Intermediate Lake Association

10/09/2026

REMINDER!! PLEASE RSVP!

Bellaire Dam Tour & Update
Saturday, October 17th at 2pm
Meet at Forest Home Township Hall

This is a second reminder of an upcoming opportunity for you to stay informed on the Bellaire Dam expansion project and the other associated projects and activities. We are hosting another progress report on October 17, beginning at 2pm, starting at the Forest Home Township Hall in Bellaire (rain or shine).
We will start by giving an update on the work, including progress on the Bellaire Dam project, dredging plans, Charlevoix county involvement and the Special Assessment Districts (SAD’s). We have important progress to share!

Following that we will walk across the street to Richardi Park for a tour of the Bellaire Dam. Don’t miss this opportunity! Our hosts will be Leslie Meyers, Operator of Dams for Antrim County and Sam Harsh, Assistant Operator of Dams.

We know this is a hot topic and thus we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to stay informed and learn more about this key work. Since our last update during the ILA Annual Meeting in August there has been significant forward progress on a number of fronts in the overall project! So stay informed and come tour the dam as well!

Following the tour, for those who are so inclined, we invite you to wander down to Short’s for some socializing with your other ILA members.
Please RSVP! We need to know how many to expect [email protected]

09/15/2026

BELLAIRE DAM TOUR & UPDATE

When: Saturday, October 17 @ 2pm

Where: Meet at Forest Home Township Hall

In a continuing effort to keep our ILA membership informed on the Bellaire Dam expansion project and all its associated work and activities, your association is hosting another progress report on October 17, beginning at 2pm, starting at the Forest Home Township Hall in Bellaire.

We will start by giving an update on the work, including progress on the Bellaire Dam project, dredging plans, and the Special Assessment Districts (SAD’s).

Following that, we will walk across the street to Richardi Park for a tour of the Bellaire Dam.

Our hosts will be Leslie Meyers, Operator of Dams for Antrim County and Sam Harsh, Assistant Operator of Dams.

We know this is a hot topic and thus we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to stay informed and learn more about this key work! We thank you for the great crowd we had at our Annual Meeting on August 22 - about 100 of you showed up! - to hear our previous update on Lake Level issues. So stay informed and come tour the dam as well!

Following the tour, for those who are so inclined, we invite you to wander down to Short’s for some socializing with your other ILA members.

Please RSVP via email so we know how many to expect at [email protected] (do not rsvp in comments here).

09/14/2026

BOATING VOLUNTEER NEEDED!!!

Paddle Antrim is looking for a volunteer motorized boat on Intermediate Lake on Saturday September 19th for the Paddle Antrim Festival from 10:30am-1:00pm. Interested in learning more? Reach out to Paddle Antrim at [email protected]!

08/16/2026

Thanks to Sue Thomas for capturing this great video from her paddle board of two very large snappers battling it out at the south end of the lake. Just the kind of thing a quiet, observant paddler might be treated to around here!

08/06/2026

08/04/2026

07/30/2026

ILA ANNUAL MEETING

When: Saturday, August 22, 4-6 pm
Where: Cedar River Lodge at Shanty Creek
REQUIRED: RSVP by August 16th to the ILA at
[email protected] (comments on this post do not serve as an RSVP).

All ILA members, please plan to attend! This is our regular business meeting as required by our By-Laws. We will elect directors for our association (see comment for info), answer questions you have for the Board, and handle other business as may come up.

As usual, there will be time to visit, socialize, talk, and meet other ILA members and your ILA directors. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be provided and bar service available (pay by card only, no cash).

AT THIS MEETING:

Lake Level Update Presentation

Included in the agenda at the Annual Meeting will be a discussion to bring you up to date on lake level issues. This will include the following topics:
Weather, Watershed, Sedimentation and Hydraulics
Current status of the Bellaire Dam expansion project and what it entails
Dredging Plans
4 County Participation
Current scoping cost estimates
Special Assessment Districts (SAD’s)

We will also try to answer questions you may have, as well as provide the facts as they are concerning this work and dispel the myths and rumors circulating concerning this topic. Come and get informed!

Election of Directors

The Intermediate Lake Association currently has eight directors. Officers are Dave Christian (President), Matt Gabris (VP), John Bridenbaugh (Treasurer), and Stan Yoder (Secretary). At large directors are Greg Bellopatrick, Mandy Bush, Andy Hickman and Aaron Phelps. Directors serve 2 year terms and up to nine directors are permitted by the By-Laws. Terms for Matt, John, Stan, Andy, and Aaron are up this year and all are standing for re-election. Terms for Dave, Greg and Mandy are up in 2027.

Nominations for Board Members can be made at this time or at the Annual Meeting. Nominated members must be willing to serve and be a member in good standing. If you are interested, please send an email to the Association at [email protected].

07/17/2026

TAKE A DAM FIELD TRIP!
(Come on...we couldn't resist.)

Come learn about the Bellaire Dam during a field trip-style program led by Leslie Meyers, Antrim County Operator of Dams.

When: Thursday, July 30, at 10:00 AM
Where: At the dam, Richardi Park on E. Antrim St
For more info, call the Bellaire Public Library at 231-533-8814

IT'S SURE TO BE DAM FUN!
(Okay, we'll see ourselves out now...)

07/06/2026

Thanks again to Holly Schienke for another great picture! This time, we have two loon chicks she spotted from her paddle boat last week on the west side of the lower portion of the lake near the island. It's a treat to see these little ones up close! A few features to help identify loon chicks:

Fluffy gray down: Newly hatched common loons are covered in soft gray down, just like these birds.
Long, pointed bill: Even at a young age, loon chicks have a relatively long, straight, pointed bill rather than the broader bill you’d expect on ducklings.
Low in the water: Loon chicks sit very low in the water because their legs are positioned far back on their bodies, making them excellent swimmers.
Overall shape: Elongated body and neck.