob Macomber, Presque Isle County Drain Commissioner and the County’s Delegated Authority responsible for maintaining the legal lake level on Grand Lake. “We took their feedback seriously and engaged in discussions with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy which is supportive of the proposed drawdown as long as the Court approves it.”

If approved by the Circuit Court, the current legal lake level of 593.69 feet NAVD88 would become the summer level. The winter level would be 593.19 feet NAVD88. The six-inch drawdown would begin on October 1 each year and take approximately two weeks to complete. The lake can be drawn down at a rate of approximately ¾ of an inch per day, and the estimated two-week period accounts for the likelihood of precipitation. Refilling to the summer level would begin in mid-April each year or “ice out” (when ice leaves the lake.

“Seasonally lowering a lake during the fall and winter is a well-established practice at several lake level control structures in Michigan,” said Mike Size, dam safety engineer for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). “When properly performed, seasonal lowering of lakes can both protect natural resources of the state and provide benefits to lakefront property owners. EGLE is supportive of the seasonal drawdown of Grand Lake as proposed by Presque Isle County.”

If approved by the Court, the seasonal lake levels will become effective immediately so a drawdown can take place for the 2026-27 winter season.

Grand Lake property owners or members of the public interested in learning more can watch a recorded webinar about the court hearing and seasonal lake levels by visiting the Presque Isle County Lake Levels website at presqueislelakelevels.org.