Join your neighbors and protect your lake from a harmful invasive aquatic plant, all while you enjoy your morning coffee!
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Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) is an aquatic invasive plant that has been detected in many lakes throughout Northwest Michigan. EWM forms thick mats that choke off shallow areas of lakes. Once established, EWM control is difficult and expensive, and eradication is nearly impossible.
A unique feature of EWM is that plants reproduce both with seeds and by auto-fragmentation: strands of EWM break off and drift away from an established colony before rooting in new areas. While this contributes to the spread of EWM within and between lakes, EWM is often first detected when people notice one of these strands that has washed up on their shoreline. The Northwest Michigan Watersheds Coalition is supporting lakes by implementing Community-Based Monitoring for EWM, based on a program piloted by Freshwater Solutions, LLC, on 5 Leelanau County lakes in 2025. Volunteers only need to make a quick observation of their shoreline at least twice a week whenever they are at the lake during the growing season. If any suspicious plants are found, volunteers can send a photo to experts for confirmation. No previous knowledge is required, and the only training requirement is a 4-minute YouTube video. Community-Based Monitoring programs will be run by lake and watershed associations, with support from the Coalition. Please contact your association to volunteer, or for more information. |
A small strand that washed ashore in 2023 was the first sign of EWM in Little Glen Lake. Note that new roots are now growing from the plant. Photo by Rob Karner.
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Check out our CBM training video
Community Based Monitoring Resources
More information coming soon
Native vs. Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) ID
Lake Association Resources - use these templates to recruit and inform volunteers
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A growing community of volunteers monitoring our lakes in Northwest Michigan
