Mission The Lime Lake Association Through scientific research, environmental education, community building, and collaboration with public and private entities dedicated to conservation, The Lime Lake Association is stewarding the environmental purity and beauty of Lime Lake and its watershed. BYLAWS Join the Lime Lake Association Whether you live on Lime Lake or love to visit, when you become a member, you support programs to ensure that Lime Lake remains beautiful and healthy. Our programs include research and testing, community education and outreach, collaborations with conservation organizations, and more. Our biggest expense is science. We’ve been conducting, for example, Swimmer’s Itch research for three years that also helps us monitor for Eurasian Milfoil, the biggest existential threat to inland lakes. Unlike some lakes in the area, we do not have Milfoil in Lime Lake. Our research means early detection and the ability to eradicate the invasive species immediately. Your contributions make it possible for us to contract with a lake biologist who monitors water quality, offers free greenbelt consults and educates our members on best practices to protect our water. All of our spending goes directly to our mission and Lime Lake would not be the pristine gem that it is without these efforts. Your support protects the incredible natural resources and quality of life we’ve all come to love here on Lime Lake. Thank you for your contribution! JOIN / DONATE Our Story The Lime Lake b oard m embers are volunteers committed to preserving and protecting Lime Lake and its watershed. We manage and oversee the implementation of many projects, reports, and collaborations. The original lake association was formed by a group of homeowners to build community and basic awareness. Our current Lime Lake Association became incorporated in 2015 with the 501C3 not-for-profit status and directed its attention toward the expanded mission of preservation and protection of the lake and the watershed. Board of Directors Board members provide direction and oversight to the Lime Lake Association. The Board is comprised of watershed riparians and meets at least three times annually. The association holds an annual meeting each July for the Lime Lake community and association members interested in learning more and becoming involved in the stewardship of Lime Lake and it's watershed. Volunteers are always welcome to serve on committees as the association grows. Opportunities, as they become available, will be posted on our blog. Lime Lake Association Board Dean Manikas - President Mark Fisher - Vice President Jeff Kane - Treasurer Molly O'Toole - Secretary Lisa Genesen - Fund Raising Mary Barss - Hospitality/Merchandise Ron Reimink - Volunteer Cathy Stocker - Communications Standing Committees 2022-23 Watershed Planning - Molly O'Toole, Dean Manikas, Mark Fisher Lake Biologist Kelsey Froelich Preserving the Lime Lake Ecosystem T he health of the overall lake ecosystem depends on the community that lives within the watershed and around the lakes that are part of it. Our choices matter. Your involvement and financial support matter. Please do your part through volunteering, taking advantage of our free greenbelt consultations and discovery boat tours, and becoming a member so we all may continue to enjoy this very special place and preserve it for future generations. JOIN / DONATE

Aug 16 All Eyes on Purple Loosestrife Purple Loosestrife (PL) is a terrestrial invasive species to Northern Michigan that has had substantial impact on several Leelanau County... 43 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Jul 11 It's all Connected: A Shetland Creek Cleanup Reminds Us To Leave No Trace Lime Lake is the most upland body of water in The Good Harbor Bay Watershed so what we do here impacts everything below us. 70 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Jul 1 Getting Dirty to Protect Lime Lake Thanks to volunteers & vigilance we're closer to reaching our goal of eradicating yellow flag iris from Lime Lake 58 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Jun 17 Volunteers Needed: Friday, June 21, 12pm Volunteers needed to pull the invasive yellow flag iris from areas in Pat's Preserve this Friday, June 21, at 12 pm. 38 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Apr 15 Storytelling Event to Support Leelanau Clean Water, April 27, 7pm, Little Traverse Inn Please come support Leelanau Clean Water at their annual storytelling event, Bubbling Up. The gathering will take place at the Little... 6 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Jul 20, 2023 Discovery Boat Tour Time Change Reserve your seats for an educational & entertaining Lime Lake Discovery Boat Tour, July 24 or August 4. 134 1 comment 1 2 likes. Post not marked as liked 2 Jun 14, 2023 Swimmer's Itch Don't let worries about swimmer's itch keep you out of the water. Facts & tips to ease your mind. 373 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Jun 7, 2023 Complete Our Survey Help us serve you better. Complete this quick survey. 41 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Jun 2, 2023 Volunteer Needed Summer 2023 A fun volunteer opportunity testing water transparency. 46 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Jun 1, 2023 Become a Member of The Lime Lake Association Your membership keeps Lime Lake healthy. Donate today. 44 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Jun 1, 2023 Free Greenbelt Consultation Enjoy a free & fascinating shoreline consultation with our lake biologist! 33 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Jun 1, 2023 Volunteer Needed in July Want to show off your boat and captain a Lime Lake Discovery Tour? Volunteer today! 31 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked

