Township Neighbors Network (TNN)
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Educating Full Time and Seasonal Residents on issues affecting:  Quality of Life,  Environment, and Property Rights.

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Township Neighbors Network (TNN)

A 501(c) (3) Public Charity - Serving Banks, Torch Lake, Milton, and Elk Rapids Township
Elk Rapids, Michigan 49629 | EIN 20-5752769

Sixteen years ago a few neighbors got together to protect the interests of local residents. We incorporated in 2006, and are now known as Township Neighbors Network - a 501(c)(3) Public Charity. TNN is an active voice on your behalf, publishes a regular E-mail Newsletter, speaks up on local issues, and develops public policy.

About Us
About Us

The TNN service area encompasses four Townships in Antrim County, Michigan stretching along the shoreline of East Grand Traverse Bay from Elk Rapids to Norwood - Banks, Torch Lake, Milton, and Elk Rapids Township. 
Initiatives & Interests
Initiatives & Interests

TNN Keeps You Current on area initiatives and interests on the lakeshore.
Get Involved with TNN
Get Involved with TNN

Support Fresh solutions. With the help of your donations, TNN can provide the tipping point to restart direct water quality learning, solutions, and actions

In Short TNN News

ARE BEAVERS GOOD OR BAD FOR TROUT? IT DEPENDS!
ARE BEAVERS GOOD OR BAD FOR TROUT? IT DEPENDS!

ARE BEAVERS GOOD OR BAD FOR TROUT?  IT DEPENDS! LOW GRADIENT MIDWEST STREAMS. (e.g. Mitchell Creek) is turned into a ...

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REMOVING BEAVER DAMS TO PROTECT MASSIVE BROOK TROUT.
REMOVING BEAVER DAMS TO PROTECT MASSIVE BROOK TROUT.

REMOVING BEAVER DAMS TO PROTECT MASSIVE BROOK TROUT. Massive “coasters” hatch in small streams that feed into Lake Superior, ...

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TNN TEAM TROUT - RESTORING FLOW AND FISH ONE STREAM AT A TIME!
TNN TEAM TROUT - RESTORING FLOW AND FISH ONE STREAM AT A TIME!

TNN TEAM TROUT - RESTORING FLOW AND FFISH ONE STREAM AT A TIME! Mitchell Creek flows from Mud lake all ...

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Initiatives & Interests

LIFESTYLE, COMMUNITY, AND STORIES ALONGSHORE
Balancing Growth & Natural Preservation

Elk Rapids to Norwood. The good news is, that 50% of the shoreline has been preserved. What can we do locally? Walk the beach – Walk the Wilcox- Palmer-Shah Nature Preserve to see what the natural shoreline looks like. Apply what you see to your land.

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LAND USE, PROPERTY RIGHTS, ZONING, DEEDS
Deed Restrictive Covenants - HOA’S & Zoning Law

Waterfront HOA’s have sent deed restrictive covenants to land- owners. these recorded covenants run with the land. It is incumbent on a buyer to discover restrictive covenants through title search and inquiries to the local HOA Board. Related: Docks/Hoists are accessory structures in zoning law. Milton and Torch Lake Townships require a 10' side setback. This zoning setback applies to docks on the Bay stored above OHWM (580.5 feet). 

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EAST AMR SHORELINE OF TRAVERSE BAY-EASTB
Sub Watershed Protection

EASTB Watershed has 4% of Grand Traverse Bay water inflows with 24 streams entering the Bay – twice that number in total (map) from Elk Rapids to Norwood. EASTB has forested residential living along East Bay beaches, inland living in dune settings, rural homes, villages, farms and businesses.

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COASTAL, WETLANDS, AND WETLAND REMEDIES
Damage to coastal wetlands from extended high/low water

Great Lakes record highs in 2020 flooded lands from New York to Minnesota including coastal wetlands. Wildlife and people rely on nature’s sponges, soaking up water for slow release. Fewer wetlands mean more floods and erosion. Hundreds of plant and animal species are becoming displaced. What can we do locally?

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RESILIENCE
ADAPT AND IMPROVISE FOR RESILIENCY

Active democracy overcame official inaction as homeowners acted resolutely. Antrim County, Lake Michigan coastal residents’ struggled for decades to protect East Bay's natural shoreline. The people’s efforts were overwhelmed by 2020 crisis high water. Spring and summer storms took 8 feet off a coved beach – 80 feet in 5 years. Homeowners hardened their shorelines with seawalls first on headlands, then high bluffs, and finally coved beaches. And also by sill-type offshore breakwaters.

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LIFE AND DEATH OF THE AQUATIC FOOD CHAIN
An Autumn 2019 TNN Field study shows

There are very few macro-invertebrates found near the East Bayshore at Mitchell Creek. This is due to the lack of diverse habitats for colonization. (The Creek mouth detached from East Bay was not sampled). Invertebrates were few as are rooted plants which offer the best habitat for macroinvertebrate colonies. No birds, amphibians, fish, or aquatic plants to 3.3 feet were seen.

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157 YEARS OF MANKIND ALTERING THE GREAT LAKES
Impact of 157 years of mankind’s alteration of the Great Lakes

Concluded 157 years of mankind’s diversions, re-channeling, and control structures amplify extreme water levels of Great Lakes since 1865 – Supports restoring natural 4-foot range (not 6’); bi-national field study of St. Clair River bottom contours. Damaging consequences of alterations amplify water level extremes. Record-setting high and low water are worse and more frequent due to an altered Great Lakes system since 1865: Diversions in (Long Lac-Ogoki L. Superior) and out of L. Michigan (Chicago ).

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ENVIRONMENT, SEPTIC, & SEWER SYSTEMS
Septic Systems – Inspection, Care, and Treatment of Pumped Waste at Sewer Plant

Failure rates of modern septic systems are less than 1.0%. Cases of septic tank waste entering waters are nearly always from land disposal of pumped waste - grandfathered by the State - so authorities will not discuss it. What can we do locally?

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Township Neighbors Network (TNN)

Elk Rapids, MI   49629

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