COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – You may recall last year at this time, the Branch County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol issued a Boaters Alert for entering and exiting Coldwater Lake at the Warren Road Bridge and Long Lake Channel.
Branch County Drain Commissioner Michael Hard said heading into the Independence Day holiday last year that the water level in the sandbar area was low.
Sand build up has made the Warren Road Bridge difficult or impassable at times and the Coldwater Lake Association is trying to do something about it.
Lake Association President Dennis Babjack says the winter ice flows, larger boats and natural lake currents have been among the causes and they plan to dredge in a few days once fish spawning season ends.
Babjack says keeping access open to the chain of lakes is a convenience, not an entitlement. He points out the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Branch County, Ovid Township, adjacent property owners or the lake associations are not financially responsible for dredging the channel open or removing sand build up.
The Coldwater Lake Association began to accept donations for the dredging project last summer. Donations can be made on line at www.coldwaterlakeassociation.com.
