Michigan Chapter North American Lake Management Society
The purpose of McNALMS is to promote understanding and comprehensive management of Michigan's inland lake ecosystems
Wake Boat Recommendations Released by Michigan DNR
Fisheries Report #37 on A Literature Review of Wake Boat Effects on Aquatic Habitat has been officially released by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division.Wake boats are powerboats specially designed to increase wave height for watersports. There is concern that the waves produced by these boats can increase shoreline erosion; stir up bottom sediments and create hazards for humans and animals.The report recommends the following voluntary best operating practices in support of the continued use of wake boats while minimizing the effects on natural resources and near shore property:
1. Boats operating in wake-surfing mode or wake-boarding mode, during which boat speed, wave shapers, and/or ballast are used to increase wave height, are recommended to operate at least 500 feet from docks or the shoreline, regardless of water depth.2. Boats operating in wake-surfing or wake-boarding modes are recommended to operate in water at least 15 feet deep.3. Ballast tanks should be completely drained prior to transporting the watercraft over land.
The entire report, written by James Francis, Joel Nohner, John Bauman, and Brian Gunderman is available at this link.
1. Boats operating in wake-surfing mode or wake-boarding mode, during which boat speed, wave shapers, and/or ballast are used to increase wave height, are recommended to operate at least 500 feet from docks or the shoreline, regardless of water depth.2. Boats operating in wake-surfing or wake-boarding modes are recommended to operate in water at least 15 feet deep.3. Ballast tanks should be completely drained prior to transporting the watercraft over land.
The entire report, written by James Francis, Joel Nohner, John Bauman, and Brian Gunderman is available at this link.
Lake Awareness Day Focuses on Protecting Michigan's High Quality Lakes
Key organizations from around the state that work to manage and protect Michigan's lakes met with legislators, staff, agency personnel, and others during the May 18 forum held at Karoub Associates, a block from the State Capitol. The coordinators of the event prepared infographics and posters with information that highlighted Water Quality and Quantity in inland lakes; Stressors and Impacts; Economics and Ecological Values and Solutions and Support. The event was organized by members of Michigan Waterfront Alliance; Michigan Environmental Council, Michigan Chapter, North American Lake Management Society (McNALMS), Midwest Aquatic Plant Management Society (MAPMS), Michigan Aquatic Managers Association (MAMA), FLOW (For Love of Water), MSU Institute of Water Research and MSU Extension.
Many conversations about Michigan's inland lakes took place during the Lake Awareness Day forum. Photo by Scott Brown
Wake Boat Operations and Impacts Reviewed
A review of wake boats and their operations and impacts has been written by William Scott Brown, board member of McNALMS. If you are interested in the full text copy, click on the link at the end of this excerpt.
The substantive findings of several peer reviewed scientific investigations that have been conducted in recent years clearly demonstrate that the upsurge in the number of wake enhanced boats operating on the inland lakes of the Laurentian Great Lakes region are likely responsible for rendering an array of adverse impacts on frequently exposed aquatic ecosystems. A dramatic upsurge in sales of recreational vessels that are designed and operated for the sole purpose of enabling enhanced wake dependent water sports by generating wakes that possess kinetic energy levels that greatly exceed those that occur naturally has helped gain the attention of state and local government officials, law enforcement agencies, lake managers, lake conservation advocacy groups, and the news media. In addition to their significant potential to have a negative impact on vulnerable aquatic ecosystems, regularly occurring, well publicized incidents involving high energy wake perpetrated over turned kayaks, swamped fishing boats, hazardous swimming conditions, and damage to moored boats, piers, and docks have served to help focus public attention on the frequently disruptive watercraft. Heated discussion regarding the difficult public policy question of whether operation of the increasingly popular though controversial water craft should somehow be restricted, or even banned in some cases, has now migrated from marinas to state capitols where legislators, and lobbyists representing the special interests of a powerful group of stakeholders remain deeply divided on the issue (Orenstein, 2020).
