Updates:  


Monday, August 26th, 2024

There will be a treatment for phragmates this coming up Thursday.  There will be a limited swimming restriction (4 hours).


 Sunday, August 11, 2024

Lake Pro will be treating the lake this Tuesday (August 13th).  Get your swimming in either before Tuesday or after Wednesday, as there will be a one day swimming restriction.


Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Lake Pro will be out surveying this Thursday (Aug. 1st) with a potential treatment coming up in the following weeks.  We will update which day it will be.  

Tuesday, May 21st, 2024

Lake Pro will be out surveying tomorrow (Wednesday) and will treat the lake after Memorial Day.  Enjoy the lake this weekend!!  


Sunday, June 4th, 2023

Lake Pro will treat the lake tomorrow (June 5th) for algae and will follow up in another couple of weeks to do a submerged weed treatment.  

Monday, May 23, 2023

Lake Pro will be treating the lake sometime next week after the holiday.  This will be the second time this Spring season they will treat the lake.  Oakland County has been having a major algae bloom problem.  

Tuesday, May 16, 2023:

Lake Pro will be conducting another survey on Wednesday on both sides of the lake to assess the algae situation.  Oakland County has been experiencing a major algae problem this year.  We will get the survey results back from Lake Pro on Friday and they will be treating the lake on Monday.


Sunday, April 16, 2023:

A message from Phil, your DLA president: Residents on the lake have noted a very early and widespread blooming of algae throughout the lake with higher concentrations in Little Square Lake.  The DLA has contacted Lake Pro for a complete lake treatment next week.  Specific dates will. Be communicated when the dates are solidified. 


Unsafe ice could cut ice fishing season short, prompt early shanty removal

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that ice shanty removal dates are quickly approaching and to always use extreme caution when on the ice. Regardless of the set removal dates, changing ice conditions could require removal before those dates because all shanties must be removed once ice can no longer safely support them. Photo of Black Lake in Northern Michigan, on Feb. 4, 2023.

By 

Unseasonably warm weather resulting in weakened ice could lead to an early end of the ice fishing season throughout Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has set dates for shanty removals, but ice may not be safe for that long, officials said.

“Throughout most of the Lower Peninsula, Mother Nature, unfortunately, didn’t cooperate with us this year,” said acting Lt. Jeff Rabbers, DNR Law Enforcement Division. “As disappointing as it is that many anglers must cut their season short, safety is the DNR’s main priority. We want to make sure that everyone has ample opportunity to remove their shanties before conditions become unsafe.”

The DNR is instructing those who venture out onto the ice to use “extreme caution” as temperatures begin to rise and fluctuate. Repeated thawing and refreezing weaken ice. That deterioration along with water currents, high winds and the additional weight of people, vehicles and equipment, can lead to pressure cracks. These cracks can leave anglers – or shanties – stranded on ice floes or at risk of falling through the ice.


1/26/2023

Well # 2 Service Update:

Well # 2 repairs are complete, and it was back in service mid-July, 2022. The motor and electrical service wiring required replacement. The pump itself tested satisfactory, so it was reinstalled. Only having to replace the electric motor and wiring was a significant cost savings. The total cost for this service call was $15,718. The funding for this repair came from the SAD monies collected for well maintenance and service. While we can’t predict the future, based on the well contractor’s comments (Ed Birkmeier Well Drilling), we can expect many more years of reliable output from this well.

DLA Pump Committee



1/25/2023

No Wake Ordinance for Square Lake

We currently have 3 ordinances for our lake;

1. Charter Township Ordinance #17 – adopted 12/14/1966. This ordinance establishes the portion of Square Lake west of the railroad bridge as Little Square lake as a “Slow – No Wake” area. It  also establishes fines of not more than $100 and/or imprisonment in the county Jail for a period not to exceed 90 days.

2. Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Little Square Lake – R281.763.10 – Slow-no wake speed – adopted 8/15/1967. Limiting any motorboat to a slow-no wake speed.

3. Orion Township Ordinance #140 – adopted 3/3/2008. Stating: ”…it is unlawful for the operator of a vessel to: operate a vessel powered by a motor, except an electric motor.” Under the intent section 1, it states: “An ordinance to regulate the speed of vessels and to provide for the safe use of waters…”

A Sheriff Deputy from the Lake Orion patrol has stated that there is an ordinance which limits all lakes with a “no-wake zone of 100’ from the shore line. No wake speed is defined as fast enough to maintain steerage, slow enough to ensure propagated wave dissipates before it hits shore line/docks, etc. As that ordinance stands it would limit any high speed use on the lake to a small strip down the middle of our lake.

In a board meeting on 6/30/22 there was much discussion concerning the safety of speeding vessels on our lake. With several sand bars allowing play, swimming, walking and fishing on them throughout the lake as well as the slower moving kayaks, paddle boards, canoes, swimmers, sail boats, row and paddle boats there would be no room for a speeding vessel without endangering others using the lake. The DLA board decided that for the safety of all residents who use the lake, we would need to ensure safe speed limits.

A motion was passed to petition Orion Township at the public hearing on 7/2/2022 to expand the no-wake regulation currently on Little Square Lake to include the rest of the lake. Representing the DLA, Philip Bone attend the township meeting and made the request. The township responded in the meeting that they considered this very important not only for our lake but for all lakes that have a similar ordinance.

We were then requested by the township to file a formal petition with signatures. Which we supplied with over 80 signatures. Here is the wording on that petition

“We, the undersigned property owners, having either riparian rights or access privileges on Square Lake, petition the township of Orion to adopt an ordinance where any water vehicle cannot exceed the “no wake” standard of 5 miles an hour on Square Lake located in then Township of Orion. This is to protect the safety of the users of the lake and the operators of the water vehicles since there are numerous sand bars and low spots in the lake that could cause serious injury if hit at higher speeds. Nor does the size of the lake support safe use at higher speeds.”


No Wake Ordinance for Square Lake


There will be a township meeting on 2/6/2023 to discuss the proposed ordinance and hopefully have a legal ordinance approved that will make all of Square Lake a No-wake zone. Our focus at that meeting will be to ensure the continuation of the current electric motor ordinance and expand the No-wake ordinance to include the whole lake, on both the east and west sides of the bridge. The creation of this expanded ordinance will not have any fees or costs associated with its creation, passing or enforcement.

There may be fines and penalties for violation of the ordinance.

This document and meeting minutes, summaries and results of the Township’s meeting will be posted on the Square Lake website, www.squarelake.net . If you have any questions or concerns or comments, please contact your DLA Board member and they will be happy to address them.


DLA Board of Directors

January 22,2023