Flooding
Eagle Lake & Crooked Lake: Lake Level Control Project Updates
Normal Lake Level Assessment Reduction
August 17, 2023
Texas Charter Township and the Office of the Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner have worked collaboratively with Senator Sean McCann and Representative Christine Morse to help alleviate the financial burden on property owners within the Lake Level District related to the Project. With the help of our legislators, we have secured a grant from the Michigan State Legislature to cover some of the Project costs. Therefore, all property owner assessments for the project will be reduced, as indicated in your new assessment amount you will be receiving in the mail.
We hope that the reduced assessments help to alleviate the financial burden on property owners related to this important Project. Please do not hesitate to reach out to (269) 290-1363 if you have any questions or concerns.
Normal Lake Level Assessment Prepayment Deadline Extended
The prepayment date for the Crooked and Eagle Lakes lake level assessment has been slightly extended to accommodate property owners that desire to prepay their assessment. The extended deadline is Monday, June 26 at 4:30PM. To coordinate prepayment, please visit the Office of the Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner located at 201 West Kalamazoo Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. You may also mail payment to the Drain Commissioner at that address, but please be aware of the prepayment deadline as late payments will not be received. Prepayments should be made by check in the amount owed and made payable to “Kalamazoo County.” Do not hesitate to contact the Drain Commissioner’s Office at 269-384-8117 or https://www.kalcounty.com/drain/.
Normal Lake Level Assessment Public Hearing
On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners approved the Crooked and Eagle Lakes - Normal Lake Level Assessment District.
Normal Lake Level Assessment Public Hearing
Held on May 17, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Texas Township Hall
Texas Charter Township has collaboratively worked with the Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner to establish lake levels on Crooked and Eagle Lakes under Part 307 of Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. This process was necessary to construct infrastructure to permanently control lake levels on both lakes to prevent future flooding and property damage after what occurred in 2018. After hard work and input from residents and stakeholders, the Township and Drain Commissioner were able to establish lake levels on both lakes and received permitting approvals for a permanent lake level project.
Public Hearing Documents
Resident Resources
- Letter to Residents
- Project/District FAQs
- Publication Notice
- Computation of Cost and Benefit Calculation
Please contact the Drain Commission Office at 269-290-1363 for more information.
Flood and high water levels have begun to recede in Texas Township since pumping commenced in May 2019. A Flooding Task Force was created to discuss the flooding issues and identify potential solutions.
View Flooding Task Force Meeting Agendas & Summaries
Updates:
- Crooked, Eagle, Pine Island, Bass, Duck, and Pretty Lake Levels (PDF), as of April 20, 2023
- Letter of Support from Senator McCann and Representative Morse
- Letter to Governor Re EGLE Permit
- Kalamazoo County Flood Risk Information Open House (PDF)
- Lake Level Control ESTIMATED Project Timeline (PDF) (Revised August 2021)
- EGLE Permit Timeline (PDF)
- Kalamazoo County Drain Commission Lake Level Report (PDF)
- Notice of Public Hearing – May 28, 2021 Court Hearing to Establish Lake Levels & SAD (PDF)
- Crooked, Eagle, and Pine Island Lake Drawdown Projections, updated September 3, 2020 (PDF)
- Groundwater Elevation Projections (PDF), updated September 3, 2020
- Groundwater Monitoring Results (PDF), as of October 31, 2019
- GEI Report – Weekly Wetland Monitoring (PDF), as of May 21, 2021
- GEI Report – Weekly Wetland Monitoring (PDF), as of May 14, 2021
- GEI Report – Weekly Wetland Monitoring (PDF), as of May 7, 2021
- GEI Report – Weekly Wetland Monitoring (PDF), as of April 30, 2021
- GEI Report – Weekly Wetland Monitoring (PDF), as of April 23, 2021
- GEI Reports – Weekly Wetland Monitoring
- EGLE – Wetland Stress Determination letter (PDF), October 10, 2019
- Dr. Douglas McLaughlin Letter on Wetland Impact (PDF), October 22, 2019
The short-term pumping project ended on August 26, 2021.
