Urban stormwater is a documented source of pollutants from impervious areas of a community’s business and residential districts. With the proximity of Bear Lake to this urban area, both the Village and the BLWA determined a plan was needed to protect the water quality of the lake.

In October 2013, a grant application was filed with Michigan DEQ to fund the development of a stormwater asset management plan and stormwater management plan for the Greater Bear Watershed.

The Village of Bear Lake’s stormwater system is a typical, aging municipal infrastructure system. It is approximately 2.0 miles in length and consists of storm sewer pipes predominantly ranging in diameter sizes from 6” to 30”. The storm sewer pipes consist of mainline sewer, catch basin leads, and culverts. In 2019, the Spicer Group was retained to develop a Stormwater Asset Management Plan, funded by the Michigan SAW grant.

Spicer Engineering Group prepared a scope of work to develop a comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan in support of SAW Grant Application in 2017.