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By Gary Mittelbach A recent article in MLive shows just how much it can cost to control invasive plants once they invade and take hold in a lake https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2023/03/portage-readies-to-begin-five-year-effort-to-clear-austin-lake-of-invasive-plants.html . Residents of Austin Lake in Portage (MI) are going to spend $117,445 in 2023 and up to $450,000 over the next five years in efforts to reduce the abundance of invasive plant species (including Eurasian Milfoil and Starry Stonewort) and other nuisance weeds in their lake. The volunteer organization the Austin Lake Riparians worked with the Portage City Council to form a special lake…continue reading →

Important news for Gull Lake anglers. Newly released guidelines from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recommend limiting the consumption of smelt from Gull Lake to 2 serving per month. The new smelt guidelines are based on elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) found in rainbow smelt from Gull (and 5 other Michigan lakes). PFOS is in the family of chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These long-lived chemicals can build up in fish and in the people who eat these fish. The new Michigan Eat Safe Fish…continue reading →

We are now accepting new and renewal applications for 2023 membership in the Gull Lake Quality Organization. The membership renewal form can be found here. Dues and donations from GLQO members help us continue our work to protect the waters of Gull Lake and the surrounding watershed .. Keeping it Clean is our motto!continue reading →

Every year we get reports from fellow riparians and GLQO members saying that that their neighbor or someone they know is blowing their leaves and/or lawn clippings into the lake and what can they do about it. The answer is, please tell them that what they are doing, while not illegal, is certainly bad for the lake. Leaves and lawn clippings contain nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous that promote the growth of algae. Also, as the leaves decay over time, their decomposition consumes oxygen. Both are harmful to the lake in large…continue reading →

Julia Kirkwood, Watershed Project Manager at Michigan EGLE (Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy) was the featured speaker at the GLQO 2022 Fall Fling, giving a short presentation on Lakescaping. We've placed her presentation here on our website, along with a second, more in-depth presentation on the same subject.Why Lakescaping? * Improved biodiversity * Less shoreline erosion * Fewer of those pesky geese!Julia's Fall Fling Presentation (PDF)Julia's Second Lakescaping Presentation (PDF)continue reading →

The Gull Lake Quality Organization would like to thank those of you who purchased tickets to our 2022 Fall Fling Fundraiser. This year’s event was held in the Lake View room at the Gull Lake Country Club on Sunday, September 25th. Attendees were treated to several door prize drawings that included gift certificates from local merchants including Gull Lake Country Club, Urban Nest, Serafino’s, Kitchen House, South Kitchen, Gull Lake View, and Noteworthy. Gull Lake Marine, Gull Lake Ministries, Hawks Hollow Builders and Premier Builders & Remodelers were kind enough to donate money…continue reading →

Michigan DNR has just published a report on Wake boats, and the data are compelling: "The operation of wake boats in a manner that creates large waves and increases bottom scour is an emerging threat to natural resources in inland lakes. Wake boats can produce waves with 1.7–17 times the energy of other comparable-sized powerboats and their propellers generate enough turbulence to resuspend bottom sediments in water up to 33 feet deep. The large waves generated by wake boats take between 225–950 feet to dissipate to heights and wave energies observed 100–200 feet…continue reading →

Check out our updated Fisheries Page for some new documents from the Michigan DNR and our local representative, Matt Diana. Matt presented at this year's GLQO annual meeting earlier this week.continue reading →

NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT (EXCERPT)Act 451 of 1994 324.80159 Buoys or beacons; permit for placement; application; revocation; removal.    A person shall not place a beacon or buoy, other than a mooring buoy, in the waters of this state except as authorized by a permit issued by the department pursuant to part 13. The department may issue a permit for the placing of buoys or beacons in the waters of this state to mark obstruction to navigation, to designate bathing areas, to designate vessel anchorages, or for any other purpose if…continue reading →

GLQO’s Second Annual “Fall Fling” will be at the Gull Lake Country Club on Sunday, September 25th from 6:00PM-8:00PM. LEARN WHAT GLQO IS DOING  - AND YOU CAN DO -  TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY IN THE GULL LAKE WATERSHEDSOCIALIZE WITH FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORSA TAQUERIA/SALAD BUFFET AND CASH BAR WILL BE FEATUREDPRIZES FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES WILL BE AWARDED THROUGHOUT THE EVENING. BUSINESSES INCLUDE Kitchen House, South Kitchen, Gull Lake View Golf Resort, Serafino’s, Noteworthy, Premier Builders and Remodelers, Hawks Hollow Builders, Gull Lake Country Club $40 TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED BELOW THROUGH PAYPAL, OR…continue reading →