WATERSHED COUNCIL STAFF
Heather Huffstutler
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Eli
EDUCATION MANAGER
Calla
Abbie
Emily
AQUATIC
Carrie
Kristin
Natalie
WATERSHED COUNCIL
Linda
Patti
Ana
Greg
Rob Weick
GET IN TOUCH
426 Bay St, Petoskey, MI 49770
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. (231) 347-1181 info@watershedcouncil.org watershedcouncil.org
This summer has been a real highlight for me. After more than a year here, it was this summer that I truly saw the full picture of the team’s impact, as well as the impact you all helped us achieve. We put our Four Big C’s of conviction, clarity, courage and consistency into motion with big results, highlighting courage and consistency.
Courage, because it takes bravery to work with communities toward solutions to complex, long-standing challenges. One example of that work is our Healing the Bear Initiative, which you’ll read more about in this issue. Through it, our team continues to learn from community members, our Tribal Nation partners, and our network of experts across the state and Great Lakes region. These collaborations make us stronger every day, both as an organization and as a community of water stewards.
Consistency grows from dedication and hard work. We consistently lead by example through our volunteer stream monitoring, community events open to everyone, and through the data we hold for our region. The stream monitoring data you will see in this issue represents just one year of our work in a program — that has spanned over 20 years, keeping data-driven decisions at the forefront of what we do.
Of course, it takes consistency and courage from you — our supporters and members. Making the decision to click that link to donate, write a check, or spend a Saturday afternoon learning about the importance of water quality to lake sturgeon is a big deal. We know that and honor those decisions. We also need you to keep being courageous and help us speak for Northern Michigan’s waters.
In gratitude and appreciation,
Heather Huffstutler
Heather Huffstutler Executive Director
Northern Michigan’s waters have a new champion! In August, Carrie Mikolaizyk joined the Watershed Council as our Water Resources Manager, bringing both scientific expertise and a lifelong love of the outdoors.
Carrie’s path has always flowed toward the water. After earning her bachelor’s in fisheries & wildlife management from Lake Superior State University and a master’s from Bowling Green State University, she dove into water quality work with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. There, she gained years of experience monitoring and protecting the very lakes and rivers she now helps safeguard through the Watershed Council.
Outside of work, Carrie’s life is just as connected to the land and community. She spends time with her family, rides her horse whenever she can, and shares her passion with the next generation as a coach for a high school equestrian team and 4-H club.
We’re thrilled to welcome Carrie to the team and can’t wait to see her expertise at work protecting Northern Michigan’s freshwater resources.
For generations, the Bear River has been a landmark for our community, connecting Walloon Lake to Little Traverse Bay, shaping the history of Petoskey, and providing a place to fish, paddle, and explore. But like many rivers, the Bear faces challenges: undersized culverts that block fish passage, eroding streambanks, invasive species, and an aging dam. Addressing these issues takes more than science and engineering. It takes a community.
That’s why we are launching the Healing the Bear Initiative, a new collaborative effort led by Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council to restore the health of the Bear River and ensure it remains a resource for generations to come. With support from the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation’s Little Traverse Bay Protection Fund and Restoration Fund, we are working with partners, stakeholders, and residents to develop an implementation plan that identifies priorities for improving water quality, reconnecting aquatic habitat, and expanding recreational opportunities.
But restoring the Bear River isn’t just about planning; it’s also about people coming together to care for a place they love. Each year, our Bear River Cleanup brings dozens of volunteers to the entire length of the river’s banks. Armed with gloves, boots, and a lot of determination, they pull out trash, tires, and debris, reminding us that small acts of stewardship add up to a big difference. Thanks to our longtime partners at Bearcub Outfitters, who help organize and lead this effort, the Cleanup has become more than just a workday. It’s a tradition of neighbors, families, and community members protecting a shared resource.
The Healing the Bear Initiative builds on that same spirit. This summer, we began with community surveys to better understand how people use the river, what they value, and what they want to see improved. That feedback, along with technical surveys of stream crossings, erosion, and invasive species, is giving us a clearer picture of the watershed’s health. Combined with decades of water quality data, these efforts will help us identify the most pressing issues and set clear priorities for restoration.
The Bear River belongs to all of us. Its story is written in the people who walk its trails, cast a line in its waters, or sit quietly by its banks. Together, through cleanups, conversations, and collaborative action, we can ensure that this river continues to shape and serve our community for years to come.
We want to hear from you! Scan to take the survey and help shape the future of the Bear River.
