One idea that rings true for most people is a love for lakes. People enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, and so many other activities on and in the water. We look at a lake from our perspective about the best way to enjoy the lake, but it is important to remember that fish and wildlife need the lake and shoreline to make their own cozy cottages and cabins too. Take a look at these two videos created by the University of Wisconsin Extension and the University of Wisconsin-Madison to see lakes from a bullfrog and goose perspective. They are pretty entertaining and will give you some great ideas for keeping geese away from your lakefront.
If you are interested in learning more about healthy shorelines, please consider a program called “Score the Shore,” a MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program, that provides an opportunity for riparians to assess the shoreline of their lake. Under this program, your lake is divided into 1000-foot sections and assessed for aquatic plants, shoreline erosion control, vegetation buffers, and more. Once you and your team have completed the survey on your boat, you will have a score for each 1000-foot section and an overall lake score on a scale of 0-100. These scores will provide details on high quality shoreline as well as areas that would benefit from shoreline improvement on the lake. To learn more about Score the Shore, please visit: https://micorps.net/lake-monitoring/clmp-documents/.
If you would like to learn more about the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) and how you can get involved with inland lake monitoring in Michigan, please visit https://micorps.net/lake-monitoring/ or contact Marcy Knoll Wilmes, Senior Aquatic Biologist with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, at (517) 342-4348.
Introduction to Lakes Online Course — Early Bird Registration Ending Soon
Registration is now open for MSU Extension’s popular “Introduction to Lakes” online course. The six-week course starts January 22nd. Early Bird registration ($95) is available through December 12; regular registration ($115) is open through January 8. The course is designed for lake users, lakefront property owners, and professionals who want to improve their understanding of lakes and their protection and management. Nearly 450 people have enrolled in the course since it was first offered in 2015. Topics include: Lake Ecology, Lakes and their Watersheds, Shoreline Protection and Management, Water Law, Aquatic Plants, and Community Involvement.
