Inland Lake Work Group Sub-Pages:

Click on our subpages below to find out more about the following topics. And bear with us – we're only just beginning!

• a. Ordinances / Protections - Find model ordinances, overlays, and other protection measures here. Got examples or more links for us? Please send them our way by emailing Heather Edwards: heather@greatprograms.org.

• b. Educational Materials / Resources - Find links to helpful programs, documents, and people – and do send us more! Email Heather Edwards: heather@greatprograms.org.

• c. Lake Associations - Find information here about existing lake associations from Benzie, Leelanau, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Antrim Counties. Looking for resources to help you form a new lake association? You’ll find that here, too. Got news about lake associations and organizations we may not know about? Please tell us by emailing Heather Edwards: heather@greatprograms.org.

Inland Lakes Program Gains Momentum

In response to some work with Concerned Citizens of Arbutus Lake, NMEAC formed a planning group to pull together those individuals and organizations in our region who are interested in making positive strides toward inland lakes protection. The work group consists of five individuals (Ken Smith and Heather Edwards, NMEAC; Pete Munoz, SEEDS; Joan Sheard, Arbutus Lake Association; and Myrna Yeakle, Concerned Citizens of Arbutus Lake), who began meeting late last summer to design discussions and working sessions meant to address threats to our inland lakes.

NMEAC offered the first Inland Lakes Forum in October 2006 to bring together local officials, environmental advocacy groups, lake association representatives, and riparian owners. The aim of this first forum was to discuss potential threats and issues our region’s sensitive inland lakes are facing, from Benzie to Kalkaska Counties. Approximately 60 people attended the first forum, which kicked off NMEAC’s plans to expand the discussion into concrete workgroups aimed at making progress toward true lake protection around the region.

Our next meet-up took place on March 15th, and was specifically designed to draw out those from the first forum who wanted to work on issues facing our lakes. The three work groups coming out of the March session were: Ordinances / Lake Protection, led by Ken Smith and Pete Munoz; Educational Resources / Informational Materials, led by Myrna Yeakle; and Strengthening Lake Associations, led by Heather Edwards and Joan Sheard.

Approximately 30 people came out and divided themselves into the work groups they were most interested in. Facilitated brainstorming resulted in plenty of objectives each group wanted to accomplish over the next six months.

Work groups reported out findings and shared information on June 14, 2007. The groups also shared goals for the next three months and will plan a public forum around East Bay Township’s proposed ordinance as summer advances. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.