Wixom Residents Raise Flooding, Erosion Concerns After School Construction

Neighbors blame runoff from new high school for backyard flooding, trash, and safety issues.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 10:04pm

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph showing a blurred, flooded backyard with an eroding drainage ditch, conveying the mood of flooding and environmental damage caused by construction runoff.Flooding and erosion issues in a Wixom neighborhood raise concerns about the impact of new school construction on surrounding homes.Wixom Today

Residents in a Wixom, Michigan neighborhood are speaking out about flooding, erosion, and trash issues in their backyards that they believe are caused by runoff from a newly built high school and parking lot across the street. Homeowners say the water flow has increased significantly, causing their property values to decline and posing potential safety risks, especially for young children.

Why it matters

This story highlights the potential unintended consequences of large-scale construction projects on surrounding residential areas. As cities and school districts invest in new infrastructure, they must carefully consider the impact on nearby homeowners and take steps to mitigate any negative effects like flooding and erosion.

The details

Residents Mike Hilverding and Andrew Supanich say the flooding and erosion in their backyards has worsened significantly since the new Walled Lake Western High School was built across the street. They believe the flat parking lot and drainage system are causing increased runoff that is washing away their property, bringing in trash, and creating a public safety hazard. Hilverding estimates the repairs will be "very, very costly." Supanich is concerned about his young son's safety with the eroding ditch in his backyard.

  • The new high school was recently constructed on Beck Road in Wixom.
  • Residents say the flooding and erosion issues have become much worse over the past two years.

The players

Mike Hilverding

A Wixom resident whose backyard is experiencing severe erosion and flooding issues that he believes are caused by runoff from the new high school.

Andrew Supanich

A Wixom resident whose backyard is also impacted by the increased water flow and trash, posing a safety risk for his young son.

Walled Lake School District

The school district that recently built the new Walled Lake Western High School, which neighbors believe is the source of the flooding and erosion problems.

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What they’re saying

“Our fingers are pointing to the runoff from the new high school. The high school has moved this way and instead of having ground saturation, we now have flat parking lot runoff.”

— Mike Hilverding, Wixom Resident

“Any sort of significant rain, it's bringing street trash, cigarette butts, plastic bags. You name it, it's probably been in my backyard. You can guess why that'd probably be problematic with my son, who's 2 years old. So, we gotta watch out for that and make sure that it's constantly cleaned.”

— Andrew Supanich, Wixom Resident

What’s next

The Walled Lake School District says it will be reviewing the situation and gathering more information to determine its next steps in addressing the neighbors' concerns.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of developers and local governments carefully considering the potential downstream impacts of new construction projects on surrounding residential areas. Proactive planning and mitigation efforts are crucial to avoid unintended consequences like flooding, erosion, and public safety risks for homeowners.