Three Lakes Association

05/30/2026

These tiny mussels can cause BIG problems. 😮

Zebra and quagga mussels are small but the impact they have on lakes is huge. These little hitchhikers latch onto your vessel and make their way to the next lake, and the next, and the next.

But the good news is that we can stop them by cleaning, draining, and drying our vessels!

• Remove all plants, mud, and debris. Then, thoroughly wash your boat and trailer.
• Drain all water from your boat, motor, and more before leaving the area.
• Let your boat dry completely for at least 5 days before hitting the water again.

Every boater plays a role in keeping our lakes mussel-free. Remember to clean, drain, and dry every time. 👏

05/30/2026

Recently we gathered at The Blue Pelican where we were presented with a donation from the Antrim Women’s Alliance for our summer intern program!
Thank you, ladies!! Thank you for your generosity and all the fine works you do throughout the area!!

05/29/2026

Do you have geese that make a mess of your yard? The best option is to create a shoreline barrier with plants.
Until the plants take hold here’s an idea:
The flags help to keep the geese from coming on to the beach/shore and pooping everywhere. And surprisingly it works.
Let us know if you have other ideas!

05/25/2026

We think of the fallen on Memorial Day. We often think of them as old men and women but most were 18-24, who offered their service and didn’t come home.
Much gratitude!!

05/21/2026

Aspen is a TLA 2025 Summer Intern alumni!
Way to go, Aspen!!

05/17/2026

The wetlands protect our waters!!

May is American Wetlands Month, and Michigan has a lot to celebrate. Our state supports an incredible diversity of wetlands, including marshes, bogs, fens, wet meadows, conifer swamps, deciduous swamps, and more. EGLE notes that Michigan has at least 33 different wetland types, and many of them do not look like the classic cattail marsh some may think of first. Some are grassy, shrubby, or even forested.

Wetlands do a huge amount of quiet work for the rest of the landscape. They help improve water quality, store floodwater, support groundwater recharge, and provide critical habitat for fish, wildlife, amphibians, insects, and plants. In Michigan, they are also closely tied to the health of our inland lakes, streams, and groundwater.

American Wetlands Month is a good time to appreciate just how much these areas do for the rest of the landscape - https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/may-american-wetlands-month

05/16/2026

Schedule change from previous years.

05/15/2026

Did you successfully guess today's ? It was a whole mess of steelhead fry! Let's talk about the journey of these little fish.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources fisheries staff have successfully completed steelhead egg collection efforts. Eggs are collected yearly from the Little Manistee River weir, and this year had some challenges.

Unfortunately, due to a lightning strike, the weir lost power this year during the egg collection period. This resulted in a loss of main power, backup power and alert systems. However, thanks to our fisheries staff, egg collection was still completed.

Even with some fish lost due to power outages, 4.2 million eggs were collected for Michigan's fish hatcheries! Not all of the eggs were collected at the Little Manistee River. Fisheries crews were able to utilize the Lower Platte River Weir as a backup location to finish egg collection.

What is next for the future fish? They head to state fish hatcheries throughout the state where they are reared into fingerlings and the stocked in Michigan waters. Fish hatcheries help keep Michigan steelhead (and other species) thriving for amazing fishing opportunities for all anglers.

In 2025, Michigan DNR staff stocked nearly 20 million fish in public waters.

Check the comments for more info on fish hatcheries and our steelhead egg collection challenges this year.

As always, thanks to the crowd for playing, and thanks to all anglers who help support fish hatcheries and fisheries activities through the purchase of fishing licenses. The $26 license provides funding that keeps our fishing opportunities as some of the best in the country.

Now go, have fun, and maybe enjoy some spring fishing. 😎

05/15/2026

They are here. They are nesting.
Please watch for the nest platforms as you are out traversing the lakes!
Photo credit: Watermark Photography.

05/13/2026

Reminder to join us tomorrow, May 14, via zoom to get your questions answered!!!

Join us for the annual boater stewardship webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83211953905?pwdIj1MgG9AebJVYfpqv7ik1XqxRWYZYu.1

Meeting ID: 832 1195 3905 Passcode: 811061