Barry County Drain Commissioner Jim Dull gave an update on the Crooked Lake flooding at the Barry County Commission Meeting Wednesday. DeWitt Dewatering has been removing water from the lake at a rate of 6,000 gallons a minute since Aug. 16 and, “everything worked just fine…the goal is for six inches of water, and more,” from the lake, he said.
Blocking the culvert on M-43 and backing water into 300 acres of wetlands has raised it by 12 inches, and the water is killing an invasive species of weed, “which is a plus,” Dull said.
He thanked several people and agencies for their response and stepping up and helping, including the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Barry County Road Commission, Michigan Department of Transportation and 87th District Rep. Julie Calley
“That’s not the only thing we’re doing, we’ve got other things going forward. We’ll keep plugging along and keep you updated,” he said.
Lake resident Sharon Ritchie thanked everyone for the progress being made in the short term, saying they are very grateful, but asked commissioners to find more help for Dull, deputy Drain Commissioner Tammy Berdecia and engineer Brian Cenci in finding a long-term solution before winter so the flooding doesn‘t happen again next spring.
“They seem to be doing most of the work; they need more help…this journey’s not over,” she said.