Northern Michigan’s Burt Lake Watershed is home to some of the region’s most treasured waters: Burt, Douglas, Pickerel, Crooked, Larks, and Round Lakes. These high-quality lakes support both coldwater and warmwater fisheries and serve as a cornerstone of Northern Michigan’s tourism-based economy, sustaining thousands of residents. Their protection is critical not just for the environment, but also for the communities and livelihoods that depend on them.
In 2021, the Watershed Council received funding through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Nonpoint Source Program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to begin implementing the Burt Lake Watershed Management Plan, a community guide for improving water quality and protecting lakes and streams. Over the past four years, this project has put protection into action through shoreline surveys, stewardship education, and hands-on restoration.
One of the first steps was to conduct shoreline surveys on Burt, Douglas, Crooked, and Pickerel Lakes. Results provided a clearer picture of shoreline erosion, greenbelt health, and property alterations, critical information that guides restoration priorities and gives landowners tools to improve their own properties. This also serves as a resource for lake associations and local governments, giving them a guide on which to base future projects.
Another key piece of the project was training more shoreline contractors in lake-friendly bioengineering techniques. In October 2022, we hosted a three-day workshop at Camp Petosega on Pickerel Lake, where contractors learned how to assess shoreline erosion and wave energy, and design projects tailored to these conditions. They put their new skills to work, restoring 50 feet of shoreline using native plants, fieldstone, and natural fiber tools like coir blocks and erosion control blankets. Graduates of the training became Certified Natural Shoreline Professionals (CNSPs) through the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership, giving them credentials to boost their businesses while also protecting lakes. The restored shoreline at Camp Petosega’s kayak launch now serves as a living demonstration site for anyone curious about bioengineering in action.
Outreach to lakefront property owners was another central piece of the project. Every shoreline property owner on Burt, Douglas, Pickerel, and Crooked Lakes received a stewardship toolkit, complete with resources from the Michigan Shoreland Stewards Program and customized lake-specific survey data, to
help connect everyday decisions to lake health. We also hosted three workshops on greenbelts, buffers of native plants along the water’s edge. The first, held at Camp Petosega, covered how to design and maintain a greenbelt; the second was a homeowner-led tour of exemplary sites on Douglas Lake; and the third gave participants hands-on experience planting more than 2,000 native plants at a Crooked Lake park with a history of high goose-related E. coli levels. The final project helped cut down on nuisance goose activity and nutrient pollution, showing how simple plantings can make a big difference for lake health.
Cost-share opportunities also encouraged property owners to install greenbelts and buffers, adding nearly 9,000 square feet of natural shoreline. These buffers are already filtering runoff, reducing the risk of erosion, and improving fish and wildlife habitat. In total, the project is expected to reduce annual pollutant inputs by more than 3.5 pounds of phosphorus, 8.5 pounds of nitrogen, and nearly 780 pounds of sediment, a real, measurable improvement for water quality.
The Burt 319 project formally launched the implementation of the Burt Lake Watershed Management Plan, but it also built on decades of local efforts to protect Northern Michigan’s waters. Although the watershed remains mostly rural, it is not immune to the threats of nutrient and sediment pollution. By combining shoreline surveys, hands-on restoration, and targeted outreach, this project demonstrated what is possible when communities and partners work together for water.
As the project concludes, its impacts will continue on through healthier shorelines, better-informed property owners and contractors, and a stronger foundation for long-term stewardship of Burt, Douglas, Pickerel, and Crooked Lakes. Protecting these high-quality resources is not just a project; it’s a legacy, one that local residents and partners are helping carry forward for generations to come.
This project has been funded in part through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Nonpoint Source Program by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
A Watershed Management Plan (WMP) is a community-driven roadmap for protecting and improving water quality within a specific watershed. It identifies local water resource concerns, such as stormwater runoff, erosion, and nutrient pollution, and outlines practical strategies to reduce these impacts. By combining science, local knowledge, and collaboration, WMPs help guide future projects and funding to keep our lakes, rivers, and streams healthy. Each plan must also be approved by Michigan’s Nonpoint Source (NPS) Program and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ensuring it meets rigorous state and federal standards for protecting water quality.
Scan the QR code to explore the Burt Lake Watershed Management Plan and learn more about how it supports clean water in our region.
LTBB Hatchery Technician ,Angel, releases Shaq, a young lake sturgeon, into the river as part of ongoing restoration efforts.
