Indiana Lakes Management Society upcoming events

Flipping the System: Restoring Native Plant Communities in Lakes (06 May 2026)

Wed, 06 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join Emily Zajecka from ILM Environments to learn about restoring native plant communities in lakes. Invasive aquatic plants often spread rapidly, outcompeting native species, reducing biodiversity, and altering lake function. Transitioning a lake from an invasive-dominated system to one thriving with native plants requires more than just plant removal—it takes a strategic, long-term approach rooted in science and community involvement. This presentation will walk participants through the process of restoring balance to aquatic ecosystems, from assessing invasive pressures and selecting appropriate management tools, to reestablishing resilient native plant communities. Key topics will include ecological trade-offs, pitfalls to avoid, and lessons learned from real-world projects. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how thoughtful management can flip the system, improve water quality, support fish and wildlife, and create healthier lakes for future generations.

This webinar will be a 45-minute presentation with time for questions at the end.

The Problem with Boat Wakes: A Michigan Perspective (Webinar) (17 Jun 2026)

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join Melissa DeSimone, Executive Director of the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association (MLSA), to learn about the battle to protect Michigan's inland lakes from harmful boat-generated wakes. MLSA has been tracking this issue for about a decade and has worked closely with other states, concerned citizens, agency staff, and legislators for better lake protection. Find out where Michigan is now, how it got there, and what we might expect in the future.

This webinar will be a 45-minute presentation with time for questions at the end.

Healthy Shorelines Workshop: The Watershed Foundation (18 Jun 2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Join The Watershed Foundation for this in person workshop and learn how to transform your lawn and lakeshore into a healthy shoreline!

Discover how rock seawalls, native plants, and other practices help reduce erosion and runoff, increase habitat, and protect water quality.
Learn about shoreline zoning and IDNR permitting requirements.
Get details about TWF’s Healthy Shorelines initiative, which provides grants to homeowners for healthy shoreline projects.
Connect with resources to inspire and support your project!

Expert speakers include Lyn Crighton (The Watershed Foundation), Madison Johnson (IDNR Division of Fish & Wildlife), and Jordan Smithers (IDNR Division of Water).

This event is free and open to the public. Register here to attend!
Door prize provided by Indiana Lakes Management Society – TWO annual memberships!

Questions? Contact us The Watershed Foundation at (574) 834-3242 or office@watershedfoundation.org.

Click the link below to learn more about this event.

Healthy Shorelines Workshop | The Watershed Foundation

Water Quality Monitoring with the Indiana Clean Lakes Program (In Person) (01 Aug 2026)

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Join Megan Gokey of the Indiana Clean Lakes Program (INCL) for a two-hour workshop on water quality monitoring at the Blue Lake Community Center. Learn about why you should monitor water quality - and what it can and can't tell you. See a variety of equipment options from the very basic (thermometer, Secchi disk, etc.) to the more complex options like multiparameter sondes. We will discuss what parameters/tests the INCL program offers and how to interpret those results.

Indiana Clean Lakes Program is a multifaceted water monitoring and education program developed in partnership with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Office of Water Quality and administered through Indiana University's O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The program has three main components:

Lake Water Quality Assessment conducted by staff and students
Volunteer Lake Monitoring conducted by community members working to understand the lakes in their communities
Outreach and Education to increase awareness of lake science and lake protection

This event will focus on the Volunteer Lake Monitoring portion of the program. Participants will first gather indoors for a presentation. Weather permitting, we will then move outdoors for a hands on demonstration on Blue Lake. The Blue Lake Community Center is located in northeastern Indiana (about 30 minutes northwest of Fort Wayne) at 7490 E 550 N, Churubusco, IN 46723.