THIS IS LIME LAKE Pristine water, stunning shorelines, steep forested hillsides, sparkling creeks and streams, and over 60 acres of preserved natural areas. This is Lime Lake, a gem of Leelanau County. As a Lake Association our mission is the stewardship of Lime Lake's environmental purity and beauty, and a nyone who lives on the lake or just loves to visit can become a member. Through educational outreach, monitoring and research, community building, and collaborations with conservationists, we are preserving and protecting Lime Lake for future generations. Join in! Stewardship Greenbelt Consultation Support Become a Member Service Become a Volunteer Watershed Protection is Crucial Many of us who live on or near Lime Lake prefer to keep her out of the limelight. None-the-less, Leelanau County in general is experiencing an ever greater number of visitors and this inevitably leads to increased pollutants and other environmental stressors that threaten the health of the Good Harbor Watershed and its lakes. Learn what a watershed is and what you can do to protect it. LEARN MORE Scientific Evidence Based Strategies The Lime Lake Association employs evidence-based strategies to protect water quality within the Lime Lake/Good Harbor Watershed. Learn more about the science of water quality and the methods and techniques used to monitor, test, and safeguard the water. LEARN MORE Free Greenbelt Consultation To encourage establishing greenbelts on Lime Lake, the LLA is supporting on-site consultations by our Lake Biologist. During the half-hour consultation, you will gain a deeper understanding of the natural process and science that a natural shoreline plays in the health of the lake ecosystem. Site specific opportunities will be discussed so you can create a greenbelt plan for your shore. LEARN MORE LIME LAKE NEWS Aug 16 All Eyes on Purple Loosestrife 43 Post not marked as liked Jul 11 It's all Connected: A Shetland Creek Cleanup Reminds Us To Leave No Trace 70 Post not marked as liked Jul 1 Getting Dirty to Protect Lime Lake 58 Post not marked as liked Jun 17 Volunteers Needed: Friday, June 21, 12pm 38 Post not marked as liked Apr 15 Storytelling Event to Support Leelanau Clean Water, April 27, 7pm, Little Traverse Inn 6 Post not marked as liked Jul 20, 2023 Discovery Boat Tour Time Change 134 2 likes. Post not marked as liked 2 Jun 14, 2023 Swimmer's Itch 373 Post not marked as liked Jun 7, 2023 Complete Our Survey 41 Post not marked as liked Take Action and Join Our Mission, What You Can Do Now! DONATE Become a member of the Lime Lake Association by making a donation. STEWARD Support our efforts and h elp maintain the beauty of Lime Lake . VOLUNTEER We need you r help! Join a committee or event! LEARN Understand how your everyday choices and activities affect the water quality of Lime Lake. SIGN UP Join our email list and stay current on important news, meetings and volunteer opportunities . LIME LAKE OUR COMMUNITY, OUR RESPONSIBILITY

Lake water levels around Leelanau County are down due to lack of rain and evaporation. While we do not officially measure lake levels here at Lime Lake, our friends at Glen Lake have reported that the last time their level was this low was in 2016, and the last time it was this low at this time of year was in 2011. Until our area receives sufficient rainfall, water levels on Lime Lake will also remain low. In the past, well-meaning folks have tried to take matters into their own hands. As a friendly reminder, attempting to make changes at the outlet of Lime Lake will not alter the situation; only rain will sufficiently raise our levels. Furthermore, according to GLISA , a Great Lakes collaboration between U of M and MSU, low water levels in the Fall are natural due to evaporation which peaks this time of year when lake temperatures are still warm from the summer and air temperatures are cooler, creating a temperature gradient ideal for evaporation. Low water levels in the fall help protect against ice damage along our shores in the Spring! This holiday weekend and into fall, we encourage all boaters to be especially cautious in shallow areas, for both the safety of other boaters and swimmers, and to protect our lake bottom. A minimally disturbed lake bottom equals a healthy lake. Water levels are down, so let's keep our awareness up! Thank you.

