ESLA’s Plans

HIGHLIGHTS OF ESLA’S 2026 PLANS

Count on ESLA’s plans to work hard to protect our waters and explore new ideas and partnerships with upstream lake associations in our watershed, as well as other organizations.

• We’ll again host five “Shore Things,” plus annual meeting in June with great speakers and insights.
• We’ll again host a shoreline greenbelt workshop with contractors and other green thumbs to answer questions and concerns about shoreline improvement.
• For a fourth year, we’ll drag specialized, mesh nets to collect plankton for analysis to gain insight into changing levels and distribution of critical, bottom-of-the-food-chain phytoplankton in our waters. This is critical for fish and the rest of the food chain.
• As we have for more than 20 years, our volunteer team will make observations using a Secchi disk to record changes in water clarity. They’ll also gather other important lake data for comparisons.
• We’ll remove invasive species like Eurasian watermilfoil, purple loosestrife and more. And we’ll aggressively advocate and educate to keep potential disruptive invasives out. Volunteer for one of our “boat wash” events at ElkSkegemoglakes@gmail.com.
• Members can get a free personalized greenbelt analysis for their shorelines. Request yours at ElkSkegemoglakes@gmail.com.
• We’re exploring alternatives to advance knowledge of our deepest waters. In 2022, we confirmed the presence of invasive, ecosystem-disrupting quagga mussels in Elk Lake with help from Northwestern Michigan College.
• With an updated website, printed newsletters, regularly emailed ESLA-Blasts, a refreshed ESLA Facebook page, and videos on ESLA’s YouTube channel, we’re keeping you informed. If you’re not getting ESLA-Blasts or printed newsletters, email us HERE.
• We’re moving ahead with partners on a federal Clean Water Act lawsuit to resolve a long-standing, waste-discharge issue affecting our waters.
• ESLA will again offer “Lake Learning Tours” with our lake biologist. ESLA supporting members can enjoy a two-hour, on-the-water science laboratory boat tour.
• On our website and our partners, we’ll provide best practice strategies for every riparian to protect and preserve our waters, including proper septic system maintenance, natural shoreline improvement or restoration ideas, plus more.
• We work each year to maintain the 20-plus buoys that provide safe navigation in the hazardous stump fields between Lake Skegemog and the Torch River.