We are thrilled to welcome a new sturgeon to the Watershed Discovery Center (WDC) this fall! This young lake sturgeon will carry on the important role of helping visitors learn about the incredible history and future of this ancient species. Our newest resident doesn’t have a name yet, but from now until November 20th, visitors can stop by the WDC to vote on a name. Earlier this season, we said goodbye to Winnie, the second sturgeon we were able to host at the WDC since opening in 2024. Winnie was released into the Sturgeon River during the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians’ (LTBB) annual Nmé Celebration in Wolverine, along with 257 other juvenile sturgeon raised at LTBB’s Fisheries Enhancement Facility. Since 2013, the Tribe has led the way in releasing thousands of juvenile sturgeon into local waters, giving this species a fighting chance at recovery after decades of population decline.
The Nmé Celebration brought together Tribal citizens, community partners, and families to honor the sturgeon and take part in the unforgettable experience of releasing them into the river. Seeing Winnie swim off into her natural home was a moment we’ll never forget, and one that highlights why protecting and restoring our waters matters so deeply.
As our new sturgeon settles into life at the WDC, we’re excited for visitors to stop by, cast their vote, and meet our newest ambassador for one of the Great Lakes’ most iconic species.
Watch Winnie’s Release
Since 2005, our Volunteer Stream Monitoring program has grown from 14 sites to 38 sites on 27 streams sampled in 2024. Twice a year, volunteers measure physical conditions like temperature and conductivity, observe habitat features, and collect macroinvertebrates, tiny aquatic insects that serve as living indicators of stream health. With this data, we can see long-term water quality trends rather than just snapshots in time.
Bear River
Berry Creek
Bessey Creek
Bissel Creek
Black River
Boyne River
Cable’s Creek
Deer Creek
Elliot Creek
Five Mile Creek
Horton Creek
Jordan River
Little Black River
Maple River
Minnehaha Creek
Mullett Creek
Oden Creek
Pigeon River
Rainy River
Russian Creek
Schoofs Creek
Springbrook Creek
Stony Creek
Stover Creek
Sturgeon River
Tannery Creek
Wilkinson Creek
Several streams sampled in 2024, including Bessey Creek, Cable’s Creek, Little Black River, Oden Creek, and Stover Creek, saw a decrease in the number of sensitive macroinvertebrates found compared to previous years. While this data alone can’t immediately tell us why there may have been a decrease in macroinvertebrates, it helps us begin to identify which streams may have declining water quality and highlights streams to watch more closely in future years, or target for further data collection.
At the same time, Bissel Creek, Five Mile Creek, Rainy River, Russian Creek, Schoofs Creek, and Stony Creek showed increasing diversity of sensitive macroinvertebrates compared to years past. While some natural fluctuation in stream scores can be expected, continually high or improving scores can point to successful local stewardship and signal a healthy ecosystem.
Since macroinvertebrates live most of their lives in the water, their presence in a stream provides a more holistic view of the water quality compared to collecting a single water sample. In order for these sensitive macroinvertebrates to survive, water quality must be good for the entirety of their time spent in the water, which can range from just a few weeks to over five years, depending on the species. By monitoring which sites have low numbers of macroinvertebrates or decreasing trends, we can prioritize our restoration work to the rivers and streams that need it most. Thanks to the hard work of our volunteers, we’ve been able to observe long-term macroinvertebrate trends accurately over the course of the two decades this program has existed. Volunteer Stream Monitoring results from 2025 will be available in the spring of 2026. Monitoring continues every spring and fall with the help of our dedicated volunteers!
For more information or to learn what you can do to help your lake or stream, contact our Water Resources Manager, Carrie Mikolaizyk, at carrie@watershedcouncil.org or 231-489-7271.
Interested in a data deep dive on your favorite stream? Learn more on our website.
As yellow buses rumble down Northern Michigan roads and pencils are sharpened for a new school year, the Watershed Council is also turning the page to fresh chapters of discovery. Inside the Ruth “Tucker” Ayers Harris Watershed Discovery Center, students don’t just learn about freshwater, they step into it.
The Discovery Center is home to living, breathing lessons: aquariums where native fish dart in schools, tanks of hardworking macroinvertebrates that reveal the story of water quality, and an interactive “iSandBox” where rivers and mountains can be shaped with your own hands. This fall, classrooms are once again invited to schedule free school tours, experiences where kids connect textbook science to the currents flowing just outside their school doors. To schedule a tour, call the Watershed Council at (231) 347-1181.
MEET THIS YEAR’S CLASS AT THE
HERE ARE A FEW SIMPLE SWAPS THAT MAKE ANY BACKPACK MORE WATER-FRIENDLY:
Notebook made from recycled paper
Waste-free lunchbox (use reusable containers, no plastic bags or forks!)
