YOUR SUPPORT PROTECTS ESLA WATERS
Nearly 500 individuals, couples, trusts, and businesses generously supported ESLA in 2022. Thank you! In 2023, we’ll again continue work to protect, preserve, monitor, educate, and advocate for water quality and member enjoyment of their properties. And we’ll be adding new projects.
A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT’S ON ESLA’s AGENDA FOR 2023
New in 2023 is a shoreline greenbelt workshop with contractors and “plankton drags” to gain insight into levels and distribution of critical, bottom-of-the-food-chain phytoplankton in our waters. We’ll remove invasive species like Eurasian watermilfoil and purple loosestrife that your dollars have helped us effectively control. And we’ll aggressively advocate and educate to keep potential disruptive invasives out. Again, ESLA is offering free personalized Greenbelt analysis for members. Request yours at ElkSkegemoglakes@gmail.com Staff and students from Northwestern Michigan College are back for an encore — at ESLA’s urging — to learn more about the deep waters of Elk Lake. In 2022, their research confirmed the presence of invasive, ecosystem-disrupting quagga mussels. With three newsletters and monthly emailed ESLA-Blasts, we’ll keep you informed.
“IT’S A SHORE THING” SPEAKERS YOU’LL WANT TO HEAR
From April to October, we have an exciting lineup of Shore Thing events speakers. On August 10, Heather Hettinger, the DNR’s top fisheries biologist in northwestern Michigan, will discuss results of the 2022 fish netting survey in Elk Lake. Other remaining events are a presentation by Antrim County Manager of Dams on the latest research, partly funded Friday, Aug. 25 on potential threats to our shorelines and dams from major storms. This year’s final event will be Sept. 21 and feature Jan Stevenson, the leading research on Golden Brown Algae. All events will begin at 5 p.m. at the Elk Rapids Harbor Pavilion next to the boat launch on East Bay. The events will be videotaped and shared on this website and our YouTube channel.
LOVE YOUR LOONS, LAKES, RIVERS: SUPPORT ESLA
ESLA dues, at your discretion, range from $50-$1,000. Not surprisingly, costs for contractors, hosting events, supporting research, ensuring navigational safety with Skegemog-to-Torch River buoys, and other ESLA work have increased. For returning members, consider — if you can — increasing your support level or even becoming a Champion or Legend. For the more than two-thirds of those of you sharing the waterfront who have not been paid ESLA dues, please consider joining at any level. In 2022, ESLA had 16 Champions with immediate gifts of $5,000 or 5-year pledges to reach $5,000; 23 Business Supporters gave $100-$500; 4 dues contributions were $1,000 or more; 16 were $500-$999; 41 were $250-$499; 211 were $100-$249; 159 were $50-$99. Questions? Contact ElkSkegemogLakes@gmail.com or membership Coordinator Deanna Seifried at 937-602-2295 or a board member who may live near you. Contact Us
To pay 2023 dues or other ESLA support with a credit card, click the button “Membership Dues” below. Or write a check to the Elk-Skegemog Lakes Association. Send to P.O. Box 8, Elk Rapids, MI. 49629. Membership is open to all.
*ESLA is a 501(c)(3) IRS-certified not-for-profit organization.
IS THIS YOUR YEAR TO JOIN ESLA’s CHAMPIONS?
ESLA’S successful launch in 2022 of a Champion program allowing supporters to show a deep commitment to meet known and future water quality challenges is back in 2023. We’ve had a handful of new Champions in 2023, but need to increase the level of our new Strategic Environmental Fund to respond to major or unexpected events. Champions may make a $5,000 contribution in a single year or commit to reaching $5,000 in support with at least a $1,000 initial contribution. Questions or Interest in Becoming a Champion? Contact Dean Ginther at 231-676-2928 or ElkSkegemogLakes@gmail.com.
Latest ESLA News:
Latest Newsletter
Latest Email Blast
ESLA’s ’23 SHORE THINGS and ANNUAL MEETING
More than 100 ESLA members have attended each of our first three major events of 2023 — April and May Shore Things and the June 23 annual meeting. All remaining events will be at the Pavilion on the bay side of the East Bay boat launch at Elk Rapids Village Marina harbor.
