The Crystal Lake Watershed Association

As part of the Michigan Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP), the CLWA sponsors comprehensive scientific testing of Crystal Lake’s water. Monitoring provides advance warning, so that early action can be taken to protect Crystal Lake. CLWA’s testing through the...

Spring 2025 “Crystal Whitecaps” newsletter now online …

The data from this summer’s swimmer’s itch research confirms that relocation of merganser ducks reduces …

Over 100 CLWA members and friends met on Saturday, July 19, to hear updates on …

CLWA’s lawsuit involving the Sunkissed Hills development in Benzonia township remains in its early stages …

The CLWA and its predecessor organizations have monitored the chemistry of the lake’s water for more than 50 years. All this information is now …

Under contract to the CLWA, Clear Water Lake Management, with drone assistance from …

There’s lots of building going on around Crystal Lake. Zoning and other local and state regulations are in place to help protect …

As the days lengthen and blue water emerges from the ice, many of you are making plans for your yards and gardens. The CLWA is proud to make available …

CLWA’s merganser trapping team completed the removal of all broods from Crystal Lake by July 21st. The final count was 11 broods …

The CLWA began its long-delayed treatment of EWM in Crystal Lake on June 30 under the terms of the authorization provided by the Michigan Department of Environment …

On July 28 the CLWA executive committee made the difficult decision to cancel its plans to begin control of the invasive Eurasian Watermilfoil in Crystal Lake …

CLWA’s team has now finished trapping and relocating all the merganser broods that nested on Crystal Lake this summer. Over a month’s time, completing work on July 8, they captured 10 broods …

The CLWA’s comprehensive three-year (2016-2018) survey of the aquatic plants in Crystal Lake revealed a generally healthy lake, and identified Eurasian watermilfoil (“EWM”, Myriophyllum spicatum) as the only invasive plant species currently …

Zero Gravity Aerial of Traverse City completed a total shoreline survey of Crystal Lake during the summer of 2019. An initial high flyover looked at shoals to identify obvious changes like aquatic plant beds or human disturbance. Then the drone took …

CLWA’s merganser trapping team completed the removal of all broods from Crystal Lake by the end of July. The final count was 10 broods (one without the hen) and a total of 68 ducklings, 77 birds in all. This compares to 16 broods …

A new Michigan Boating Law that aims to prevent the introduction of invasive aquatic plants and animals goes into effect on March 21, 2019. An amendment to the state Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act 451 of 1994, the new law …

In early August 2018 the CLWA completed the final phase of its comprehensive, three-year survey of the aquatic plants in Crystal Lake. Under the direction of board member Jim Hamp, and assisted by volunteers and the drone technology of Zero Gravity Aerial, the survey …

A large crowd of about 120 attended the 2018 CLWA annual members meeting on July 21. President Dave Wynne surveyed current programs and Treasurer Ron Ahrns described allocation of financial resources. The Crystal Circle Award was presented to Edward Hoogterp, past CLWA president …

CLWA contracted with Swimmer’s Itch Solutions LLC to conduct swimmer’s itch control activities on Crystal Lake during summer of 2017. It concentrated on trapping merganser broods and moving them to other waters where the swimmer’s itch parasites are not present. By reducing one of the parasite hosts, the cycle that …