Refillable water bottle
Refillable pens + pencils
Cloth napkin
Lunchbox packed with locally grown foods and products
Reusable sandwich wraps or beeswax wraps
Small choices add up. Every reusable swap helps protect the waters of Northern Michigan.
Back to school doesn’t have to mean back inside. With our education newsletter, Classroom Currents, families and teachers can bring water science home all year long. Each issue includes activities, fun facts, and stories from the watershed, all designed for curious young minds.
Scan here to sign up!
This summer, our community came together in a powerful way. More than $25,000 was raised for the Maura Brandi Internship Fund at the Charlevoix County Community Foundation. This fund will continue to support the next generation of environmental leaders—young people who spend their summers doing the handson work that protects Northern Michigan’s waters.
For our interns, this support means more than a line on a résumé. It means having housing and stipends so they can fully commit to long days in the field testing water quality, surveying shorelines, leading education programs, and sharing their passion with the public. Each task is a building block in their training, shaping future scientists, educators, and advocates.
Every gift made to the Maura Brandi Internship Fund is a gift of opportunity for interns, for the Watershed Council, and for the waters we all cherish. To every donor who gave: thank you. Your generosity ensures Maura’s spirit continues through the work of these young leaders.
MAY 2025 - SEPTEMBER 2025
Linda Adams
Lori Arnold
Bill and Maxine Aten
Mary Biagini
Arlene Blissett
Sarah Boland
Roger and Karen Brandi
Tanner Catt
Glen and Gwen Catt
ACE Hardware - Charlevoix
Marjory Cohen
Bergmann Marine Company
Michigan Scientific Corporation
David and Joan Coxton
Arthur W Curtis, III
Tom Darnton
Sandra Disante
Sherry Dwyer
The Seltzer-Johnston Family
Denise Fate
Jon and Sally Fogg
David and Kathy Frederick
Martha Lancaster and Doug Fuller
Hoyt-Kurowski Family Fund
Bruce & Joyce Herbert Fund
Frederick & Barbara
Malpass Family Fund
Perry Irish Hodgson Charitable
Grantmaking Fund
Wil Cwikiel and Gail Gruenwald
Chip and Laura Hansen
Ann and Michael Hayes
Scott and Laura Heintzelman
Don and Kay Heise
Jack and Gaye Hodge
Heather Huffstutler
Paul and Judith Ivan
Richard Jenkins
Bob and Mary Keedy
Anne Kelly
Kevin and Gena King
Bud and Vinnie Klooster
Nathan and Joy Klooster
Christy and Chuck Kneese
Chris Krajewski
Connie Landis
Kent and Lin Larsen
Gayle Levengood
Barbara Wotila and Steve Little
Susan Lyman
Joshua and Mary Jean Meyerson
Eileen and Dennis Mikus
Sue Murchie
Thomas and Margaret Myers
Dan Myers
Mark and Michelle Nichols
Maureen Nicholson
Marilyn Novak
Amy Parker
Rebecca Parker
Beatrice Parton
Tricia Petrosky
Jeffrey and Nancy Porter
Max and Mary Putters
Mary Beth Radke
Joy and Tim Reade
Mary Ringey
Jeff and Suzanne Rogers
Jim and JoEllen Rudolph
Andrew and Jo Sahara
M and T Shattuck
Irish Boat Shop
Denise Simon
Scott and Dibby Smith
Vince and Jackie Spagnuolo
Kenyon Stebbins
Beth Strawbridge
Judy Sulaver
Bob and Gretchen Tambellini
Dan and Mary Tomasek
Dave and Amy Vaclavik
Natalie and Chris Walts
Brent and Sara Ward
Kristiana Way
Emmaline Weidman
Paula Welmers
The fund remains open for those who wish to join in carrying Maura’s legacy forward.
Scan the QR code to give today!
Behind every water sample collected, shoreline survey completed, and education program delivered this summer were the bright faces of our interns. Thanks to those who supported the Maura Brandi Internship Fund, these students were able to spend their summer gaining real-world experience while protecting the waters of Northern Michigan.
Here’s a glimpse of their season in action—in waders, on boats, in classrooms, and everywhere in between. Their dedication and enthusiasm remind us all why investing in the next generation matters.
Our interns launched a TikTok page! Check it out for a fun behind-the-scenes look at summer on the water! Follow us on TikTok @tomwc1979
U-M Senior, 2025 CLEAR Fellow Reflects on ‘Unforgettable Summer’ in Northern Michigan | U-M LSA University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) Scan to learn more about the intern experience
