Platte Lake Improvement Association

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For many decades, a small dam on Bixler Road has created two small retention ponds that drain into Platte Lake. That dam is aging and when it fails it will dump a large amount of sediment and phosphorus into Platte Lake. The recent heavy rains put an enormous strain on the dam and draining culverts threatening to wash out the culverts and Bixler Road.

Fortunately, the Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) has devised a solution and have raised $290,000 to fund the project. Starting this May, they will be draining the ponds, removing the residual silt and the old dam. They will be replacing it with a new culvert, stream bed and repaving of Bixler Road. They are working closely with the Benzie Road Commission and the homeowners. They will be taking precautions to avoid any spillage of sediment into Platte Lake. Both the pond water and bottom sediment will be captured and hauled off site.

During the design phase of the project, the CRA explored the watershed of the stream for miles and found nothing unusual, only a forested habitat. They conducted a fish analysis of the stream and actually found small Coho Salmon swimming in it. This level of preparation is standard for the CRA team. The Bixler Project is just one of dozens of projects the CRA has undertaken within the Platte River watershed. You can learn more about their organization on their website rivercare.org. or by opening the documents linked below.

The Platte Lake Improvement Association met with the CRA to review the project and their strategies to mitigate any adverse effect on Platte Lake. The PLIA is supportive of the CRA and is comfortable that they have a good plan in place. We will be observing the project closely and have completed baseline testing of the phosphorus levels in the culvert discharge. We will continue to do so during the project.