March 15, 2017

I appreciate your concerns, and I would like to provide some information in response. This is a project that is 30+ years in the making. When the Michigan DNR designs a Boat Access Site, (BAS), we use a rough formula of 1 boat per every 15 acres of lake surface. Since White Lake is 540 acres, our goal is approximately 36 parking spaces for vehicles with boat trailers. It is not a firm number, and some BAS have more spaces than the formula, some have less. The original design at White Lake BAS was constructed to include 13 spaces not because it was determined to be the appropriate number, but because the original State owned parcel was too small to accommodate any more. Almost from the start, the DNR began experiencing complaints from our neighbors on the west and north about boaters lining up on Engleman and Lakeside Drive, since the original design forced boaters onto those County roads. Once I took over administration for White Lake BAS in the mid-1990s, I started pushing for a re-design that would eliminate the conflicts with our neighbors and increase the capacity. Over the years, the design process has been a collaborative effort between me, my 2 District Planners, 2 District Supervisors, Lansing Parks and Recreation Division staff, and our professional design consultant, PEA Inc. Any project of this scope involves a delicate balancing act where we are trying to satisfy various competing interest groups. No one ever gets exactly what they want, but the goal is maximizing the benefit to the greatest number of people.

In 2013, plans were completed for a re-design of the existing site and the DNR was gearing up for construction that would increase the parking to 20 spaces.  But before the project began, an adjacent parcel became available and the State of Michigan worked with that land owner on an acquisition.  The design process was then re-started. The additional land provides a number of benefits including improved safety, improved site flow, upgrades to accessibility for disabled users, better storm water drainage, and eliminating the traffic on the county roads behind the site that has been a constant source of irritation for our neighbors. 

As for an increase to the traffic on the lake, the current site does see use beyond its size on weekends.  Although, by policy, we don’t allow boaters to launch once the parking lot is full, some boaters , (especially those in organized fishing tournaments), have figured out that as long as they keep at least 1 space open, they can launch an unlimited number of boats and park at the neighboring marina or other sites. The expansion in parking will basically provide space for those currently parking elsewhere that are already using the lake. Another repeated complaint, raised by the WLCL members, was the nearly “100 illegally anchored boats” on the Lake.  The belief is that boaters launch once in the spring and never leave the lake all summer, either anchoring/tying up illegally or some  property owners are allowing friends/family a place to dock. Unfortunately, the size of the parking lot would have no effect on this activity.

Although we are adding a total of 17 new parking spaces, 5 of them will be not available for general boat trailer parking; 2 spaces will be restricted to park staff/law enforcement, (1 vehicle only, 1 vehicle & trailer), 2 will be vehicle only, (allowing for parking for a boater who may have friends come out in a 2nd car), and 1 additional ADA, (disabled), space, (vehicle only).

If there are safety concerns on the lake, both the Oakland County Sheriff’s Dept. and the DNR Law Enforcement do monitor activities on White Lake.  If you do see concerns, there is a DNR hotline you can call 24/7 to report those issues.  Just call 1-800-292-7800.

As far as your comment about there being no notification, please be aware that I attended a meeting of the White Lake Citizens League, (WLCL), in August 2015, to hear their concerns about the re-design as well as other issues. A few days later, various members of the DNR, including myself,  attended another  meeting where representatives from the WLCL,  Oakland County Sheriff’s Dept., Oakland County Road Commission, State Senator Mike Kowall, and State Representative Jim Runstead were all present.  The DNR did respond to a number of questions brought forward by the Citizens League, including concerns about design plans.  We agreed to provide a copy of the design plan, once it was completed, to the WLCL. We subsequently supplied the plans to the WLCL, inviting comment(s).  We have also kept in contact with the Highland Township Office, throughout the process.

I hope this helps,

Bill

William Althoff

Park Supervisor

Highland Recreation Area

5200 Highland Road

White Lake, MI 48383

Phone 248-889-3750

FAX 248-889-8205

althoffw@michigan.gov

"Opt-in to the outdoors! Support the Recreation Passport. Learn more at: www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport"