Below is the "Welcome Letter" that new residents to our Square Lake community will receive...

WELCOME ….NEW OWNERS /  RESIDENTS TO SQUARE LAKE/ Orion Twp.

We are glad that you have decided to make your new home in our community. We look forward to getting to know you better.

You’ll be able to enjoy swimming, kayaking, paddle boards, paddle boats, electric boats including pontoon boats, sailboats, etc, all in a safe No-Wake lake.  Play on the  several sandbars in the lake where you can enjoy frisbee, volleyball games or just hang out.   Special events organized by volunteers are scheduled throughout the year.  Check out those events and lots of information on our facebook page (Residents of Square Lake-Orion Township) and a website (www.squarelake.ne

Surrounding Square Lake are 5 subdivisions: (see enclosed map)  Sunset Hills & SSH #1

                                                                                                Little Square Lake

                                                                                                Pleasant View

                                                                                                Avalon Beach              

                                                                                                North End (unicorporated)

The President of each of these subdivisions plus 1 main alternate make up the DISAPPEARING LAKES ASSOCIATION BOARD…. plus a volunteer secretary and treasurer.   There are some 300 residents -some lakefront as well as residents with lake privileges.

You may wonder about our name. 

In the mid-late 1970’s the water level in our lake started to drop approximately 3 feet.  The area along Heights Rd (North End Subdivision) known as Kelly’s Park was bought by a developer and subdivided into lakefront lots.  They also dug 2 canals coming out of Lake Orion (along the north side of Heights Rd). This disturbed the natural recharge waters that had been feeding Square Lake.  All 5 subdivisions organized into a governing board called Disappearing Lakes Association to fight this devastation.  The DNR claimed immunity even though no permits were issued to dig the canals.  We sued the developer and we were able to receive a financial judgement of $217,000.  The monies were utilized to fund studies/ install test wells and eventually install a pump producing approx. 500 g.p.m. to maintain the original lake level.  When the production fell off, a second well was installed.  Both pumps currently operate from early spring to late fall.  Prior to the drop in lake levels, we were considered the 2nd cleanest lake in Oakland County.

To further assist with maintenance of wells, control weeds and algae and pay the commercial electrical costs to run the pumps, three special assessment districts were set up with Orion Township.  The SAD’s are set up for 5-year periods with anticipated costs to fund each SAD throughout that time frame.  Orion Township includes these assessments on each residents’ tax bill. 

Ordinances for the lake include no gas motor boats (electric only) with a 5 mph ‘no wake’ provision.

Please review the list of DLA Board Members with contact information for each of the 5 subdivisions. Should you have any further questions or concerns, please give them a call.

ENC.  Map and DLA contact list

DISAPPEARING LAKE ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS