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Annual Conference 2023

62nd Annual MLSA Conference

Protecting and Restoring Michigan’s Lakes and Streams

Friday, May 5 & Saturday, May 6, 2023

Final Program Document

You can access the official 2023 Conference Program here.

Location

Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, MI

Friday Agenda

NORTHERN LIGHTS – CRYSTAL CENTER
8:00AM – Registration opens

JAMES BAY
8:00AM – Breakfast served – Continental

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
10:00AM – Opening Remarks: Welcome and MLSA Update – David Maturen
10:30AM – Friday Keynote Speaker: Sean McCann, Michigan District 19, Chair of Senate Committee for Energy and Environment, Vice Chair of Senate Appropriations Committee

JAMES BAY
Noon – Lunch – Cold Cut Deli Bar

1:30PM – Afternoon Break-out I

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES A
Healthy Lakes and Proper Land Use: A Critical Recipe for Lake Protection
Dr. Jennifer Jermalowicz Jones, CLP, Restorative Lake Sciences and MLSA Science Advisor
The Strength of a Township Ordinance to Protect the Lake: the story of how some residents are defending it, and others are gutting it
LuAnne Kozma, President, Protect Lake Charlevoix Shoreland and fellow Lake Charlevoix Riparian, Ellis Boal
Jermalowicz-Jones Slides
Kozma Slides

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES B
Understanding the Intersection of Agriculture and Riparian Zones
Michael Wozniak, PE; Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Environmental Stewardship Division, Right to Farm Program Manager, Spill Response Coordinator
Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) and Groundwater Protection
Adam Brown, MAEAP Technician for Leelanau/Benzie Conservation District
Wozniak Slides
MAEAP Slides

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES C
Two Rivers Coalition Partnering with Prothonotary Warblers
Dan Burton, Two Rivers Coalition Vice President
Importance of Wood and Large Wood Management in Rivers
Matthias Bonzo, Trout Unlimited
Burton Slides
Bonzo Slides

3:30PM – Afternoon Break-out II

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES A
Annis Water Resources Institute Student Reports
Effects of Microplastic Biofilms on an Anthropogenically Impacted Urban Lake
Paris Velasquez Slides
Exploring Biodiversity and Biogeography of Microbial Mat Communities in Low-oxygen, High-sulfur Springs
Davis Fray – No Slides, please contact us if interested
Fecal Impairment Framework, A New Screening Tool for Assessing Fecal Contamination in Recreational Waters
John Hart Slides
Using Remote Sensing for Water Quality Monitoring across Michigan’s Inland Lakes
Jillian Greene Slides
Impact of climate change and restoration on phosphorus loading in impaired wetlands
Katherine Lucas Slides

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES B
Emergency Risks and Lessons Learned from the Kalamazoo Oil Spill
Ralph Dollhopf, EPA
Jay Eickholt, EGLE
Emergency Slides

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES C
Tittabawassee River Bottomlands – Nuisance Woody Vegetation Management
Paul Hausler, Water Resources Practice Leader, Progressive AE
David Rothman, Vice President of FLTF
Bottomlands Slides

JAMES BAY
5:30PM – Happy Hour Sponsored by RLS, PLM, and Hyfi

6:00PM – Awards Presentation
Riparian of the Year Award – Presentation to Rusty Gowland
Scholarship Award
Announcement and Sponsor Slides

6:30PM – Dinner Served – Pizza Party

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
8:00PM – Riparian Rights Q&A
Cliff Bloom, Attorney

Saturday Agenda

JAMES BAY
7:30AM – Breakfast – Scrambled Egg Bar
7:30AM – Breakfast with Cliff: Riparian Rights Update
Cliff Bloom, Attorney
Bloom Slides

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
9:00am – Saturday Keynote Speaker: Lake stewardship: Doing “What it takes.”
Ted Rulseh, author of Ripple Effects: How We’re Loving Our Lakes to Death
Rulseh Slides
For more from Ted Rulseh, visit his website: https://www.thelakeguy.net/

10:30AM – Morning Break-out

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES A
Lake Improvement Boards –More Than Just Killing the Weeds
How Lake Boards Can Use a Watershed Management Plan to Guide Improvement Projects
Mark Kieser, Senior Scientist for Kieser & Associates, LLC
Rex Vaughn, Cedar Lake Improvement Board Chair & Riparian Rep., Alcona-Iosco Cedar Lake Association and MLSA Board Member
Kieser Slides
Vaughn Slides

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES B
Why Zoning Matters: Exploring Innovative Waterfront Zoning in Evangeline Township
Mary Rilley, Michigan State University Extension
Rod Cortwright, Chairman of Evangeline Township Planning Commission
Rilley Slides
Cortwright Slides

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES C
MI Shoreland Stewards Ambassadors: Get Started on Outreach for Healthy Shores*
Julia Kirkwood, MI EGLE
Kirkwood Ambassadors Slides

JAMES BAY
Noon – Lunch – Boxed Sandwich Options

1:30PM – Afternoon Break-out

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES A
Everything You Wanted To Know But Were Afraid To Ask About The Basics of Lake Associations
Mark Teicher, Attorney, PBWOA President, MLSA VP
Craig DeSimone, Gravel Lake Association President
Lake Association Slides

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES B
Michigan Water, what is known and needed after years of nothing! Ottawa and Cass Counties, examples
John A. Yellich, Michigan Geological Survey Director, Certified Professional Geologist (CPG)
State and local health departments rules and regulations, associated with contaminating lakes and streams
Sara Pearson, Source Water Unit Supervisor Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division of Michigan EGLE, Certified Professional Geologist (CPG)
Yellich Slides
Pearson Slides

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES C
Native Plants? What should I choose?
Julia Kirkwood, MI EGLE
Kirkwood Native Plants Slides

Field Trip – Crystal Lake Boat Launch
Self-guided Open House from 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Crystal Lake and Watershed Association Board Members
Resources