About the CLWA
Concerns and Issues
The Crystal Lake & Watershed Association was formed in 2004 by the merger of the Crystal Lake Association and the Crystal Lake Watershed Fund. Both these organizations had their roots in a long series of local citizen groups going back to the 1950s, when increasing development around the lake began to raise concerns about maintaining the special quality of the water and environment.
Throughout the decades, group initiatives were spurred by recognition of threats such as inadequate septic systems, growing motorboat and automobile traffic, potential property sales for large scale commercial use, and use of fertilizers and pesticides in the watershed.
Today’s CLWA sustains a legacy of over fifty years of water quality testing, an invaluable body of data that both reassures our community of Crystal Lake’s essential health and also serves as an early warning of changes that must be addressed. Monitoring the condition of the lake and its surroundings remains at the core of CLWA’s purpose.
New issues continue to arise: swimmer’s itch, shoreline erosion, invasive species making their way to these waters, the need for long term planning. Practical action to address concerns is accompanied by sustained programs to enlist public awareness and involvement.
The CLWA’s mission remains the same as envisioned by its predecessors over a half century ago — preserving and protecting the beauty, natural qualities and recreational resources of Crystal Lake and its watershed on behalf of all its stakeholders throughout the region, now and for the future.
Protecting Crystal Lake Now for Generations to Come.
P.O. Box 89 • Beulah, MI 49617
info@crystallakewatershed.org
231.882.4001 Tel
The Crystal Lake Watershed Association (CLWA), is a non-profit (501c3) organization.
Photography: Jay Burt and Rick Cosaro
Site by: Rick Cosaro
Quagga Mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis)
A close relative of the Zebra mussel which already infests Crystal Lake. Like its cousin, it consumes native phytoplankton and clogs lakeshore recreational equipment. More rounded shell and less prominent dark rings than the Quagga. Can grow to 2 inches in length.
New England Mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum)
Small dark snails that reproduce rapidly to high densities in many habitats. Their small size makes them difficult to detect when attached to fishing gear or watercraft. They are abundant in the Platte River.
Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)
Dark red color with bright red raised spots: look like small lobsters. Length 2.2 - 4.7 inches. Compete aggressively with native crayfish for food and habitat. Introduced by live bait dumping, aquarium trade.
Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
Submerged aquatic plant; green leaves whorled in groups of 4-8. Very slender stems can grow up to 30 feet long. White 3-petaled flowers. Forms dense mats that shade out native vegetation and interferes with recreational activities.
Starry Stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa)
Submerged whorls of 4-6 leaves with blunt tips; can reach up to 33 inches. Forms dense mats that significantly reduce the diversity of other aquatic plants. Mats impede movement of fish, water flow, and recreational activities.
