Ohio Lake Management Society

07/25/2026

Just a reminder that healthy, functioning wetlands are critical to protecting clean, healthy lakes!!

Hey, get a lotu-this! (Get it? Lotus? 🪷)

Our puns might be crappie 🎣, but the freshwater estuary at Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve is anything but!

As one of the few remaining intact freshwater estuaries on the southern shore of Lake Erie, the reserve is a critical spawning and nursery ground for crappie, blue gill, and channel catfish. In times of high water, the estuary is dominated by important aquatic plants like the American water lotus.

Not only is it beautiful, it’s also the perfect place for researchers to model water quality management practices that limit harmful algal blooms. Learn more about what this special wetland has to teach us!
https://coast.noaa.gov/nerrs/reserves/old-woman-creek.html

07/16/2026

Looking for something fun to do this Saturday? Then come beat the heat and join us at Pleasant Hill Lake Park starting at 10am!

Celebrate the lakes, waterways, and outdoor spaces we all enjoy!💜🌊

Bring the whole family and spend the day exploring, learning, and celebrating our lake! 😎

Meet at the kayak launch area near the swim beach parking lot for a full day of fun with hands-on activities for all ages, including What is a Watershed, Live Aquatic Wildlife, Aquatic Plant & Wildlife Identification, Water Quality Sampling, and an Electrofishing Demonstration. 🐟

🎉This event is FREE and registration is not required. We can’t wait to see you there!

Thank you to your Partners:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes and Ohio River Division
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Ohio Division of Wildlife
Richland Soil and Water Conservation District
Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District
Greater Mohican Audubon Society
Kent State University
Ohio State University Extension
Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District
Ohio Lake Management Society

07/08/2026

Ohio’s lakes bring people together to fish, paddle, explore, and recharge. We’re proud to support the management that keeps these waters safe and thriving for everyone! 🎣🛶

07/01/2026

Interesting new insights to help manage algal blooms in lakes!! Check out the article below to learn more!! 👇🏻💧

Kent State researchers find iron and zinc limit algae growth in 41 streams, with implications for managing harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie.

12/20/2025

An excellent reminder from our neighbors to the north! ❄❄🧂🧂

Even in winter, what we do on driveways and parking lots shows up in our lakes. MSU Extension’s “Salt runoff can impair lakes” article notes that when snow and ice melt, road salt does not disappear. It washes into ditches, streams, and lakes, where chloride can slowly build up over time.

A little salt goes a long way. The article suggests shoveling or scraping first, using only a small amount of deicer, skipping salt when pavement temperatures are below about 15°F, and sweeping up extra grains once things dry out. Those simple habits keep roads and sidewalks safer while also helping inland lakes stay fresher.

You can read the full MSU Extension piece here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/salt_runoff_can_impair_lakes

12/05/2025

Happy International Volunteer Day! 🎉

Today, we celebrate our amazing lake monitoring volunteers. These passionate individuals collect crucial data to help lake managers make informed decisions. Their efforts ensure cleaner lakes, benefiting wildlife and providing enjoyment for all.

Join us in applauding their commitment and hard work, inspiring us to protect our natural resources for future generations! 🙌

Interested in becoming a volunteer? Check out the link in our bio!!

11/24/2025

🎉 Congratulations to all our OLMS Award winners from this past year! Thank you for all that you do to help protect Ohio Lakes!

💧Innovation in Lake Management: Theresa Sutter (Richland County SWCD
💧Distinguished Service/ Lifetime Achievement: John M. Wilson Jr. (AQUA DOC Lake & Pond Management, Inc.)
💧Presidents’ Award: Mark Warman (Ohio Sea Grant)

10/26/2025

🎃🍂It's a spooky time of year and our local lakes are undergoing some seasonal changes of their own. 🎃🍂

Strong winds and cooler temperatures help many of our deeper lakes "turn over" this time of year. Summer heat can cause lakes to thermally stratify with cooler water trapped near the bottom, unable to mix with the surface layer. During long stretches under these conditions, oxygen levels in the hypolimnion can drop extremely low. When the epilimnion (top) and hypolimnion (bottom) converge in temperatures, all water in the lake from top to bottom will mix. When a large volume of oxygen-depleted water mixes rapidly in a lake, it can be a scary time for fish! 💀💀

10/10/2025

Another celebration-worthy milestone for Ohio's largest lake! 🌊

The Cuyahoga River joins the Maumee and Sandusky River in efforts to reestablish self-sustaining populations of state endangered Lake Sturgeon in their ancestral breeding grounds. Behind every great lake is a healthy watershed!

08/23/2025

Did you know our lakekeepers monitor Ohio lakes all season long? From checking water clarity to tracking algae and nutrients, our lake monitoring program helps us keep on eye on the health of the water we all swim, fish, and play in.

Clean water = healthy lakes = more fun on the water for everyone! 🚤🐟☀️

Want to be a Lakekeeper? Check out our link in our bio! 😎