You Make All the Difference
Please consider a donation to the Long Lake Foundation.  With your help, we can preserve the beauty of Long Lake and protect its watershed for years to come.

ReMSU Extension's popular Introduction to Lakes Online course is back in session January 10
Registration for the award-winning Introduction to Lakes Online course is now open! This six-week online course is designed for anyone interested in inland lakes, including lakefront property owners, recreational users, and managers. Over 1,500 people have participated in the class since it was first offered online in 2015. As a former participant, tell your friends, neighbors, and family to join us online!

The course will kickoff on January 10, 2023. Registration is open now through January 8, 2023. The cost is $115 per person. Register by December 19, 2022 for an early bird price of $95 per person. Scholarships are available.

Core Values

​​Community

We believe that coming together as a community to ensure a healthy watershed is critical to keeping our land and lakes pristine for generations to come.

Science

We believe that you manage what you measure.  One way we do this is by supporting the Northwestern Michigan College Water Study program.  Our interns come out every summer and fall to measure and track various key indicators on lake health.

Education

We believe that whether you live on the water or near the water, it is important to understand the environmental impacts and strains we can put on the watershed.  The Foundation funds educational outreach programs so we can all learn to be better stewards of our watershed.

Partnership

We understand that we can't go this alone.  The Foundation works closely with the Long Lake Association, Oleson Foundation and Long Lake Township to ensure that we all work together to achieve the same end results: a beautiful watershed that is well cared for and protected - now and into the future.

Rate Your Shoreline

​THE MICHIGAN SHORELAND STEWARDS PROGRAM PROVIDES RECOGNITION FOR LAKEFRONT PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE PROTECTING INLAND LAKES THROUGH BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON THEIR PROPERTY. BECOME A MI SHORELAND STEWARD – FOR THE GOOD OF THE LAKE!

Current Foundation Projects/Initiatives

Boat Wash Demonstrations 2022

Long Lake Foundation will host 3 boat wash demonstrations this year to educate the public on proper boat cleaning to prevent invasive species from entering our lakes. The demonstrations will be held on May 27 & 28 and also on July 2 from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Benzie County Conservation District will bring its portable boat wash and conduct the boat wash event with volunteers from our community. LLF has made a donation to the program.

Signage/Kiosks

The Foundation is developing a plan to install information and education signs at the islands, boat launch and some of the natural parks. ​The goal is to have professional, branded and consistent user-friendly signage at key locations similar to the signage at the Timbers Recreation Area. LLF representatives met with Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy to discuss creating consistent signage/kiosks around Long Lake. The Conservancy is on board with partnering on signage. LLF is also working with the Oleson Foundation and Long Lake Township to bring this plan into fruition.

LakeCams

Our lake cameras have been missing in action! The original technology we used for our year-round lake cams stopped working, but many Foundation donors rallied to install new cameras and made generous donations so that we can now afford new technology to make that happen again. Four new camera feeds are going to be added to this website for all to enjoy. We have had many people write us and say they actually have the feed up on their large screen TV and watch it like its a window in their home.

Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program

Long Lake Foundation is assisting the Long Lake Association in preparing, submitting, and (if funded) executing a MISGP (Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program) project application to pilot benthic barrier installation to treat control area of Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM). There would also be a pilot treatment of Prosilcore on Micky Lake on a problem area of EWM.

Sewer and Water Feasibility Study

Septic systems can be a major source of non-point source pollution in our lakes. ​Long Lake Foundation is advocating for and hopes to participate with Long Lake Township in a study of the possibility of implementing sewer and water systems around Long, Micky and Ruth Lakes. We are trying to be proactive in keeping the lakes free of waste water from failed septic systems, and also in providing clean drinking water to the resident riparians. If government infrastructure funding is currently available for this kind of effort, it would be good to know the answer now rather than after funding dries up.

We Need Your Support
Your support is vital to the mission of Long Lake Foundation. You can support our efforts by becoming a member or making a donation. 

LLF Invasive Species Defense Fund

LLF has created an Invasive Species Defense Fund to study and remediate both aquatic and terrestrial invasive species in and around Long, Mickey and Ruth Lakes. Your donation to this critical fund will provide for the effective management of these dangerous species and ensure the health our lakes far into the future.
Zebra Mussels
Purple Loosestrife
Phragmites