Environmental consultants and homeowners on the Great Lakes should be aware that Michigan law actually encompasses two “ordinary high water marks” (OHWM). The notion that two different OHWMs exist seems implausible, and may cause confusion to property owners who are navigating their rights to address the record-high water levels of the Great Lakes. Thus, understanding the distinction is more important now than ever.
The OHWM for Purposes of the Public’s Right to Walk Along the Edge of the Great Lakes
