The seasons turn and so does the tide of progress at Lake Leelanau Lake Association. This is a compilation of our yearly Top 10 Accomplishments with more to come. We’re always working to keep our watershed pristine and our shorelines healthy for current and future generations.
See exactly how your membership, volunteer hours, and passion are making a real, lasting difference on Lake Leelanau.
Stay tuned to see what else we accomplish in 2025!
Top 10 LLLA Accomplishments of 2024
1. Shoreline Consultations
Our Shoreline Ambassadors visited 36 Lake Leelanau homes this year to perform Shoreline Consultations, helping riparians learn how to improve their shoreline to prevent erosion and protect the lake from land-based pollutants. We estimate that around 1.62 miles of shoreline will be improved on Lake Leelanau as a result of this program. Along with the amount of shoreline, our number of LLLA-certified Shoreline Ambassadors has also increased to four this year, with five others in training.
2. Invasive Species Remediation, Monitoring, and Control
Our work to protect Lake Leelanau from the invasive Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) continued in one of our most impactful years yet. There are now 17 sites that are currently EWM-free and will be closely monitored over the coming years to ensure no EWM is left behind. By the end of the 2024 season, there were no known large infestations left to be covered in the lake. Our team was highly effective this year with double the staff than ever before and vastly improved efficiency, setting us up for another year of success in 2025.
3. New Board Members and Officers
Another 2024 LLLA accomplishment is the growth and evolution of our Board of Directors and Officers. This year, the Association welcomed Laurie Wilkins to the Board of Directors. Laurie quickly stepped into the roles of Treasurer and VP, as well as heading up our new Volunteer Recruitment Program and co-chairing the Boat Wash Program with Sue Downs. Laurie has stepped into the big shoes of our past Treasurer and VP, Kathy Birney. We extend our deep appreciation to Kathy for all she did for LLLA over the years! In addition, Greg Vogt took on the role of Secretary, replacing Lori Oberson who moved into the role of Membership Chair. We are so fortunate to have such passionate and talented folks leading the organization!
4. Staffed Boat Cleaning Stations
Throughout the summer season, we staffed our four boat cleaning stations on Lake Leelanau to encourage everyone to wash their boats to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. The stations are located at the DNR Narrows, Bingham, and West boat launches on South Lake Leelanau and at Suelzer Park on North Lake Leelanau. Our boat wash staff and volunteers spent a cumulative 1,270 hours at the boat launches and encountered 2,415 boaters throughout the season, helping to spread the message of “CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY”. Thanks to all on this huge community effort!
5. Auction
This year, we raised $103,820 in the annual spring auction! The Association couldn’t have done it without our dedicated volunteers on our auction committee and the overwhelming support of our community. Thank you!
6. Hired an Office Manager
Our fundraising success has provided the Association with the ability to hire a part-time Office Manager, Willow Myles-Nuffer. We are so happy to welcome Willow to the team and benefit from her financial management and organizational skills.
7. Terrestrial Invasive Species Program
Our invasive species programming expanded to include more efforts to protect the lake from Terrestrial Invasive Species (TIS) such as purple loosestrife, yellow-flag iris, and invasive phragmites. Shoreline surveys for all three species have now been completed and LLLA is working with property owners to control these TIS on their properties.
8. Volunteer Program
Under the leadership of Laurie Wilkins, the Association expanded its recruitment of volunteers to match the increasing number of programs going on to protect Lake Leelanau. Around 60 individuals volunteered their time to help with LLLA activities such as boat washing, filling bags with pea gravel to weigh down burlap to kill EWM, surveying for new aquatic invasive species, taking water quality samples, helping with events and membership activities, and much more! These volunteers contributed over 750 hours in 2024!
9. Aquatic Invasive Species Early Detection Survey
This year, the Association expanded our surveillance for aquatic invasive species (AIS) and headed a new initiative to detect AIS as early as possible so our team can respond rapidly to any new infestations. Volunteers were trained to use waterproof cameras to record videos underwater at high-risk areas of the lake, i.e., near boat launches. This effort has already led to the discovery of EWM in an area not previously known!
