Muskegon County is rich in surface water! There are numerous inland lakes in Muskegon County including: White Lake, Duck Lake, Muskegon Lake, Bear Lake, Mona Lake and Little Black Lake which accounts for around 9,600 acres of surface water. These lakes discharge into Lake Michigan; the crown jewel of Muskegon County. Numerous rivers and streams feed our inland lakes including White River, Muskegon River, Bear Creek, and Black Creek.
Many people do not realize that there are over 290 county drains accounting for hundreds of miles of surface water within Muskegon County and most are situated at the upper reaches our streams and lakes. For example, Twin Lake, which is part of the headwaters of Bear Creek, discharges into a county drain that becomes a branch of Bear Creek. Over 49 miles of the Black Creek Consolidated drain flow together to become Black Creek that flows into Mona Lake. We know that what happens on the land and in upstream waters directly impacts the quality of downstream rivers, lakes, and ultimately Lake Michigan. For those who care about the value and quality of our surface water, understanding county drains is a large part of the equation.
Most county drains were created in the late 1800s and early 1900s to facilitate development and farming within the wetland rich county. These drains remain under the jurisdiction of the Water Resources Commissioner’s office. When county drains were originally created during this time period, many natural streams were straightened and moved (often using dynamite) and large expanses of wetlands were drained-- before we fully understood the negative impact of these actions. When environmental protection laws were enacted in the late 1970s, most Drain Commissioner’s activities were exempt from having to seek permits from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy. That changed significantly in 2013 with amendments to state law.
The Water Resources Commissioner and her staff are responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of county drains. These systems are designed to provide drainage, prevent flooding, and maintain water quality. County drains come in a variety of types including: open ditches, naturalized streams, underground pipes, swales, or even detention/retention ponds. Learn more about the changing role and responsibilities of this office by exploring our website.