Dive into Iron County lakes

Iron County Lakes & Streams Partnership is hosting two events on Thursday, July 27 that are open to the public. The first is on-the-water demonstrations of the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program sampling methods starting at 9 a.m. at the Lake Mary boat ramp. The second is a presentation about Iron County lakes followed by a question-and-answer session starting at 7 p,m, at the Crystal Falls Library. All are welcome.
According to the MICorp website, “The MiCorps’ Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) has been an important component of Michigan’s inland lakes monitoring program for over 40 years, which makes it the second oldest volunteer monitoring program for lakes in the country. The primary purpose of this cooperative program is to help citizen volunteers monitor indicators of water quality in their lake and document changes in lake quality over time.”
Volunteers with CLMP learn how to sample water clarity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-A and phosphorus. There are also methods for evaluating a lake’s shoreline, and identifying native and invasive plants. Many of the techniques used will be demonstrated at the July 27 event at Lake Mary. Paul Dalpra, an ICLSP member who has been gathering lake data for CLMP longer than any other Iron County volunteer, will be our host for the morning. Erick Elgin and Jo Latimore from Michigan State University will lead the demonstrations.
In 2022, 18 lakes in Iron County were monitored by volunteers: Blue, Buck, Cable, Camp, Chicagoan, Ellen, Fortune (1st and 2nd), Golden, Hannah Webb, Maggie (Big and West), Mary, Ottawa, Perch, Stager, Sunset and Swan. If your favorite lake isn’t being monitored or if you would like to learn more about sampling methods, consider joining us at Lake Mary.
At 7 p.m. on July 27, Jo Latimore and Erick Elgin will be at the Crystal Falls Library to talk about lake health and trends in Iron County. Both MSU professionals are well versed in lake ecology, aquatic plants, fisheries and shorelines. The library is graciously providing space and refreshments for this event. 
If you have been intrigued by the lake-related articles in the newspaper or have topics you would like to learn about, plan to attend the events on Thursday, July 23.
Lake Mary is located in Mastodon Township. The boat ramp is at 400 N. Shore Rd. Take M-69 to Lake Mary Rd south, to N. Shore Rd east. Please arrive by 9 a.m.
The Crystal Falls Library is located at 237 Superior Ave on the hill in Crystal Falls. The presentation begins at 7 p.m.
Dr. Jo Latimore is an aquatic ecologist with Michigan State University. She serves as the Director of the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps), which includes CLMP, and is also the Director of the new MSU Extension Center for Lakes and Streams. Erick Elgin is a limnologist and water resources educator with Michigan State University Extension. His main responsibilities are to promote and research the wise use, protection, and restoration of our freshwater systems.
ICLSP is committed to raising awareness, providing educational opportunities, using science-based technology and fostering cooperation. If you have questions, contact ICLSP at iclakesandstreamspartnership@gmail.com