Lake Regulations
This page provides regulations concerning lakes and lake property owners.
Lake Level
The Austin Lake dam is set at 855.64 feet above sea level. The lake level is monitored by United States Geological Survey and can be viewed at their website: Austin Lake USGS. Note that when viewing the lake level information, the Datum of the gage (which is the zero of the gage) is set to 850.15 feet above sea level. Thus, a reading of 6 on the gage is 856.15 (6 + 850.15) feet above sea level. Click for more information.
Governmental Lake Boards
A Governmental Lake Board (GLB) is a legal entity which is designed to act on behalf of the lake property owners (note: The Austin Lake Riparian Board is not a GLB). The GLB consists of County and City representatives and must have at least one lake property owner as a member.
Austin Lake's GLB was first established by Portage City Council on April 23, 1996, went dormant and then reactivated on August 12, 2009. Possible lake projects are referred by the Portage City Council to the GLB for evaluation and possible implementation. The GLB can request property assessments to pay for the projects. The GLB must follow Michigan regulations which are spelled out in Chapter 324 of the “Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.”
Michigan's Governmental Lake Boards
Email from AJ Spicer concerning docks and lake bottomlands
Boating Regulations
Miscellaneous Regulations