Lake Levels & Dams

From Newaygo County Drain Commissioner Dale Twing:
 
We are experiencing very low levels in all of our county lakes as well as in those throughout the state. Even the rivers are extremely low. As Drain Commissioner I am in charge of seven legally established lake levels. Three of these have different seasonal levels and we take boards in and out of a dam structure to make this change. These are engineered to coincide with the levels that have been established by court order. These are consistently done on the established dates. 
The reason that lakes are low and yet water still flows over the dam is because evaporation and the lack of incoming water aren’t in balance. No dam is usually intended to totally stop the discharge of water. Most lakes are part of a bigger watershed and the people downstream need water also.
The current drought  is an issue that everyone is currently dealing with and only Mother Nature can solve.