The Crystal Lake & Watershed Association

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 members met via Zoom on July 18 for the 2020 Annual Members Meeting. President Dave Wynne presented a comprehensive report on current programs and Treasurer Ron Ahrns detailed the allocation …

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 …

As part of the Michigan Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program, 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. The latest results …

The Congregational Summer Assembly beach, on the southwest corner of Crystal Lake, has been producing the most complete and accurate data on the occurrence of swimmer’s itch since 2013. The latest statistics, from the 2019 season …

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 large crowd of over 100 attended the 2019 CLWA annual members meeting on July 20. President Dave Wynne reviewed current programs and Treasurer Ron Ahrns described allocation of financial resources. The Crystal Circle Award was presented to Ted Fisher …

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 …

Swimmer’s Itch Control LLC, who carried out CLWA’s swimmer’s itch program during the summer of 2018, has now submitted its final report. The conclusions strongly support the preliminary results observed during summer activities, and point the way toward the continuing efforts …

On October 9 the CLWA conducted its 26th annual experiential educational project for middle school students, the Crystal Lake Walkabout. Sixth grade classes from Benzie Central and Frankfort/Elberta public schools visited locations around Crystal Lake to learn about the ecology of the watershed and the ways its qualities can be threatened. One aim is to foster appreciation …

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 …

The CLWA received the Michigan Lake and Stream Associations’ “Lake Association of the Year” award at the MLSA’s 2017 annual conference, held at Crystal Mountain Resort on April 21-22. The citation recognized …

During the summer of 2016, CLWA contracted with SICON LLC to implement a multi-faceted pilot program of swimmer’s itch research and assessment on Crystal Lake. In September they submitted a report to the CLWA …

The never-ending work of protecting northwest Michigan’s water received a major boost in September 2016 with federal approval of the Betsie River/Crystal Lake Watershed Management Plan. The document calls for investing more than $17 million in projects to protect lakes and streams in the 240-square-mile watershed, which extends from Frankfort Harbor on Lake Michigan …