The legal rights to use public road ends that border an inland lake has long been a topic of uncertainty, and occasionally contention in Oakland County and throughout the state of Michigan.

Land and water harmonize to compose Michigan into an outdoorsman’s paradise with lakes and streams and rivers bordered by four of the Great Lakes – Superior, Huron, Erie and Michigan. Much like a Lennon and McCartney masterpiece, land and water create the paradise but contaminants from residential, industry and agriculture threaten to break up that harmony.

Surrounded by one-fifth of the planet’s fresh surface water, Michigan is full of boating and freshwater recreation opportunities for residents even if they don’t own lakefront property, which is why to help ensure that all residents and visitors can access the five Great Lakes and many of the state’s 11,000-plus inland lakes, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages nearly 1,300 public boat launch and access sites and more than 82 public harbors across the s

Great Blue Herons and Great White Egrets are often described as mysterious and majestic – so much so that the National Audubon Society uses the Great White Egret in flight as its symbol. These common wading birds are found in wetland areas from South America to Canada and they're quite prevalent in Michigan and across Oakland County.

Dinosaurs, lizards, and turtles all roamed the Earth some 200 million years ago. Although dinosaurs became extinct, the other two survived and still inhabit the planet. Turtles are more prevalent in warmer climates, with 357 known species worldwide, 10 of which call Michigan home. This diverse array of turtles is vital to the ecosystem, spanning wetlands, lakes, rivers, and streams. They serve as “garbage collectors” and play an essential role in the food chain, providing be

Michigan has over one million private residential wells, serving an estimated 2.6 million people, comprising about 30 percent of all residents, according to the state. In Oakland County alone there are an estimated 100,000 private residential wells.

During the early 1990s farmers across the nation, as well as in Michigan, began applying biosolids – fertilizer sludge produced from human waste processed at wastewater treatment facilities – to farmland where produce for humans and animals were grown.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit will once again be patrolling Oakland County’s lakes this summer, but a tight budget means stretched resources to cover its more than 450 navigable lakes.