HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1987.09.03 - 17937Miscellaneous Resolution # 87231 September 3, 1987
BY: David L. Moffitt, County Commissioner-District #15
RE: DEVELOPMENT OF OAKLAND COUNTY INLAND LAKE SURVEY POLICY
TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Mr. Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the approximately 144 squre mile area containing most of
Oakland County's 1,163 inland lakes hasexperienced a 39 percent increase in
population since 1970 and is growing at a rate more than twice that of Oakland
County as a whole; and
WHEREAS this continued intensive development has been conclusively
linked to the deposit of phosphorous, reduction of oxygen and increase in
alkalinity in lakes, reducing their clarity and ability to support marine life
and ultimately their recreational utility; and
WHEREAS the Department of Natural Resources has only been able to
re-test 25 out of 95 lakes originally sampled in the 1970's for minimal
information regarding the lakes' phosphorous and oxygen content, alkalinity
and nitrogen levels and funds are not available to expand even this minimal
surveillance; and
WHEREAS the declining quality of Oakland County's lakes, including Walnut
Lake, have been the subject of considerable recent unfavorable media
attention, for example, a front page story in the Detroit News, July 5, 1987,
amongst others; and
WHEREAS the County of Oakland, an innovative, forward-looking county
should be prepared to meet the challenge such development and lack of state
resources presents to the continued viability of its inland lakes; and
WHEREAS the likelihood of obtaining these needed additional resources
through the state is slight.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners does hereby direct the Environmental Health Division, in absence
of likely state assistance, to prepare recommendations for development of a
county lake testing and survey policy.
Mr. Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
David L. Moffitt
County Commissicner, District #15
f87231 September 3, 1987
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Health & Human Services
Committee. There were no objections.