Beechtree Drain

In the northwestern corner of Ottawa County, located in Grand Haven Charter Township, the Beechtree Drain services a watershed of 590 acres. Originally established in 1884, it grew into a mixture of open drain and enclosed storm sewer as the agricultural land around it was developed into residential, industrial, and commercial land.

The drain is located just over a mile from Lake Michigan, and in recent years, this area has had historically high groundwater levels. After storm events, there would be ponding water within the watershed because of limited infiltration caused by high groundwater. When combined with significant runoff from intense storms, flooding occurred throughout the watershed, damaging homes and businesses.

The solution included consolidating three small, isolated subdivision drains into the Beechtree Drain and connecting them with new infrastructure to the main system. This provided an established, public outlet for stormwater runoff within those areas. Open channel drain maintenance occurred throughout the middle and northern portions of the drain and storm water storage was increased within the watershed by utilizing existing ponds within the renovated American Dunes Golf Club. Water level control structures were installed to allow the OCWRC to control the amount of water stored within the watershed and the amount that is released directly to the drain. The project took a multi-faceted approach that was essential in providing a solution that would alleviate flooding, improve water quality, and be cost-effective for landowners within the drainage district.