UNION CITY, MI (WTVB) – The Village of Union City posted on its Facebook page Wednesday that after hitting a low point of just over two-point-seven feet below normal pool on September 22, Union Lake is making a steady comeback.
The statement went on to say the lake is now within a foot of the top of the gates at the Riley Dam. The lake has gained over an inch per day since September 22 and it’s on pace to be back to normal by October 20.
The video shows the dam and the Union Lake public boat launch as water levels continue to rise.
Under three inches of rain has fallen since the first of August and the lack of rain has led to low water levels throughout Branch County.
Branch County Drain Commissioner Mike Hard said in a letter to Branch County Administrator Frank Walsh on September 30 that there is no Legal Lake Level established for Union Lake so his office has no legal authority or funds for the lake.
He added in his letter that Union Lake property owners have wondered why the Hodunk Dam has been closed and no water was being sent down the river. His office informed them they have to maintain a Legal Lake Level for the North Chain of Lakes.
Hard told County Commissioners on Thursday morning that this is the first in the 22 years he’s been on the job that all lakes in the county are below summer lake levels.
While the Riley Dam has had water levels as much as two to three feet below normal, the South Chain including Coldwater Lake and Marble Lake have had levels approaching four inches below their spillways which has impacted the water flow in the Coldwater and Sauk Rivers.
The National Weather Service says Coldwater received just over a half inch of rain on Tuesday, hardly enough to make a dent in a precipitation deficit that is now more than six inches for the year.
The latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor on Thursday showed all of Branch County is still in what is considered a moderate drought.
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