Friends of Lake Leelanau raise $8 million

In the world of Leelanau County fundraising, going from zero to nearly $8 million in less than three years just may set a land speed record.

Or in the case of the Friends of Lake Leelanau Foundation’s turbo start, at least a water speed record.

Speed was necessary because the organization formed after learning that Eurasian watermilfoil, (EWM) an evasive species that propagates with intensity, had a head start. The Foundation set out explaining the scope of the problem — milfoil, if left to itself, can carpet the surface of a lake, curtailing boat navigation — and then enlisting the financial support of riparian owners, nearby residents and recreational users alike.