For the last five years the Lake Leelanau Lake Association (LLLA) and the Grand Traverse Band (GTB) of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians have worked to eradicate Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) within Lake Leelanau. While not all milfoils are invasive, EWM is.
EWM is a grave threat to Lake Leelanau because of its hardiness. Without intervention, EWM forms thick, dense mats underwater that outcompete native aquatic vegetation. Local fishing, boating, and water quality are significantly negatively impacted. And while LLLA has done well containing this destructive invasive, it becomes harder to control when EWM finds its way into streams and rivers.
The Leelanau Conservancy’s 548-acre Cedar River Preserve is one of the wildest places left in Leelanau and an ecological gem filled with rare plant and animal life unique to the state.
