Home | Township Neighbors Network (TNN)

ENVIRONMENT, SEPTIC, & SEWER SYSTEMS

Septic Systems – Inspection, Care, and Treatment of Pumped Waste at Sewer Plant

Failure rates of modern septic systems are less than 1.0%. Cases of septic tank waste entering waters are nearly always from land disposal of pumped waste - grandfathered by the State - so authorities will not discuss it. What can we do locally?

LEARN MORE

LIFESTYLE, COMMUNITY, AND STORIES ALONGSHORE

Balancing Growth & Natural Preservation

Elk Rapids to Norwood. The good news is, that 50% of the shoreline has been preserved. What can we do locally? Walk the beach – Walk the Wilcox- Palmer-Shah Nature Preserve to see what the natural shoreline looks like. Apply what you see to your land.

LEARN MORE

LAND USE, PROPERTY RIGHTS, ZONING, DEEDS

Deed Restrictive Covenants - HOA’S & Zoning Law

Waterfront HOA’s have sent deed restrictive covenants to land- owners. these recorded covenants run with the land. It is incumbent on a buyer to discover restrictive covenants through title search and inquiries to the local HOA Board. Related: Docks/Hoists are accessory structures in zoning law. Milton and Torch Lake Townships require a 10' side setback. This zoning setback applies to docks on the Bay stored above OHWM (580.5 feet).

LEARN MORE

EAST AMR SHORELINE OF TRAVERSE BAY-EASTB

Sub Watershed Protection

EASTB Watershed has 4% of Grand Traverse Bay water inflows with 24 streams entering the Bay – twice that number in total (map) from Elk Rapids to Norwood. EASTB has forested residential living along East Bay beaches, inland living in dune settings, rural homes, villages, farms and businesses.

LEARN MORE

COASTAL, WETLANDS, AND WETLAND REMEDIES

Damage to coastal wetlands from extended high/low water

Great Lakes record highs in 2020 flooded lands from New York to Minnesota including coastal wetlands. Wildlife and people rely on nature’s sponges, soaking up water for slow release. Fewer wetlands mean more floods and erosion. Hundreds of plant and animal species are becoming displaced. What can we do locally?

LEARN MORE

RESILIENCE

ADAPT AND IMPROVISE FOR RESILIENCY

Active democracy overcame official inaction as homeowners acted resolutely. Antrim County, Lake Michigan coastal residents’ struggled for decades to protect East Bay's natural shoreline. The people’s efforts were overwhelmed by 2020 crisis high water. Spring and summer storms took 8 feet off a coved beach – 80 feet in 5 years. Homeowners hardened their shorelines with seawalls first on headlands, then high bluffs, and finally coved beaches. And also by sill-type offshore breakwaters.

LEARN MORE

LIFE AND DEATH OF THE AQUATIC FOOD CHAIN

An Autumn 2019 TNN Field study shows

There are very few macro-invertebrates found near the East Bayshore at Mitchell Creek. This is due to the lack of diverse habitats for colonization. (The Creek mouth detached from East Bay was not sampled). Invertebrates were few as are rooted plants which offer the best habitat for macroinvertebrate colonies. No birds, amphibians, fish, or aquatic plants to 3.3 feet were seen.

LEARN MORE

157 YEARS OF MANKIND ALTERING THE GREAT LAKES

Impact of 157 years of mankind’s alteration of the Great Lakes

Concluded 157 years of mankind’s diversions, re-channeling, and control structures amplify extreme water levels of Great Lakes since 1865 – Supports restoring natural 4-foot range (not 6’); bi-national field study of St. Clair River bottom contours. Damaging consequences of alterations amplify water level extremes. Record-setting high and low water are worse and more frequent due to an altered Great Lakes system since 1865: Diversions in (Long Lac-Ogoki L. Superior) and out of L. Michigan (Chicago ).

LEARN MORE

ENVIRONMENT, SEPTIC, & SEWER SYSTEMS

Septic Systems – Inspection, Care, and Treatment of Pumped Waste at Sewer Plant

Failure rates of modern septic systems are less than 1.0%. Cases of septic tank waste entering waters are nearly always from land disposal of pumped waste - grandfathered by the State - so authorities will not discuss it. What can we do locally?