Lake Levels at End of Short-Term Project
- Eagle Lake: 14.16 inches about the Normal Lake Level
- Crooked Lake: 0.48 inches below the Normal Lake Level
- Pine Island Lake: 902.70 elevation, which is 31.68 inches below the highest point.
The Texas Township Board and staff are aware of the many flooding and water level issues affecting our residents. Historically, Texas Township has had many lakes and wetlands that collect runoff during storms but does not have a history of significant flooding.
In 2018, however, groundwater and lake levels did not recede following rain events as in the past. Typically, the evaporation in the summer is substantial. However, lake levels have been two or more feet above normal and are currently above the 100-year flood plain.
We have worked with our elected officials and engaged with Prein & Newhof, and specifically, a hydraulic engineer and Kalamazoo County Drain Commission, to evaluate and assess the impacted areas to determine what is causing the water issues and what can be done to fix the problem and prevent it from happening again in the future. View the Texas Township Flood Study Report from Prein & Newhof.
The Township held an informative and productive Town Hall Meeting on January 16, 2019, at 6:30 pm at KVCC, Dale B Lake Auditorium, to discuss potential funding options for flood mitigation. Resident input was much appreciated as the Board will be discussing funding options for the short-term solution in upcoming meetings. Click here to download the agenda or click here to download the presentation from that meeting.
The MDEQ held a public Hearing on the permit on Monday, February 11, 2019, to temporarily pump water from Eagle Lake and Crooked Lake into wetlands, Bass Lake, the West Fork of Portage Creek, and Atwater Mill Pond to relieve flooding. View documents at https://miwaters.deq.state.mi.us/miwaters/external/publicnotice/info/4158296997156391208/details
The MDEQ Permit was issued and signed on March 29, 2019 (and was revised May 16 to correct a clerical error). Both the Eagle Lake and Crooked Lake pumps are now operational and active, as of May 30, 2019.
At its April 22, 2019 meeting, the Township Board hosted the Flood Mitigation Special Assessment District No. 1 Public Hearing and Filing of Special Assessment Roll at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, 6767 West O Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI, Admissions Wing, Room 9130, within the Township, to review the special assessment roll and consider any objections to the special assessment roll.
Texas Township conducted a Flood Damage Assessment and asked all residents impacted by the flooding and high water levels to complete a survey to assess damages. This Flood Damage Assessment helped us to 1) identify the cause of the continued flooding and why we are not seeing relief; 2) identify a solution to reduce flooding and water levels, and 3) determine if the Township is eligible to apply for a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to assist in funding that solution. While a Notice of Intent was filed with the state in 2018, it was determined that the Township would not qualify because most of the impacted homes are not within the 100-year flood plain.
A Flooding Task Force was created at the September 10 Township Board Meeting to discuss the flooding issues and identify potential solutions. View the Flooding Taskforce
Legal Lake Level Town Hall Meeting
This meeting on establishing legal lake levels and the long term solution will take place Thursday, October 3 at 7 pm in the KVCC Dale B. Lake Auditorium
Information Sheet and Petition Language (PDF)
Legal Lake Level Town Hall Meeting PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)
- Because Texas Township is part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), insurance agents must provide flood insurance. Private insurance is an option, but it may be difficult to get given the current lake levels.
- The coverage limits are low for the NFIP policy ($250,000 max for building and $100,000 for content).
- NFIP Flood Insurance provides limited basement and basement contents coverage (make sure you know what is covered).
- NFIP Flood Insurance rates are subsidized/discounted.
- An elevation certificate is not required, but it is important in defining the frequency of flooding, and therefore you will get lower rates if you have one. This should be provided to the flood insurance agent.
- There is a 30 day wait period after the presentment of the premium before you can get flood insurance through NFIP.
- Texas Township could reduce NFIP flood insurance rates in the Township by getting involved with the CRS program (Community Rating System). This requires specific activities by the Township and can reduce rates by 5% to 45%.
Answers to questions about National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)