Neighbors of a popular Michigan lakeside resort are raising the alarm about the operation, claiming the Arbutus Lake hotspot is changing the natural character of the local area. According to a report from the local newspaper The tickerneighbors have said the resort’s business and boating practices degrade the lake.

What’s going on?

Lakemore Resortwhich opened in 2020, is a collection of seven large vacation homes with boat docks and other outdoor amenities. Many who live in these luxury homes pay upwards of $10,000 per week for the benefits of accessing the lake and all its natural beauty. But that’s where clashes with neighbors begin.

The facility was not open long before local residents filed suit in early 2023, alleged that the resort and its pontoon boats are degrading the lake’s natural environment and interfering with the public’s “use and enjoyment of the lake”. The lawsuit also alleges that the resort has violated several city codes from construction to the present, including hosting non-permitted events and operating a marina.

Scott Tinker, a member of the nonprofit neighborhood group Protect Forest Lakes, said The ticker the plant has shaken the small, quiet community.

“This facility and the approach used to manage it completely changes the culture of this gem of a lake,” Tinker said. “It’s very troubling from a precedential standpoint.”

Why is it important to preserve Lake Arbutus?

The 394 hectare large Arbutus lake consists of five small lakes chained together by narrow channels. The use of the lake is heavily regulated protect the water and the native species that call it home. When used responsibly, the lake is a key place for community members to enjoy nature.

Lakes are an important source of global biodiversity, but the health of the world’s lakes is decreasing rapidly. Lakes around the world are threatened due to climate change, pollutionpopulation pressure, unsustainable land use and more.

According to a 2022 report by Project for environmental integrityabout 55% of US lakes are too polluted to swim, fish or drink. Globally, about 50% of lakes are experiencing “a significant reduction in the ability to withstand and recover from environmental disturbances,” according to a 2024 study.

United Nations adopted a resolution 2022 to help curb the decline of the world’s lakes, calling on nations to “protect, restore and sustainably use lakes, while integrating them into national and regional development plans.” But it is often up to individual communities to enforce protections – and follow them.

What’s next for the trial?

The long-running dispute between Lakemore Resort and its neighbors could lead to a lawsuit next year. Meanwhile, mediation is underway between the locals and the resort – but a lawyer for the locals at Arbutus Lake said The ticker he does not expect these efforts to be successful. The facility does not believe it is in violation of local ordinances or regulations.

A lawyer for Lakemore Resort said The ticker that local complaints are unfounded and reflect that the neighbors do not want to share the lake.

“Some of the owners (of Lakemore) live on the lake, and they have every interest in keeping it quiet and safe,” Marc McKellar told The Ticker. “It’s kind of incongruous to suggest that they’re just bad actors … they actually care.”

Join us this year free newsletter for good news and useful tipsand don’t miss this cool list of simple ways to help yourself while helping the planet.