Mission Statement:
The Riparian Committee, under the direction of the HLPOA Board, acts as a study group and resource, making recommendations to the board on the wide range of riparian issues affecting Higgins Lake.
Objectives:
- Act as a resource for the HLPOA board by gathering and assembling information on the broad range of riparian issues affecting Higgins Lake, including marinas, road ends, funneling, illegal mooring, zoning ordinances, liability, enforcement, etc.
- Help the HLPOA board to educate members and the broader Higgins Lake community through dissemination of important, usable riparian information, including through the HLPOA website.
- Provide a resource for the HLPOA board for riparian issues raised by HLPOA members and other interested parties.
- Help the HLPOA board to formulate appropriate actions and policies with regard riparian concerns.
- Act as a resource for the HLPOA board and the HLPAC on riparian issues being considered by local and state governments and encourage them to develop and protect riparian rights on the lake.
- Act as a resource and information sharing center for riparians on lakefront ownership issues.
Marina Policy Approved by Members July 15, 2017:
Marinas, whether illegal, unauthorized or ones that are legally permitted, constitute “funneling” of multiple boats on to the lake through a small area of shoreline. To the extent that these “marinas” are not controlled, they can result in overcrowding and cause adverse consequences to the quality of Higgins Lake, the rights of its riparian owners and those of legal users.
It is the policy of the HLPOA to oppose illegal, unauthorized marinas and illegally moored boats. The HLPOA will undertake such action as it determines is necessary and advisable to remove illegal, unauthorized marinas and illegally moored boats. With regard to requests to expand existing legal marinas or to create new legal marinas, it is the policy of the HLPOA to oppose expansion or the creation of new marinas unless each of the following is established:
- The use will not cause substantial or significant harm to the quality of Higgins Lake
- The use will not adversely affect the rights of Higgins Lake riparian owners.
- The use will not cause a significant adverse effect on the use of the waters of Higgins Lake by boats legally using it.
- The use is legal in all respects.
Riparian Committee Presentation at the July 15, 2017 HLPOA Annual Meeting
Attached below are two documents presented at this year’s Annual Meeting by Jim Vondale, Chair of the Riparian Committe. The first is his presentation on the activities of the Committee. The second is the Marina Policy, passed by the members at the 2017 meeting.
Riparian Committee Presentation at July 2016 HLPOA Annual Meeting
Attached below is a presentation by Jim Vondale, Chair of the HLPOA Riparian Committee at the 2016 Annual Meeting