Middle & Lower Straits Lake Water Level
As of Jun 8, 2026, Middle & Lower Straits Lake measured 930.70 ft — right at its summer target of 930.70 ft.
| Date | Level (ft) | Change | vs target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 8, 2026 | 930.70 | -0.03 | 0.00 |
| Jun 1, 2026 | 930.73 | -0.07 | +0.03 |
| May 25, 2026 | 930.80 | -0.23 | +0.10 |
| May 18, 2026 | 931.03 | -0.07 | +0.33 |
| May 11, 2026 | 931.10 | -0.08 | +0.40 |
| May 4, 2026 | 931.18 | 0.00 | +0.48 |
| Apr 27, 2026 | 931.18 | -0.02 | +0.48 |
| Apr 20, 2026 | 931.20 | +0.27 | +0.50 |
| Apr 13, 2026 | 930.93 | +0.15 | +0.53 |
| Apr 6, 2026 | 930.78 | +0.20 | +0.38 |
Most recent published readings for Middle & Lower Straits Lake, sourced from Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner reports. Last updated Jun 15, 2026. "Change" is the difference from the previous reading; "vs target" compares each reading to the legal level then in effect.
About Middle & Lower Straits Lake
Middle & Lower Straits Lake is an inland lake in central Oakland County, and one of 29 lakes whose water level is regulated by the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner (WRC). The name covers a connected group of basins that are managed together as a single regulated system. Its level is set by court order under Michigan's Inland Lake Level Act, which means the surface elevation is held to defined seasonal targets rather than left to drift with the weather. This page gathers the WRC's official gauge readings for Middle & Lower Straits Lake and charts them next to local conditions so residents can track the lake at a glance.
Middle & Lower Straits Lake legal water levels
The legal summer target for Middle & Lower Straits Lake is 930.70 feet above sea level, with a winter target of 930.40 feet. That 3.6-inch gap is an intentional seasonal drawdown: after the boating season the WRC lets the lake down toward the winter mark, both to buffer the spring melt that follows and to limit ice pressure against docks and seawalls. In spring the lake is allowed to refill to the summer level for the recreational months.
Where is Middle & Lower Straits Lake?
By elevation, Middle & Lower Straits Lake lies near 930.7 feet above sea level — the same figure as its summer target, since that target is measured against sea level. The lake is centered around 42.584° N, 83.463° W in central Oakland County; you can view it on Google Maps for a sense of its layout.
Seasonal water-level rhythm at Middle & Lower Straits Lake
Like its neighbors, Middle & Lower Straits Lake rises and falls on a yearly cycle: up with the spring melt toward the 930.70-foot summer mark, gradually down through the warm season, and lower still as the WRC sets it toward 930.40 feet for winter. Short-term wobbles from a single storm or a dry week are routine; it is the multi-week trend against the seasonal target that actually tells you something.
What level changes mean for Middle & Lower Straits Lake shoreline owners
For anyone who owns or uses property on Middle & Lower Straits Lake, the level is more than a number. Readings well below the summer target can leave shallow docks and launches high and dry, while readings above it can submerge fixed docks and put extra load on seawalls. Sustained extremes also affect shoreline erosion, swimming depth, and the near-shore weed and fish habitat — the very reasons the legal target exists.
How Oakland County manages lake water levels
The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner — currently Jim Nash — is responsible for maintaining the legal water levels of monitored lakes in the county. The WRC operates and maintains a network of small dams, weirs, and lake-level control structures, and contracts survey teams to read each lake's reference gauge regularly.
Reading frequency varies by season: during the active spring–autumn window the WRC typically publishes a report every one to three weeks, scaling back through the winter when ice and stable inflows make daily fluctuations smaller. The numbers shown on this dashboard come directly from those official reports — we re-publish and plot them so trends are easier to see than scrolling through PDFs.
If you ever spot a reading on this page that looks suspicious, the authoritative source is the WRC's own bulletin. Long-term trends (multiple months) matter more for management decisions than any individual measurement, which can drift slightly from week to week depending on gauge accuracy, weather, and the time of day a reading was taken.
Frequently asked questions
How often is the data on this page updated?
Our automated scraper checks the Oakland County WRC's published reports twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday evenings) during the active reporting season. When a new reading is posted by the county, this dashboard reflects it within a few hours. During winter the WRC reports less frequently, so updates may be sparse.
What does "legal water level" mean for Middle & Lower Straits Lake?
A legal level is one set by a judge under Michigan's Inland Lake Level Act (Part 307 of Public Act 451). For Middle & Lower Straits Lake the order specifies the summer and winter elevations shown above. The WRC and the lake's improvement board are jointly responsible for taking reasonable steps to maintain those levels through dam operation and outflow control.
What can I do if I think the water level is wrong?
Bring it up with your Lake Improvement Board or contact the Oakland County WRC directly. Individual weekly readings can be off by a fraction of an inch due to gauge tolerance, but a clear weeks-long trend is what calls for action.
Where does this data come from?
All readings shown here are aggregated from publicly published reports of the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner. The original PDF bulletins are available on oakgov.com. We add nothing to the source numbers — we only re-format and plot them.
Is this an official county website?
No. LakeWatch is an independent community resource. It is not affiliated with Oakland County, the Water Resources Commissioner's office, or any specific Lake Improvement Board. The data is sourced from public records and republished as a courtesy to lakefront residents and visitors.
Other Oakland County lakes
LakeWatch monitors 29 inland lakes across Oakland County, Michigan. If you live on, fish, or boat a different lake nearby, jump straight to its dashboard: