ABOUT
Paw Paw Lake Management Plan
Bob Wallace
Watervliet Charter Township Supervisor
269-463-5113
​
Ken Parrigin
Coloma Charter Township Supervisor
269-208-5675
​
Joe Pater
Watervliet Charter Township
269-208-3941
​
Bryan Duffield
Coloma Charter Township Trustee
269-876-7000​
Paul Hausler
Progressive Companies - Lake Management Consultant
616-447-3376
​
Ehrland Bosworth
Spicer Group
ehrland.bosworth@spicergroup.com
616-458-8580
​
Mike Bond
Paw Paw Lake Foundation Liaison
​
Bob Orsi
Paw Paw Lake Association Liaison
​
​
Since 2012, a management plan has been underway to help monitor and improve conditions in Paw Paw Lake. The plan is being coordinated under the direction of Coloma and Watervliet Charter Townships with assistance from environmental and engineering consultants. The plan is funded through special assessment districts established under Michigan’s township public improvement statute (Public Act 188 of 1954). The management plan is separate from the Paw Paw Lake Foundation (PPLF) and the Paw Paw Lake Association (PPLA).
The PPLF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 1995, that is committed to preserving, protecting, and improving Paw Paw Lake, its ecosystem, and watershed. The foundation's primary focus is on enhancing water quality through a range of environmental initiatives, including the preservation and improvement of wetlands, protecting the lake from invasive species, and fostering a broad base of financial support. Funded entirely by donations, the PPLF is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors, many of whom are property owners on the lake, bringing a wealth of experience in business and lake management to its mission. The PPLF recently purchased the 77-acre former Heater Farm parcel and converted it into the Paw Paw Lake Conservancy as an effort to increase infiltration, storage, and nutrient uptake in this portion of the watershed. The PPLF is working alongside the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to strategically design the site to incorporate native plantings into the bio-swales, storage ponds, and floodplain and restoring valuable ecological services to the riparian zone. The PPLF also worked to seed the trail system on the property to encourage public engagement in these efforts.
The SAD works closely with the PPLF and PPLA on various aspects of the project. Additional information on the PPLF and PPLA can be found at their respective websites:
