Sitting at my laptop, I am reflecting on what I have learned during my first year as President of ESLA. First is the importance of having over 20 Officers and Directors who are committed and active in pursuing the goals of our organization. Last fall, the idea was hatched to sponsor a photo contest for ESLA members. An ad hoc committee of Directors was formed, who within a period of just a few weeks created the contest with all the details fully worked out. Another example of working together effectively is the effort of the Communications Committee in redesigning the ESLA website to include features such as hot button issues, a gallery of area photographs and allowing members to pay their dues online; as well as making the website generally more attractive and accessible. Please visit the website www.elk-skegemog.org and sign you and your young folks up in our photo contest.
As you may know, our ESLA constituents are divided into Zones. Zone A includes all of Elk Rapids Township, including the Village. Zone B includes Elk Lake and Lake Skegemog riparian owners in Milton Township. Zone C includes Elk Lake and Lake Skegemog frontage in Whitewater Township in Grand Traverse County. Zone D includes Lake Skegemog owners in Clearwater Township in Kalkaska County. Zone E are all riparian owners on Torch and Rapid Rivers. Likewise, our Directors are elected by Zone with a Captain designated for each Zone; see page 7 for the names of Directors by Zone. The Captains are your first point of contact when you have an issue that concerns you. In recent weeks, our Zone Captains have responded to your issues regarding Chladophora growth, tree cutting in greenbelts, erosion issues at road ends and on private properties, swimmers itch, lake levels, boat noise, and a proposed water ski slalom course adjacent to the Battle Creek Natural Area on Elk Lake.
Second is the vastness of our Elk River Chain of Lakes (ERCOL) watershed. Five hundred square miles covers a lot of territory with water accumulating in numerous streams, rivers, small and large lakes and all flowing into our more immediate Elk-Skegemog watershed. Some of you have questioned me as to why ESLA is concerned about Rapid River. The Rapid River is a significant sub-watershed, stretching from Kalkaska to Mancelona, that contributes to our immediate Elk-Skegemog watershed. Because we are now seeing some of the effects of sedimentation moving from Rapid River into the Torch Bayou and Torch River, we wish to determine what remediation efforts on the Rapid River may be feasible.
Third is the importance of our partners. We have long worked with the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council (TOM), which performs most of our annual water quality monitoring. And we have strengthened our relationship with The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay (TWC), which is now offering more extensive services to the ERCOL lake associations. TOM and TWC are both providing leadership on our efforts on Rapid River and Grass River. We have also developed closer ties to the Three Lakes Association (Torch, Clam and Bellaire) and the Torch Lake Protection Alliance. In addition to the river projects, we are collaborating on a number of important issues, such as Eurasian Water Milfoil. There are a number of other area organizations share interests, such as the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy and the Skegemog Wilderness Area. We are dues paying members of two statewide organizations, the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association and the Michigan Waterfront Alliance. Both of these groups are active in Lansing working on our behalf and keeping us informed of legislative and administrative issues.
Fourth, but not least, is the involvement of you our riparian constituents. While only about 40% of our riparians are actually dues paying members each year, each of you plays a critical role in protecting the quality of our Lakes and Rivers. One of our primary roles is to keep you informed about issues that are of mutual concern. So, we do not restrict our newsletters only to dues paying members, but send them to all riparian landowners on Elk and Skegemog Lakes and on Elk, Torch and Rapid Rivers. It is your awareness and support that allows us to be responsive to your interests and take actions that benefit us all. In that regard, ESLA provided $5,000 in May to the Village of Elk Rapids toward construction of the new courtesy docks in the upper harbor.
I hope to see many of you at our annual meeting, Saturday July 23rd at 10am at the Elk Rapids High School. Joe Kaplan, a loon researcher, will be our featured speaker.
Bob Kingon
ESLA President
