Elk-Skegemog Lakes Association

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Elk Rapids, MI
Elk-Skegemog Lakes Association

Celebrating 75 years of protecting our waters! Join us in preserving its beauty and resources for future generations.

Together we keep our precious waters thriving!

06/13/2026

Check out the residents of an Elk Lake fish shelter!

Elk Lake has 15 fish shelters that help attract baitfish and crayfish. These then attract larger fish, increasing the biodiversity and ecological stability of the area so that future generations can enjoy Elk Lake and the entire watershed!

06/09/2026

The Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Center hosts Adopt-A-Stream, a biannual citizen science initiative with volunteers sampling local streams all across the watershed. The macroinvertebrates found are essential for our knowledge of how streams are doing, and can give scientists early warning if pollution enters the bodies of water.
The Elk-Skegemog Lakes Association is a creek sponsor for this initiative, and helps sample streams.
If this sounds interesting, anyone can volunteer and adopt a stream! After an instruction course, you, too, can become a citizen scientist and help protect our waterways for future generations!

06/06/2026

Curly leaf pond w**d is invasive in Northern Michigan, and is currently inhabiting Rapid River and Rugg Pond! In response, ESLA is working to survey and remove this plant as thoroughly as possible by manually pulling and using chemical treatments when necessary.
If you see these plants in your waterways, don't try to pull them! Instead, contact our lake biologist Sam at [email protected] and she can take care of it thoroughly and safely.

**d

06/04/2026

ESLA's Lake Learning Tours are back this summer!
We'll be hosting Lake Learning Tours June 24th, July 1st, July 22nd, and August 12th, open to anyone 8+!

Join our lake biologist for a relaxed, on-the-water experience exploring the basics of lake ecology. We’ll cover aquatic plants, shoreline health, invasive species, water quality and more! You’ll also hear about current and upcoming lake projects and how you can get involved.

Go to https://elk-skegemog.org/lake-learning-tours/ to register for free!

06/01/2026

🎣 The Kids Fish Photo Contest starts TODAY! 🎣

Grab your camera, head out on the water, and capture those unforgettable fishing memories this summer!

🏆 Monthly prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place photos throughout June, July, and August.

🐟 Then in September, one lucky Grand Prize Winner will be selected to receive a professionally mounted fish courtesy of Guntzviller's Taxidermy and Spirit of the Woods Museum — a prize valued at over $500!

Remember, we're looking for the BEST photos, not necessarily the biggest fish. Show us the excitement, smiles, and fun that make fishing special.

Email your photo submissions to: [email protected]

Good luck, and start sending in those photos! 📸🎣

05/30/2026

We’ve missed you all!

To welcome you back, we’ve got lots of fun events to explore the ecosystem of the lake! Check out the Elk-Skegemog Lakes Association website for events like our Lake Learning tours, evenings on river street, or our kids fish photography contest!

If you’re looking for a fun summer on the lake, we’ll be there to protect it and share the wonders with you all!

05/28/2026

⚠️ Invasive alert: Yellow Flag Iris

While it may look pretty, yellow flag iris (iris pseudacorus) is a serious threat to our lake’s health. It spreads aggressively, forming dense stands that choke out native plants, disrupt wildlife habitat, and block water flow in shorelines and wetlands.

It’s toxic to animals, and its roots are tough to remove, so it’s costly to manage once established. If you spot it on your shoreline, don’t ignore it - and don’t compost it!

❤️ Help protect our lake’s health:
- Learn how to ID it
- Avoid planting it
- Report any sightings
- Support invasive species control efforts

Please let us know if you need help with removal! Together, we can stop the spread and keep our shoreline ecosystems thriving! 🌱

05/26/2026

Early summer is snapping turtle mating season! Mating usually happens underwater and can get aggressive, so please steer clear of any snapping turtles you see! Similarly, females will be venturing on shore to lay eggs, and will be very defensive out of the water. Don’t mess with them, and observe from afar!
These creatures have low reproductive success rates, so please make sure to not disturb nests or organisms when spotted in the wild. Thanks!

05/19/2026

Spring turnover is in full swing!

Now that surface temperatures are rising, our waters will start to mix, also known as spring turnover. As the surface water reaches around 39 degrees, the colder water becomes more dense and sinks to the bottom. Wind then finishes the job of mixing up the water column.

This process helps redistribute oxygen and nutrients to the whole water body, supporting fish, plants, and the overall health of the lake. A beautiful reset for the lake ecosystem!

05/12/2026

Don't forget! TOMORROW is our Fish Talk with DNR fisheries biologist, Heather Hettinger! 5:00pm at the The Dam Shop in Elk Rapids. The Dam Shop is opening just for us and will have food and drinks available!

Please RSVP to: [email protected]

See you there!

Address

P. O Box 8
Elk Rapids, MI
49629

Website

https://www.elk-skegemog.org/

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