Pledge to Protect the Lime Lake, Good Harbor Bay Watershed I Pledge the following . . . . . On Shore (Riparians Only) Start a greenbelt on my shoreline or maintain existing one Stop mowing my lawn seven feet from the water’s edge to start a greenbelt Use lake or creek water irrigation (vs. well water irrigation) Contact the Lime Lake Association for advice when considering alterations near my shoreline Refrain from feeding waterfowl to protect the water from harmful E-coli bacteria Rake and remove leaves and grass clippings to keep them out of the water On Land Use only eco-friendly soaps and detergents Use only hazardous waste collection sites to dispose of harmful items Use only eco-friendly pesticides Properly store any fertilizers Invasive Species Prevention Clean, Drain & Dry watercraft before/after use to stop the introduction & spread of aquatic invasive species Dispose of bait, plants, aquatic animals and fish from aquariums & ponds in the garbage, never in the lake Septic System, Holding Tank, Well Have my septic system inspected regularly (every 3-5 yrs.) & pumped when indicated Avoid using bleach and commercial products that claim to ‘maintain’ my tank/ septic system Avoid use of garbage disposal Watercraft and Recreation Be mindful of your wake near shore to reduce erosion and excessive sedimentation in the lake Avoid use of soaps & shampoos in the lake or creek Inspect boats for fuel/oil leaks In Yard (Property Owners Only) Preserve wetlands on your property Construct driveways Keep storm drains free of anything except runoff PIant a tree and/or incorporate native plants on my property or lakeshore Pledge I (we) hereby pledge to protect the Lime Lake/Good Harbor Bay Watershed and implement the checked items above. Privacy Please Keep My Pledge Anonymous Submit Pledge Thank You!

Enteric Bacteria Monitoring Enteric bacteria, simply put, are bacteria found in the gut. These bacteria are commonly present and generally harmless, originating from various sources such as agriculture, birds, and human-related factors primarily malfunctioning septic systems. As individuals who live near rivers or bodies of water, it is important to avoid an excessive presence of enteric bacteria (according to EPA guidelines) to ensure the safety of swimming and fishing activities in our waters. LEARN MORE Sponsored Monitoring & Methodology In 2018 and 2019, LLA contracted Freshwater Solutions (FSA) for enteric bacteria water testing. Testing was done at 12 locations to assess the impact of a heavy rain event. Triplicate 50ml water samples were collected at lake inlet sites after a long dry period and again after the rain event. This sampling technique facilitated both overall testing and extraction of DNA samples for identifying the source of bacteria (human HF183, bovine, or goose enteric bacteria). Results Caution is advised when interpreting this research. Sampling occurred on only one dry day and one day after rainfall. While the data show a significant increase in enteric bacteria after rain, more extensive analysis is needed with repeated rain events for conclusive results. From this limited study, it is evident that enteric bacteria sharply increases after rain at lake inlets. These sites primarily measure input from streams, indicating that the measured values are influenced by streams rather than the lakes. Source tracking reveals low human contamination from these points, suggesting non-human sources as the main fecal contributors. Everyday Strategies to Improve Water Quality Take care of your septic system by conducting regular inspections to ensure proper functioning. Only pump it if necessary, as excessive pumping can disrupt the system's intended biological processes. Remember to clean up and properly dispose of your pet's waste to prevent it from entering the lake. Establish and maintain a shoreline buffer to discourage geese from congregating on the shore or lawn, as they can contribute to localized bacterial contamination. When swimming, avoid areas near inlets, especially after rain events, as they are associated with higher levels of enteric bacteria. Once again, embrace your role as a lake steward and actively contribute to its well-being.

Want to do your part? Adopt Best Practices. Follow a few simple ‘best management practices’ for protecting the Lime Lake / Good Harbor Bay Watershed… People who care can and will make the difference. Resources As you start your efforts to be a better Steward, you will no doubt have questions. What native plants to consider? How to bio-engineer back to a natural shore? Information is available. There are many resources available to help you be a good Lime Lake Steward. And, over time, as the Stewards program grows, we will be listing business partners and more. Leelanau Clean Water https://www.leelanaucleanwater.org/ Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership www.mishorelinepartnership.org Michigan Shoreland Stewards Program Guide Leelanau Conservancy www.leelanauconservancy.org The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay www.gtbay.org SEEDS Ecology & Education Centers www.ecoseeds.org Michigan State Extension MSU - Managing Your Septic System Failing Septic Systems: The Challenge Swimmer’s Itch Survey Tutorial The Fight for Lake Leelanau A series of educational videos produced by the Michigan Shoreline Stewards We are All Stewards The Stewards Program educates and advocates protecting Lime Lake/Good Harbor Bay Watershed by engaging in best practices. Stewards voluntarily pledge to protect, and share their advocacy with others. Act Now

Over the next several weeks, many of you will be taking your boats off the lake for winter storage. Did you know that even Lime Lake residents need to have a Michigan Recreation Passport to use the Lime Lake boat launch? Recently, an officer has been at the boat launch issuing tickets. From the DNR: The Recreation Passport is required for motorized vehicle access to state parks and recreation areas and state-managed boating access sites, state forest campgrounds, thousands of miles of trails and other outdoor spaces – all year long! Michigan's state-managed parks and recreation system is largely self-supporting. Funds derived from the Recreation Passport go right back into maintaining and improving the outdoor spaces we all love, and protecting natural resources for the next generation. Get information on how and where to get your passport HERE . Thank you Bob Martin, Lime Lake riparian, for sharing this reminder! Wishing everyone a happy, safe, and ticket-free end of boating season.

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