Purple Loosestrife (PL) is a terrestrial invasive species to Northern Michigan that has had substantial impact on several Leelanau County lakes. We have not yet found it on Lime Lake, but if we do, we need to take quick action to remove it. For this reason, we're asking all homeowners to keep an eye out for this rapid spreader. This is the time to monitor for PL as it is typically in full bloom July through October. PL has showy magenta flowers, can grow up to 10 feet in height, and prefers to grow in wetland regions like lakeshores, river and stream banks, wet meadows, marshes and roadside ditches. It has a large impact on the ecosystem because it can quickly dry out those regions, eliminating habitat for many other necessary wetland species. Each plant can spread up to 2.5 million seeds per year! If you think you might have PL on your property, or if you have spotted it somewhere along the lake or nearby, please snap a photo and send it to our Lake Biologist, Kelsey Froelich, so she can confirm and make a plan of action. Text your pics to Kelsey at 616-293-7525 or email them to kelsey.froelich@gmail.com Thank you for your help! Photo Credits: John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University Barry A. Rice, The Nature Conservancy, Davis, CA

Photo: The Good Harbor Bay Watershed: Shetland Creek connects Lime Lake to Little Traverse Lake and Shalda Creek connects LTL to Lake Michigan If you're lucky enough to live on one of our inland lakes here in Leelanau, you might be very invested in being a good steward of the health of your shoreline and the waters you swim in and admire with your morning tea. But like all living things, our lakes are interconnected in many ways. The well-being of any one of our lakes really does depend on what is happening around it. Lime Lake is part of the Good Harbor Bay Watershed, a 29,020 acre area that includes Little Traverse Lake, the shore of Good Harbor Bay, many smaller lakes, streams, and wetland and forested areas, Shalda Creek that travels from Little Traverse Lake through the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, and Shetland Creek that connects our lake with Little Traverse Lake, as shown in the image above. Shetland Creek is the main outlet of Lime Lake. It leaves Lime Lake on the north end, meanders under M22, and drains into Little Traverse Lake. Lime Lake is the most upland body of water in our watershed. This is important because what we do on Lime Lake matters. Anything we put into our water can drain into Little Traverse Lake and then into Lake Michigan. Photo: The mouth of Shetland Creek as it enters Little Traverse Lake Last week our lake biologist, Kelsey Froelich and her daughters Adley (7) and Lainey (5) took it upon themselves to spend an afternoon removing debris from the first half of Shetland Creek. Actually, the family had gone out simply to explore the creek. They soon noticed the trash that was accumulating and sprang into action. "Once we realized we were on a clean-up mission, Lainey became very adamant that we get every piece of garbage," said Froelich who has included her daughters in her work as a lake biologist since they were toddlers. They help with monitoring for invasives, collecting water samples, and now keeping our watershed trash-free. Photo: Some of the trash collected from Shetland Creek. Anything left in Lime Lake and the watershed can stay there, ultimately affecting the biodiversity and health of the lake. "For the girls, the clean-up became quite an adventure, and they loved the surprises along the way, like finding a leach and a crayfish living in cans. It's interesting that these living organisms are doing the best they can with what we give to them (such as making a home out of a discarded container) but this is certainly not natural and healthy," Froelich reminds us. It's a beautiful thing to see someone modeling care and responsibility for the next generation of stewards of our very special part of the world. It's also true that more of us need to be taking action. You may not have time to do a creek cleanup, but all of us can take the time to be mindful about what we allow into our lake. The next time you're out on the lake or exploring any part of our Good Harbor Watershed and peninsula enjoy the beauty that we're a part of, keep an eye out for what doesn't belong there, and be mindful not to leave anything behind other than your wonder and appreciation. Lake Biologist, Kelsey Froelich, with her daughters, Adley and Lainey, and the trash they removed from Shetland Creek Mark Your Calendar Come learn more from Kelsey about all of our Lime Lake stewardship projects at our annual meeting taking place on July 27th, 9 am, at the Cleveland Township Hall! Learn more about the Good Harbor Bay Watershed Protection Plan HERE . Please help us continue our work, renew your Lime Lake Membership HERE .