Wake boats, also referred to as wake enhanced boats, are designed to generate the high energy wakes that are required to enable wake surfing and wakeboarding (Ruprecht et al., 2015; Goudey and Girod, 2015). Wake surfing, the significantly more popular of the wake enabled water sports due to the fact that it is safer and much easier for most people to master than wake boarding (Ray, 2020), involves riders who surf the substantial wake that results from shifting ballast water to the aft (rear) corner on the side of the boat that is to be surfed (Mercier-Blais and Prairie, 2014; Ruprecht et al., 2015). Enabled by operating speeds ranging from 8 - 13 mph (13 - 21 km/h), wake surfers are not attached to their boards, and are not supported by tow ropes (Ruprecht et al., 2015). In contrast, wakeboarding, whose rise in popularity began in the late 1990’s, usually involves more athletically inclined participants who strive to perform acrobatics while airborne during high jumps that are achieved by using the enhanced wakes produced by their supporting water craft as transient ‘launch’ ramps (Ruprecht et al., 2015; Boyd, 2016). Engaged at speeds ranging from 18 - 30 mph (29 - 48 km/h) (Ruprecht et al., 2015), wakeboarders are attached to their board, and pulled along well behind their supporting boat by a tow rope of up to 85 feet (26 meters) in length (Allen et al., 2019). From: A Review of the Adverse Impacts Attributed to the Operation of Wake Enhanced Boats on Inland Lake Ecosystems
Wake boats, also referred to as wake enhanced boats, are designed to generate the high energy wakes that are required to enable wake surfing and wakeboarding (Ruprecht et al., 2015; Goudey and Girod, 2015). Wake surfing, the significantly more popular of the wake enabled water sports due to the fact that it is safer and much easier for most people to master than wake boarding (Ray, 2020), involves riders who surf the substantial wake that results from shifting ballast water to the aft (rear) corner on the side of the boat that is to be surfed (Mercier-Blais and Prairie, 2014; Ruprecht et al., 2015). Enabled by operating speeds ranging from 8 - 13 mph (13 - 21 km/h), wake surfers are not attached to their boards, and are not supported by tow ropes (Ruprecht et al., 2015). In contrast, wakeboarding, whose rise in popularity began in the late 1990’s, usually involves more athletically inclined participants who strive to perform acrobatics while airborne during high jumps that are achieved by using the enhanced wakes produced by their supporting water craft as transient ‘launch’ ramps (Ruprecht et al., 2015; Boyd, 2016). Engaged at speeds ranging from 18 - 30 mph (29 - 48 km/h) (Ruprecht et al., 2015), wakeboarders are attached to their board, and pulled along well behind their supporting boat by a tow rope of up to 85 feet (26 meters) in length (Allen et al., 2019). From: A Review of the Adverse Impacts Attributed to the Operation of Wake Enhanced Boats on Inland Lake Ecosystems
Current and Past Student Research Projects Funded through McNALMS and MLSA
The Michigan Chapter North American Lake Management Society (McNALMS) and the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association (MLSA) are pleased to announce the two new recipients for the 2023 Student Lake Grants program. They are Melanie Bruno from Oakland University and Katherine Lucas from Grand Valley State University. Melanie's project is titled "Differences in attraction to artificial light between larval and adult life stages of mayflies," and she will be working under the direction of her advisor, Dr. Scott Tiegs. Katherine's research is on "Impact of climate change and restoration on phosphorus loading in impaired wetlands,” and her advisor is Dr. Alan Steinman. McNALMS and MLSA have been funding student projects since 2015. Past projects funded include:
2022Under-ice photosynthetic primary production and dark carbon fixation in Lake Superior’s Keweenaw Waterway by Vanessa Cubillos Tellez, Michigan Technological University; Advisor: Dr. Trista Vick-MajorsUse of an Aquatic Remotely Operated Vehicle to Assess Relative Abundance of Fish and their Relations to Water Quality Variables by Elizabeth Belanger, Lake Superior State University; Advisor: Dr. Kevin Kapuscinski2021Lake Response to Elevated Levels of Phosphorus and Chloride by Ellen Foley, Grand Valley State University; Advisor: Dr. Alan SteinmanImpacts of Climate Change on Gene Expression in Stocked Walleye Populations by Scott Jackson, University of Michigan; Advisor: Dr. Karen Alofs2020Star Wars: Phenology of Nitellopsis obtusa (Starry Stonewort) in two Michigan drowned river mouth lakes, Michigan by Emily Neuman, Grand Valley State University Invasive Mystery Snail Detection and Characteristics of lnvaded Inland Lakes in Mid-Michigan by Emmet Smrcka, Central Michigan University; Advisor: Dr. David Zanatta2019Bloom or bust: Search for phytoplankton community drivers using long-term time-series observations and field measurements in a model Great Lakes estuary by Jasmine Mancuso, Grand Valley State University; Advisor: Dr. Bopaiah Biddanda 2018Shoreline Restoration and Source of Nutrient Enrichment Impacts on Macrophyte and Epiphytic Algal Communities by Paige Kleindl, Grand Valley State University, Advisor: Dr. Alan Steinman
2017
Littoral Primary Production and Effects of Invasive Macrophytes in Michigan Lakes by Ryan Van Goethem, Michigan Technological University, Advisor: Dr. Amy Marcarelli
Young of the Year Fish Mortality along a Lakeshore Development Gradient by Jacob Ziegler, Carey Institute and McGill University, Advisor: Dr. C. Solomon
2016
Assessment of Cyanobacteria to Suppress Growth and Development of Dreissenid Larvae by Anna Boegehold, Wayne State University; Advisor: Dr. Donna Kashian
Phosphorus Retention in West Michigan Two Stage Agricultural Ditches by Emily Kindevater, Grand Valley State University, Advisor: Dr. Alan Steinman
2015
Phosphorus Loss via Tile Drains in the Macatawa Watershed by Delilah Clement, Grand Valley State University, Advisor: Dr. Alan Steinman
Shoreline Habitat Change in Michigan Lakes: Understanding Property Owner Decisions and Impacts to Largemouth Bass Fisheries by Joe Nohner, Michigan State University, Advisor: Dr. William Taylor
Blooming Waters: Understanding Harmful Algal Blooms and Safe Drinking Water
A webinar on Harmful Algal Blooms will be held Oct 3, 2023 01:00 PM. HABs are a growing concern across the nation, and Michigan is no exception. These blooms can produce toxins that pose significant risks to both human health and aquatic ecosystems. In this webinar, we will delve into the fascinating science behind algal blooms, their causes and detrimental effects, and examples of efforts taken to prevent drinking water exposures.
