From the President of the Klinger Lake Association
October, 2022
Recently, I’ve received some inquiries from KLA members regarding use of the lake. There’s nothing new here: just a reminder of a few basics about Michigan ‘riparian’ laws. (In Michigan, inland lakefront property ownership conveys ‘riparian’ rights, just like owners of waterfront property on rivers and streams. Owners of waterfront property on the Great Lakes have different rules.) If you’re really interested, a great resource is located at https://mymlsa.org/government-and-legal-issues/riparian-rights-in-michigan/.
In brief, if you own lakefront property on Klinger Lake, you own a triangular piece of the ‘bottomlands’ (the surface under the water). The three corners of the triangle are: the ends of your property lines where they meet the edge of the water and a theoretical point at the center of the lake. As a riparian, you are allowed to install a dock anchored to your bottomland (among other rights). The law holds that there are limits to the length of dock / placement of swim rafts / etc. Subject to a few limitations, anyone may temporarily anchor/moor their vessel on your bottomland. (The key word is temporarily.) This means, for example, that a fisherman is allowed to anchor temporarily directly in front of your dock to fish. He/she may not anchor/moor their boat overnight. Likewise, a family on a pontoon boat can legally temporarily anchor on your bottomland and play in the lake. They may not keep their boat there overnight.
All these examples are subject to ‘common sense’ limitations (if that still exists!). For example, while would be legal for a group of revelers to anchor adjacent to my dock and play loud music, it wouldn’t be courteous. Likewise, it would be legal for me to play loud music anytime a fisherman is trying to catch bass under my dock, but it wouldn’t be courteous.
Klinger Lake is a large body of water with many excellent areas for fishing, boating and playing in shallow sandy areas. There’s almost nowhere along the shoreline that supports all three activities. Applying common courtesy we should be able to share this beautiful place.
Mike Needham
President, Klinger Lake Association
In brief, if you own lakefront property on Klinger Lake, you own a triangular piece of the ‘bottomlands’ (the surface under the water). The three corners of the triangle are: the ends of your property lines where they meet the edge of the water and a theoretical point at the center of the lake. As a riparian, you are allowed to install a dock anchored to your bottomland (among other rights). The law holds that there are limits to the length of dock / placement of swim rafts / etc. Subject to a few limitations, anyone may temporarily anchor/moor their vessel on your bottomland. (The key word is temporarily.) This means, for example, that a fisherman is allowed to anchor temporarily directly in front of your dock to fish. He/she may not anchor/moor their boat overnight. Likewise, a family on a pontoon boat can legally temporarily anchor on your bottomland and play in the lake. They may not keep their boat there overnight.
All these examples are subject to ‘common sense’ limitations (if that still exists!). For example, while would be legal for a group of revelers to anchor adjacent to my dock and play loud music, it wouldn’t be courteous. Likewise, it would be legal for me to play loud music anytime a fisherman is trying to catch bass under my dock, but it wouldn’t be courteous.
Klinger Lake is a large body of water with many excellent areas for fishing, boating and playing in shallow sandy areas. There’s almost nowhere along the shoreline that supports all three activities. Applying common courtesy we should be able to share this beautiful place.
Mike Needham
President, Klinger Lake Association
KLA sponsored sign at the Klinger Lake Public Access site