FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: STANDING FOR WATER, TOGETHER
We are all part of a bold and audacious project.
Each day, the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council works to unite our communities around a powerful shared belief: that we can — and must — protect northern Michigan’s waters and natural resources, now and forever.
Sometimes, this mission aligns neatly with economic goals, social equity, and environmental policy. But sometimes, we protect water just because. Because it’s worth it. Because it’s part of who we are.
That deeper purpose — the “just because” — became the heart of our work in developing the 2025–2030 Strategic Plan. And it led us to ask a critical question:
How can the Watershed Council — all of us — be a catalyst for positive change and lasting action for our region’s waters?
Our answer comes through what we call the Four Big Cs — the values that define our theory of change and guide every step forward:
• Conviction: Believing in local action with broad, lasting impact.
• Courage: Facing complex threats to water with curiosity, humility, and resolve.
• Clarity: Leading with science, collaboration, and focus.
• Consistency: Building a sustainable, regional movement for water stewardship.
This is more than a strategy. It’s a call to action.
In the stories and updates ahead, you’ll see how these values come to life — through innovative partnerships, emerging challenges, and the incredible people making a difference.
Thank you for being part of this work. Let’s keep moving forward — together.
Heather Huffstutler
Heather Huffstutler Executive Director
Cover: Little Carp Creek flows into Sturgeon Bay, Lake Michigan. Twin Lake, Cheboygan County.
IN MEMORY OF ROBERT MICHAEL SUPERNAULT
JANUARY 17, 1945 – MARCH 17, 2025
The Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council honors the memory of Robert Michael Supernault—beloved board member, gifted educator, and tireless advocate for Northern Michigan’s waters.
Mike spent 35 years as a science teacher and naturalist at Lapeer’s Outdoor Education Center, where his classroom extended far beyond four walls. He brought nature to life with infectious curiosity, deep knowledge, and a talent for turning everyday moments into learning experiences. After retiring to Indian River with his wife, Peg, Mike brought that same spirit to his conservation work. He joined the boards of both the Burt Lake Preservation Association and Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, where he quickly became a trusted leader and thoughtful voice for science-based stewardship. Mike approached every challenge with the heart of a teacher and the mind of a naturalist, always asking how we could do more, reach further, and leave things better than we found them.
His dedication to protecting the lakes, rivers, and wetlands of Northern Michigan was rooted in the same values that guided his teaching: curiosity, care, and a belief that knowledge should lead to action.
We are deeply grateful for Mike’s years of service, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the entire Supernault family.
In honor of Mike’s memory, gifts to the Watershed Council have been made by:
Michael Adelaine
Marilyn Bismack
Gary and Nikki Blakeslee
Chris and Teresa Chaney
Ms. Mary K. Erickson
Ms. Cissy McAndrew
Colleen Muir
Mike and Ruth Murphy
W.D. Osmer
The Pollard Family
Brad and Marcia Powrozek
Brent and Linda Stone
Peg Supernault
His legacy lives on—in these generous acts, in the waters he worked to protect, and in the many lives he inspired to care more deeply for the natural world.
POLICY WITH PURPOSE: ABBIE HAWLEY REJOINS THE WATERSHED COUNCIL
They say all good things must come to an end—but sometimes, when we’re lucky, they come full circle. Nearly ten years after interning with the Watershed Council, Abbie Hawley has returned, this time as Community and Government Relations Director.
Abbie was first drawn to the Watershed Council as a college intern, where she contributed to the Septic Question project in Charlevoix County, collaborating with local officials to address failing septic systems and their impact on water quality. The internship sparked a lasting commitment to conservation and a deep love for Michigan’s natural resources.
Abbie earned a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Studies from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Michigan State University College of Law. A licensed attorney, Abbie’s background is in water, nonprofit, real estate, and municipal law. She previously worked as Director of Conservation Programs at the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy. Most recently, she practiced real property, municipal, and water law.
Now, she’s combining her legal and policy passion to help shape freshwater protection. “One of my main priorities is grounding our policy work in solid data from our field staff and experts,” she says. “I plan to collaborate with local partners to help shape ordinances and policies that protect our water resources.”
She’s also committed to continuing the Watershed Council’s legacy of being a strong voice for responsible resource stewardship at both the local and state levels. “Building meaningful partnerships, both new and familiar, is a big part of that goal.”