Key Topics to be Covered:• Understanding the Science: Discover the factors that contribute to the formation of harmful algal blooms and the conditions that foster their growth.• Monitoring Michigan's Waterways: Learn about EGLE's efforts to track and detect harmful algal blooms in various surface water bodies.• Safeguarding Drinking Water: Explore Michigan's efforts to ensure the safety of drinking water systems and protect the health of its residents.
This webinar has been approved for 0.1 CECs in the Technical Category for Drinking Water Operators. In order to be eligible for CECs, you must attend the entire session and answer all of the poll questions. Register at this link.
After registering, you will receive an email from "EGLE-Events" with a link for you to use to join the webinar. Save the email link to your calendar so it is easy to find on the day of the webinar..
Key Topics to be Covered:• Understanding the Science: Discover the factors that contribute to the formation of harmful algal blooms and the conditions that foster their growth.• Monitoring Michigan's Waterways: Learn about EGLE's efforts to track and detect harmful algal blooms in various surface water bodies.• Safeguarding Drinking Water: Explore Michigan's efforts to ensure the safety of drinking water systems and protect the health of its residents.
This webinar has been approved for 0.1 CECs in the Technical Category for Drinking Water Operators. In order to be eligible for CECs, you must attend the entire session and answer all of the poll questions. Register at this link.
After registering, you will receive an email from "EGLE-Events" with a link for you to use to join the webinar. Save the email link to your calendar so it is easy to find on the day of the webinar..
Shoreland Stewards Program Releases Videos
Five videos have been released by the the Shoreland Stewards Program, a part of the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership. The videos explore the four zones of lakefront property and teach lakefront property residents how to be a "Shoreland Steward." The Shoreland Stewards program was created to recognize inland lake property owners who are maintaining their property in a way that reduces negative impacts that development can have on inland lakes to ensure healthy lakes for future generations for both people and fish and wildlife. The videos can be accessed on The Partnership's YouTube channel. Find out more information at: www.mishorelandstewards.org
Conservation Planner Tool Provides Lake Data for Great Lakes Region
The Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership (MGLP) has released its new MGLP Conservation Planner, which provides lake data to inform communicators, managers, and researchers about lakes throughout the Great Lakes region. Specifically, the MGLP Conservation Planner provides data on likely suitability for fishes, land cover along the shoreline and in the lake’s watershed, and conservation recommendations to supplement existing information for each lake. Its recommended uses include provision of data to inform single-lake management, establishment of a framework for conservation strategies in each lake, identification of patterns in fish habitat due to climate and land use change, and as a supplement during potential prioritization of limited resources among lakes.
Great Lakes Conference 2022 Presentations Available
The Great Lakes are one of Michigan’s greatest resources, providing recreational opportunities, a premier fisheries resource, water for agriculture, manufacturing, and other industries and multiple other uses. They are also subject to major problems such as invasive species, climate change, and harmful algal blooms. The 32th annual Great Lakes Conference, The Great Lakes: Connecting Science and Management, was held Tuesday, March 8, 2022 in East Lansing. Topics included environmental justice around fish consumption; predator prey studies; lake trout in Lake Michigan; addressing health with environmental surveillance; freak waves and meteo-tsuanmis; water level variability, inundation in coastal communities and high water level impacts for the last few years; and connecting people with Great Lakes information using wireless buoys. To view the recordings and presentations, visit the Great Lakes website.
