Watch out is the key phrase here.  You may not be able to do what you are thinking.  We have been around the lakes for the years and talk to many of our lake front home buyers for years after they buy.  We know Oakland County lakes very good and have dealt with many questions about lake vegetation many times.  As one of SE Michigan's top lake realtor sometimes we have to give bad news to lake home buyers. Basically We have to burst their bubble or dream by telling them something that contradicts what they believe or think they can do. In this video below we talk about water vegetation and what you the lake home buyer can or cannot do. Many lake home buyers believe that lake vegetation can just be pulled out.

We will try to tell you how our Michigan DEQ views lake vegetation and it’s removal.  In 99% percent of the cases you CANNOT PULL OUT THE VEGETATION.  The basic reason that the DEQ does not want you to remove vegetation from the lake is because it upsets the balance of nature.  The vegetation provides protection and shelter to fish, frogs and other aquatic life.  They don’t want you pouring weed killer on them that might damage the lake.  They don’t want you to pull them out because even the lake bottom (the lake muck or lake soil) even holds aquatic life that you are uprooting and possibly killing.  So that is basically why Michigan DEQ does not like lake vegetation to be disturbed.

Most of the time will allow you to have an area to pull your boat up to a dock.  The won’t usually let you dredge out cattails.  You usually have to do a boardwalk through the cattails to get out to the lake.  Lily pads are more likely to be able to be cleared to get a boat parked.  It is the same with marshy ground around the lake.  You can’t disturb it and if you fill it in the DEQ may make you remove it.  That can be very costly.   But it is up to the DEQ on what you can and cannot do.  Give them a call.

$1,200,000

10736 Bogie Lake Road

White Lake Township, MI

Beds: 4 • Baths: 3 full/1 partial

$700,000

10045 Highland Road

White Lake Township, MI

Beds: 4 • Baths: 4 full

$774,900

632 Sunnybeach Drive

White Lake Township, MI

Beds: 3 • Baths: 2 full/1 partial

$1,099,900

1745 Ridge Road

White Lake Township, MI

Beds: 4 • Baths: 3 full/1 partial

$955,000

3453 ORMOND Road W

White Lake Township, MI

Beds: 3 • Baths: 2 full/1 partial

We want our lake home buyers to understand this upfront. We do not want to just sell a house based on assumptions. It’s more important to us that you know the facts up front and then make a decision. Some realtors would just nod their heads at your statement of “we will clean up the lilly pads.”  We want you to understand what you may encounter even though it may kill that home deal.  We want you to know that the lily pad removal is controlled by a state agency that may not allow you to do what you are thinking or saying.  We want you to be informed and make a smart decision based on your needs.  We hope this article on lake vegetation and what you can do with it helps you in your search for lake home.  We don’t want you to buy an Oakland County lake home with lily pads and cattails thinking you will be able to pull them out.  We want you to have an idea of what you may encounter with state laws and regulations.  Know before you buy is my thinking.  Once again we want you to make good buying decisions.

The Bertera Ravary Team your local metro Detroit lake realtor. 248-310-6239

Here are some links you may want to check out.  There are not very many foreclosures out there and there are even less lake home foreclosures

Lake foreclosures on Carroll Lake in Commerce Michigan

Lake Foreclosures on Cass Lake in Waterford Michigan

Homes for sale on Big Lake Davisburg MI

Homes for sale on Bogie lake in White Lake MI

Homes for sale on Brendel Lake White Lake MI