The Department of Natural Resources is telling Houghton County they’re ready to wash their hands of the Otter Lake Dam near Tapiola.

The dam was built in 1975 by the state under an agreement from that time that the county would maintain the dam.

Since then, the county has managed to avoid paying its agreed portion of the maintenance, but that’s no longer the case.

The DNR has offered to complete some much–needed repairs on the dam, but the structure would be the county’s responsibility after that.

The County Board passed a resolution to begin the process of setting up a Special Assessment District for the Otter Lake Dam that would protect against any liability arising from the dam and pay for the ongoing maintenance.

Posted by: Mike Hoey