LEARN MORE

LIFESTYLE, COMMUNITY, AND STORIES ALONGSHORE

Balancing Growth & Natural Preservation

Elk Rapids to Norwood. The good news is, that 50% of the shoreline has been preserved. What can we do locally? Walk the beach – Walk the Wilcox- Palmer-Shah Nature Preserve to see what the natural shoreline looks like. Apply what you see to your land.

LEARN MORE

LAND USE, PROPERTY RIGHTS, ZONING, DEEDS

Deed Restrictive Covenants - HOA’S & Zoning Law

Waterfront HOA’s have sent deed restrictive covenants to land- owners. these recorded covenants run with the land. It is incumbent on a buyer to discover restrictive covenants through title search and inquiries to the local HOA Board. Related: Docks/Hoists are accessory structures in zoning law. Milton and Torch Lake Townships require a 10' side setback. This zoning setback applies to docks on the Bay stored above OHWM (580.5 feet).

LEARN MORE

EAST AMR SHORELINE OF TRAVERSE BAY-EASTB

Sub Watershed Protection

EASTB Watershed has 4% of Grand Traverse Bay water inflows with 24 streams entering the Bay – twice that number in total (map) from Elk Rapids to Norwood. EASTB has forested residential living along East Bay beaches, inland living in dune settings, rural homes, villages, farms and businesses.

LEARN MORE

COASTAL, WETLANDS, AND WETLAND REMEDIES

Damage to coastal wetlands from extended high/low water

Great Lakes record highs in 2020 flooded lands from New York to Minnesota including coastal wetlands. Wildlife and people rely on nature’s sponges, soaking up water for slow release. Fewer wetlands mean more floods and erosion. Hundreds of plant and animal species are becoming displaced. What can we do locally?

LEARN MORE

RESILIENCE

ADAPT AND IMPROVISE FOR RESILIENCY

Active democracy overcame official inaction as homeowners acted resolutely. Antrim County, Lake Michigan coastal residents’ struggled for decades to protect East Bay's natural shoreline. The people’s efforts were overwhelmed by 2020 crisis high water. Spring and summer storms took 8 feet off a coved beach – 80 feet in 5 years. Homeowners hardened their shorelines with seawalls first on headlands, then high bluffs, and finally coved beaches. And also by sill-type offshore breakwaters.

LEARN MORE

LIFE AND DEATH OF THE AQUATIC FOOD CHAIN

An Autumn 2019 TNN Field study shows

There are very few macro-invertebrates found near the East Bayshore at Mitchell Creek. This is due to the lack of diverse habitats for colonization. (The Creek mouth detached from East Bay was not sampled). Invertebrates were few as are rooted plants which offer the best habitat for macroinvertebrate colonies. No birds, amphibians, fish, or aquatic plants to 3.3 feet were seen.

LEARN MORE

157 YEARS OF MANKIND ALTERING THE GREAT LAKES

Impact of 157 years of mankind’s alteration of the Great Lakes

Concluded 157 years of mankind’s diversions, re-channeling, and control structures amplify extreme water levels of Great Lakes since 1865 – Supports restoring natural 4-foot range (not 6’); bi-national field study of St. Clair River bottom contours. Damaging consequences of alterations amplify water level extremes. Record-setting high and low water are worse and more frequent due to an altered Great Lakes system since 1865: Diversions in (Long Lac-Ogoki L. Superior) and out of L. Michigan (Chicago ).

LEARN MORE

ENVIRONMENT, SEPTIC, & SEWER SYSTEMS

Septic Systems – Inspection, Care, and Treatment of Pumped Waste at Sewer Plant

Failure rates of modern septic systems are less than 1.0%. Cases of septic tank waste entering waters are nearly always from land disposal of pumped waste - grandfathered by the State - so authorities will not discuss it. What can we do locally?

LEARN MORE

Educating Full Time and Seasonal Residents on issues affecting: Quality of Life, Environment, and Property Rights.

Get Involved With TNN

Township Neighbors Network (TNN)

About Us

Initiatives & Interests

Get Involved with TNN

In Short TNN News

RESTORE FLOW – MITCHELL CREEK-KEWADIN

TRADITIONS OF WINTER SOLSTICE

PLEASE DONATE TO TNN - A 501(c)(3) CHARITY

Initiatives & Interests

LIFESTYLE, COMMUNITY, AND STORIES ALONGSHORE

Balancing Growth & Natural Preservation

Township Neighbors Network (TNN)