Hello Hess Lake Residents,

Have you ever wondered how your property could impact the ecology of Hess Lake?

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Any work done on your shoreline in reference to seawalls or below the water line requires a permit from Michigan Environment Great Lakes Energy, EGLE, a State Agency. 

 

Please see link below to start the process in obtaining a permit to start your Shoreline Project.

 

https://www.michigan.gov/egle/-/media/Project/Websites/egle/Documents/Programs/WRD/Wetlands/JPA-Decision-Tree.pdf?rev=b04145906dda4925b43758512416cd62

 

Please see PDF shown below, “Minor Project Categories”, see Page 1 for Bioengineering Shoreline for Inland Lakes, see Page 41 for Seawalls, see Page 45 for RipRap

 

The bottom line, not obtaining a permit for shoreline modification activities is a violation of state statute and carries associated civil penalties/corrective actions that can be potentially costly to property owners. See state statue listed below.

 

The powers outlined in the stature, Section 324.30112 states the following:

Sec. 30112.

(1) The department may commence a civil action in the circuit court of the county in which a violation occurs to enforce compliance with this part, to restrain violation of this part or any action contrary to an order of the department denying a permit, to enjoin the further performance of, or order the removal of, any project that is undertaken contrary to this part or after denial of a permit by the department, or to order the restoration of the affected area to its prior condition.

(2) In a civil action commenced under this part, the circuit court, in addition to any other relief granted, may assess a civil fine of not more than $5,000.00 per day for each day of violation.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (4), a person who violates this part or a permit issued under this part is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000.00 per day for each day of violation.

(4) A person who commits a minor offense is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00 for each violation. A law enforcement officer may issue and serve an appearance ticket upon a person for a minor offense pursuant to sections 9c to 9g of chapter IV of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 764.9c to 764.9g.

(5) A person who knowingly makes a false statement, representation, or certification in an application for a permit or in a notice or report required by a permit, or a person who knowingly renders inaccurate any monitoring device or method required to be maintained by a permit, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000.00 per day for each day of violation.

(6) Any civil sanction assessed, sought, or agreed to by the department shall be appropriate to the violation.

 

EGLE contact for Shoreline Permits in Newaygo County

EGLE Office, Grand Rapids, Michigan  

John Delehanty, 616-256-3920

 

Note: The above Information was emailed to me from EGLE 

 

Take Care & Stay Safe,

 

Bob Ripstra, Hess Lake Summer Resident

rwripstra@outlook.com

248-680-9763