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Residents press county on Houghton Lake gauges, datum discrepancies and flood risks
Summary
Multiple public commenters told the Roscommon County board they distrust recent lake‑level readings and said past decisions based on erroneous HiFi gauge data contributed to flooding; county staff said gates are open and that ice jams and downstream debris are under DNR jurisdiction.
Several residents used the meeting's public‑comment period to challenge the county's lake‑level data and ask about accountability. Greg Cotterman told the board he believed the county has been providing "misinformation for quite a long time" about the HiFi gauge's datum and said USGS and HiFi datums were being conflated; Cotterman argued that earlier court proceedings relied on inaccurate data.
County staff and commissioners responded with technical updates: the USGS gauges are now operating on the lakes, all Houghton Lake gates are open, and staff reported multiple ice jams and downriver debris (including ash trees) that the board said fall under DNR jurisdiction. Resident Dave Bisbee asked whether the county sought taxpayer refunds for the HiFi system that did not meet requirements and whether the lake manual provides enforceable corrective actions; the board said staff are coordinating with the DNR and that some responsibilities lie with state agencies rather than the county.
