Are you interested in water quality, habitat, and invasive plants on one of Michigan’s inland lakes? If yes, you’re invited to become a volunteer lake monitor for the MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP). For 50 years, CLMP volunteers have collected valuable data on inland lakes statewide. This information is used by individuals, local communities,… Read More
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We have all seen the specialty license plates as we drive about. Some support specific college or universities, others have the sport teams on them like the Lions or the Pistons, others a duck or a moose. All of these different license plates cost a little more to put on your vehicle but the proceeds… Read More
Guest Blog by: Erick Elgin, Aquatic Ecologist, MSU Extension Starry stonewort has emerged as one of the most dreaded aquatic invasive plants in Michigan. This aggressive macroalgae can produce dense “meadows” that fill the water column, which hinders recreation and may have wide-reaching impacts on lake ecosystems. However, despite being in North America for 40… Read More
All lakes are in danger of establishment and disruption by aquatic invasive species! In the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP), people that I like to call “Water Heroes” (also known as lake monitoring volunteers) are the ones whose diligence protects their lake from infestation. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed June 30-July 7, 2019, as Michigan’s Aquatic Invasive… Read More
June 11, 2019
Scientific monitoring is essential for learning more about our environment, but scientists and volunteers can transfer invasive species from one place to another and cause more harm than good! Thanks to funding from EGLE and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Huron River Watershed Council created and distributed 178 kits to 25 stream monitoring… Read More
Guest Blog by: Mike Gallagher, President, Michigan Lake Stewardship Associations, and Gull Lake Quality Organization Way back in 2006, the Gull Lake association board of directors sat around the table and once again discussed the same old questions: “How do we know if our lake quality is getting better or worse? How can we monitor… Read More
Guest Blog by: Dr. Jo Latimore, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University The term “citizen science” is used a lot these days. In the past few years, it has evolved from the latest “new” idea, to a popular buzzword, to an everyday phrase. Many of us involved with volunteer lake and stream monitoring… Read More
Guest Blog by: Patricia Jarrett, Office Manager and Monitoring Coordinator, Muskegon River Watershed Assembly When I tell friends about my job working for the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly (MRWA), they are often surprised about the variety and unpredictable nature of my work, especially when I am out in the field. I have to remind them… Read More
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… Read More
Guest Blog by: Chelsea Cooper, Water Quality Monitoring Intern, Manistee Conservation District Editor’s Note: This blog post is one example of how MiCorps is facilitating partnerships between local, state, and federal organizations to grow lake and stream monitoring efforts in Michigan. In the spring of 2016, the Manistee Conservation District (MCD) began to take action… Read More