10. Community Engagement
The Community Engagement Committee continued to share our work and love for the lake with the community through in-person events such as the Member Mixer, Annual Meeting, Lake Leelanau Street Fair, Leland 4th of July Parade, and more. We are grateful to all those who have contributed to sharing the Association's messages virtually as well.
Top 10 2023 LLLA Accomplishments
1. Shoreline Consultations
Our Shoreline Ambassadors visited 22 Lake Leelanau homes this year to perform Shoreline Consultations, helping riparians learn how to improve their waterline to prevent erosion and protect the lake from land-based pollutants. We are hopeful that around 2,685 feet of shoreline will be improved on Lake Leelanau as a result of this program.
2. Invasive Species Remediation, Monitoring, and Control
Our work to protect Lake Leelanau from the invasive Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) continued in one of our most impactful years yet. Our team killed more EWM than ever before and vastly improved efficiency, setting us up for another year of success in 2024.
3. New Board Additions
Another 2023 LLLA accomplishment is that the Association welcomed Rob MacKenzie to the Board this year and Nancy Popa as our new president. We extend our sincere gratitude to past president, Tom Hiatt, for all that he did for the Association during his term as president.
4. Boat Cleaning Stations
Another one of our 2023 LLLA accomplishments we are proud to share, is the construction of our four boat cleaning stations on Lake Leelanau to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, available for us in 2024. We encourage encourages everyone to wash their boats at these stations located at the DNR Narrows, Bingham Township, and West boat launches on South Lake Leelanau and at Suelzer Park on North Lake Leelanau.
5. Auction
This year, we raised a record $126,000 in the annual spring auction! The Association couldn’t have done it without our dedicated volunteers on our auction committee and the overwhelming support of our community. Thank you!
6. Hired a Marketing and Communications Specialist
Our fundraising success has provided the Association with the ability to hire a part-time Marketing and Communications Specialist, Jen Watkins. We are so happy to welcome Jen to the team, and are incredibly grateful for the expertise she brings to the table.
7. Welcomed Ron Reimink as Lake Biologist
In 2023, we welcomed Ron Reimink as a lake biologist, taking over for Brian Price. Ron brings over 30 years of freshwater research experience and we are honored to have him as a member of the team. We extend our gratitude to Brian Price for all that he contributed to the health of Lake Leelanau and the EWM program.
8. Zoning for Water Quality Subcommittee
This year, we made great strides in developing a Zoning for Water Quality Subcommittee, working with townships to advise on zoning matters to protect our waters.
9. Advocacy Subcommittee
Our Advocacy Subcommittee has done excellent work staying attuned to projects around the lake that could affect its health. The Association provided comments on the Northgate Leelanau Pines Proposed Expansion and Development Plan to the Centerville Township Planning Commission, and has been live-streaming their meetings to expand awareness on the proposed development—which has the potential to damage the surface water, groundwater, wetlands, habitats, and diminish the overall enjoyment of the lake by members, the wider community, and visitors.
10. Community Engagement
The Community Engagement Committee continued to share our work and love for the lake with the community through in-person events such as the Member Mixer, Annual Meeting, Lake Leelanau Street Fair, and more. We are grateful to all those who have contributed to sharing the Association's messages virtually as well.
Top 10 LLLA Accomplishments of 2022
1. The Annual Spring Auction
For the second year in a row, the LLLA held its Spring Virtual Auction to raise money for the Association’s activities to preserve and protect Lake Leelanau. This year’s auction raised over $91,000 — nearly $24,000 more than was raised last year! Thanks to everyone who participated!
2. Kids Fishing Day 2022
This year’s Kids Fishing Day was a great success! Past organizers of the event said that it was one of the highest-attended days they had ever seen. We received great feedback from families whose kids caught their first fish and cannot wait to come again next year. Thank you to the volunteers and sponsors who made this great event happen!
