2021 McNALMS and MLSA Lake Research Grants Announced

The Michigan Chapter North American Lake Management Society (McNALMS) and Michigan Lakes and Streams Association (MLSA) announce the 2021 Lake Research Student Grants Program (LRGP). The purpose of the program is to promote student efforts to work with lakes and lake communities to enhance lake management. Projects that increase the understanding of lake ecology, strengthen collaborative lake management, address inland lakes fisheries, build lake partnerships and/or expand citizen involvement in lake management are eligible for consideration. This year one or more grants will be awarded with a total of $4,000 allocated to this year’s program. Proposals will be funded for one calendar year. Projects must have a Michigan focus. A link to the application and grant proposal form is at the bottom of this page.
Who May Apply
  • Applicants must be either:
  • University/College graduate student(s) conducting applied research/outreach projects
  • University/College undergraduate student(s) working on special studies projects or
  • Participants enrolled in or recent alumni of the Michigan Lake and Stream Leaders Institute, Michigan Conservation Stewards Program, or similar Watershed Academy
All applicants must be members or enroll as members of McNALMS when their application is submitted. Membership is free for full-time students. Membership applications are available on the Membership page.
Grant Application Deadlines
The deadline for this year's grant application is Friday, February 26, 2021 at 5PM EST. Awards will be announced in late March or the first week of April.
Funds Distribution
In most cases, the cash award will be donated to the Department or Program in which the student resides with the understanding that the funds are earmarked for that student. Funds can be used for hourly support/wages, supplies, and travel. Equipment purchases including computers, smartphones, tablets and similar devices are not allowed.
Uncompleted Projects
If projects are not completed in the one-year time frame, grant recipient(s) may be asked to return up to 50% of the grant funds awarded, if they have not been expended. Extensions of up to three months after the end date may be considered.
Project Renewals Grant recipient(s) may submit a grant request in a subsequent year’s grant process for additional funds to continue or expand their project.
Project Products
Grant recipients must send a 1-2 paragraph email to mcnalms@mcnalms.org indicating progress on the project after six months. At the end of the project period the grant recipient(s) must electronically submit a three to five page report detailing the project’s goals, methods and results. Grant recipient(s) may be asked and are encouraged to present and discuss their project and results at a McNALMS or MLSA Conference, the Michigan Inland Lakes Convention or another educational event. Each project will be evaluated based on nine criteria. The evaluator can give the proposal a score of 0 to 10 based upon the strength of the proposal. A perfect score would be 90 points. The criteria are:
  • Is the proposed research strongly related to inland lake ecosystems, lake management, collaborative lake management, lake partnerships or expand citizen involvement in lake management and have applicability to Michigan lakes?
  • How significantly will the research add to the understanding of lake ecosystems or lake management knowledge, build lake partnerships or expand citizen involvement?
  • Will the project have statewide interest or application to other lakes?
  • Are the proposal’s objectives logical?
  • Is the research approach and methods valid?
  • Is there adequate facilities/equipment available to conduct this research?
  • Are there other funding sources available or proposed for this project?
  • Can the work be completed in the allotted time frame?
  • Does the budget reflect the amount of work proposed?
Project Submission
Download the Application Form, fill it in, and return it and your proposal by email to: mcnalms@mcnalms.org or by US mail to: Lake Student Grants Program, Michigan Chapter, NALMS, PO Box 4812, East Lansing, MI 48826. For further information, contact us at: mcnalms@mcnalms.org or call 517-353-9222. A copy of the Grant Program Form is also available.
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