Here’s the plan for remaining events as of this writing:
August 10 Thursday 5 p.m.: ESLA’s favorite DNR fisheries biologist Heather Hettinger will discuss the findings of last summer’s first fish survey on Elk Lake in more than a decade. ESLA’s “Fish Guy” Ken Krentz will emcee. Our lake association’s advocacy for the survey was a key factor in bringing DNR boats and specialists to our waters for the sampling. Spoiler alert: There’ll be good and worrisome news.
August 25 Friday 5 p.m.: Leslie Meyers, Antrim County’s new Manager of Dams, will discuss how she’s following in predecessor Mark Stone’s path to better understand the risks and potential fixes to prevent damage from more frequent high-volume rainstorms. The phenomenon has revealed potential vulnerabilities for our shorelines and dams in the Elk River Chain of Lakes. ESLA this year helped fund a follow-up to the studies that is specifically focused on the Elk River and Torch Lake outlet into Torch River. ESLA Vice President George Seifried will emcee.
September 21 Thursday 5 p.m.: Distinguished MSU Prof Jan Stevenson and Three Lakes Assn. President Fred Sittel: Stevenson has been the leading researcher on the proliferation of Golden Brown Algae (aka Brown Crud) and whether there’s possible solutions. Sittel has helped lead TLA’s efforts to learn more about the disturbing spread of this yucky, though non-toxic, algae.
Have a Shore Thing speaker or subject suggestion for 2024? Send an email to elkskegemoglakes@gmail.com.
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Boat Wash First – Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers
Boat Wash First – Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers
Boat washes can help stop aquatic hitchhikers and reduce the spread of invasive species in our waters. Every year ESLA partners with Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council to promote the State’s 2019 law, “Clean, Drain and Dry.” Again, in 2022, ESLA will team up with Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council (TOM) at various ESLA boat launches. We’re waiting to get on TOM’S schedule for events. These events have added purpose in 2022 with a fast-spreading virus affecting bass showing up regularly last year in the bays of Grand Traverse. We’ll strongly encourage anglers of the importance of draining and wiping down their bait and fish wells to stop the transfer. We need volunteers to pass out literature and talk to trailer boaters. If you want to help, send an email to ElkSkegemoglakes@gmail.com.
Virtual “It’s a Shore Thing”
ESLA works with government, non-profits, foundations and private business to promote the health of our lakes and rivers. Watch the interviews here to learn more about issues facing our waters and how you can help. Want more? Check our YouTube channel and sign up for our newsletter.
Andrea Albert
Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Andrea Albert talks to ESLA’s virtual “It’s a Shore Thing” host Bob Campbell about issues she encounters on our waters and how our members can help her and other officers when they see something amiss.
Mark Stone
Antrim County Director of Dams and Drain Commissioner Mark Stone talks to ESLA’s board about the safety of the Elk Rapids and Bellaire dams and his excitement about a critical study underway of the hydrology of our lakes, rivers and connecting waterways.
Ron Reimink
Ron Reimink, founder of Freshwater Solutions, L.L.C., reveals in an interview with ESLA Environment Committee chair Jan Garvey and VP Bob Campbell what his 2020 research into Swimmers Itch for ESLA showed. Spoiler alert: Think – duck, duck (uh-oh)!
Heather Hettinger
Heather Hettinger, the top Department of Natural Resources biologist in the northwest corner of lower Michigan, answers questions from the ESLA board’s fishing fanatics about the present and future of fishing our waters.
ESLA Committees
Environmental Protection
Researches issues and proposes ESLA positions and programs. Manages protection activities.
Finance Committee
Responsible for reviewing and providing guidance for all of the organization’s financial matters.
Government Relations
Organizes and Maintains ESLA representation with township, county, state and federal agencies.
Communications
Manages ESLA newsletter, website, email broadcasts, handbooks, membership directory etc.
Recreation & Safety
Develops programs for water and ice safety, boat and snowmobile safety, water level control.
Governance and Membership
Maintains oversight of all committees. Promotes membership and member services.
Water permit violation notice issued to ER firm
State environmental regulators have ramped up their investigation of an Elk Rapids fruit processing plant’s waste discharges onto its land that drains to Elk Lake. In late 2021, the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy issued a violation notice citing more than 50 occasions where Burnette Foods Inc. exceeded maximum volumes of fruit processing wastes. ESLA first brought the issue to the state’s attention in 2019 and has been carefully monitoring it since then. Click here to read more, including the state’s allegations and Burnette’s response.