3. The Leland 4th of July Parade
One of our more exciting events this summer was the Leland 4th of July Parade. We displayed our work boat, the Research Vessel RAD (in honor of our generous member, Dar Doorlag, who lets us use her lakefront property to dock our boats), and featured our SCUBA divers and many other volunteers and their families.
Most exciting were the two Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) monsters who were chased by volunteers throwing burlap on them to keep that nasty invasive plant out of the lake. Due to these enthusiastic volunteers, we earned the coveted “Most Humorous” award!
4. Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Week and Landing Blitz Events
This summer, we hosted several events at our most popular boat launches to educate boaters on the importance of washing their boats to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). We participated in AIS Prevention Week and the State of Michigan’s Landing Blitz, in addition to hosting the Benzie Conservation District’s mobile boat washing station. We had a lot of great conversations with boaters and look forward to continuing these conversations next year.
5. Shoreline Living Lake Stewards
Our new Lake Stewards subcommittee was formed this year, with the mission of protecting the water quality of Lake Leelanau from the shore. This group of volunteers, led by LLLA’s Shoreline Ambassador, Nancy Popa, has done excellent work in working with riparians to improve their shoreline and land use to benefit the lake. To date, 2,000 feet of shoreline have been consulted on and are in the process of being converted to natural shorelines that protect the water quality of our lake. Great work, team!
6. Presentations
Representatives from the LLLA presented multiple times this summer to share information on the ways we protect Lake Leelanau. The Leelanau Summinars hosted two talks from LLLA representatives. Nancy Popa presented about Natural Shorelines, and Brian Price (LLLA Lake Biologist) and Annalise Povolo (LLLA Director of Administration and Programs and Dive Team Leader) presented on the work we do to control EWM in Lake Leelanau.
Additionally, Annalise and Dan Mays (Grand Traverse Band’s Biologist) presented at the Michigan Inland Lakes Conference this September to educate people on our innovative work using burlap barriers to control EWM.
These presentations are just the beginning of what the LLLA hopes to do to contribute to educating our communities about the best ways to protect our waters.
7. Annual Member’s Meeting 2022
This year’s Annual Member’s Meeting was one for the books! There was great attendance and we were thrilled to share what we have been up to this year.
We also introduced a new item to the meeting’s agenda, the Living Legends Awards. For the first time, we honored several individuals or groups who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to the preservation and protection of Lake Leelanau. You can learn more about our honorees here.
8. A Crucial Year in the Control of Eurasian Watermilfoil
2022 was one of the most important years in the control of the aquatic invasive species, EWM, in Lake Leelanau. This year was particularly important in our fight because EWM has been established in Lake Leelanau for several years. Now, it has a higher potential to produce flowers, which can then produce seeds that would lie dormant at the lake’s bottom for years. Thankfully, with our diligent efforts, we have prevented EWM from being able to grow to the surface to produce seeds.
And the most exciting news of 2022 is that we have observed native plants now growing through our barriers! This is great news for the native plant community, as they can reclaim the territory that EWM took over.
9. Community Events
The LLLA was out in the community more than ever this year. In addition to the previously mentioned events at boat launches, the Leland 4th of July Parade, and Kids Fishing Day, there were several other community events at which we had a booth.
We started the season at the Leland Wine and Food Festival, then the Lake Leelanau Street Fair, and we closed out the summer with the Leelanau Maritime History Festival. It was very impactful to be at these events and to chat with community members about our work to protect Lake Leelanau. We look forward to being present at even more events next year.
10. Second Boat Cleaning Station at the Narrows
We are very excited to share that our second boat cleaning station has nearly been completed! This new high-pressure water station was constructed at the DNR Narrows Boat Launch, the second busiest boat cleaning station on the lake.
This effort was the culmination of many hours of planning, jumping through hoops, and dealing with the long waiting time for contractors. As a result, the station was not finished until the end of the summer, and will not be turned on until next spring.