When she’s not working to protect water resources, Abbie enjoys curling up with a good book or experimenting in the kitchen, especially when it involves firing up her pizza oven.
Please help us welcome Abbie back to the Watershed Council!
WELCOME KRISTIN TEKIELE, FINANCE DIRECTOR
We’re excited to welcome Kristin Tekiele to the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council team as our new Finance Director. Kristin brings a wealth of expertise in nonprofit finance, including experience launching new organizations and navigating the complexities of governmental accounting.
A graduate of Northwood University with a degree in Business Administration, Kristin now oversees the Watershed Council’s financial direction, performance, and compliance—ensuring our resources are managed with integrity and impact.
When she’s not in the office, Kristin enjoys exploring Northern Michigan’s beautiful waterways, tending her garden, reading, and spending time with her family. We’re thrilled to have Kristin on board and look forward to the leadership she brings to this vital role.
TEN YEARS, ONE LEGACY: HONORING MAURA BRANDI THROUGH ACTION
Ten years ago, Maura Brandi left us far too soon. But the impact she made on the people who loved her, and on the waters she cherished, still ripples through our work every day.
In the wake of her passing, Maura’s family created something extraordinary: the Maura Brandi Internship Fund, held at the Charlevoix County Community Foundation. It was their way of honoring who Maura was—a brilliant, compassionate young woman who grew up exploring the lakes and rivers of Northern Michigan, collecting stones and stories along the shoreline.
Each summer since, new interns arrive at the Watershed Council eager to learn, ready to serve, and often unsure of
where this experience might lead. And each summer, they leave with something powerful: purpose.
These are students studying environmental science or education. Thanks to the Maura Brandi Internship Fund, they spend their summer wading through streams, testing water quality, studying aquatic life, and learning what it truly means to care for our lakes and rivers. Many go on to build careers in conservation. All leave inspired.
And Maura is with them every step of the way.
This summer marks ten years of the internship fund that bears her name. Ten seasons of water protected. Ten years of students shaped by conservation work. And countless ways we’ve kept Maura’s light shining in the world.
To honor this milestone, Maura’s parents, Maureen Radke and Rick Brandi, have made a meaningful gift: they will match every dollar donated to the fund this summer, up to $10,000.
“Maura loved the lakes and rivers of Northern Michigan. She found joy and peace in these waters, and we’re grateful her name can continue to make a difference here,” Maureen and Rick shared. “If you feel moved to give, please know your gift will go twice as far and will help ensure this internship fund continues to inspire, teach, and protect for years to come.”
Ten years. One legacy. And with your help, a future filled with more education, more impact, and more hope.
Give today to the Maura Brandi Internship Fund and your gift will be matched dollar-fordollar.
MEET THE 2025 SUMMER INTERNS
MIRA HUGHES, 2025 CLEAR FELLOW
Mira Hughes joins us this summer as our 2025 CLEAR Fellow. A rising senior at the University of Michigan, she’s double majoring in Environmental Science and Art & Design, an ideal blend for someone who’s just as excited about creating maps with GIS as she is about protecting freshwater ecosystems. This summer, Mira is especially looking forward to spending time outdoors and getting to know our resident juvenile sturgeon, Winnie.
KATELYN PEQUENO
Katelyn Pequeno is a rising junior at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, double majoring in Environmental Science and Law & Policy. She’s eager to dive into fieldwork, from lake and stream monitoring to aquatic species identification, and looks forward to connecting with staff, volunteers, and the northern Michigan landscape. We’re excited to have her on board for a summer of learning and discovery!
LUCY KIRKLAND
Lucy Kirkland is a Biology major at Bowling Green State University with a specialization in Marine and Aquatic Biology, and a double minor in Environmental Science and General Science. Set to graduate in Spring 2026, Lucy is excited to spend her summer leading day camp activities, getting out into the field, and building connections with her fellow interns and the northern Michigan community. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in aquatic habitat restoration and native animal protection.
QR Code to Maura Fund
FRESHWATER FINDINGS
WHAT IS VOLUNTEER LAKE MONITORING?
Summer fieldwork is underway at the Watershed Council! Volunteers across the region are heading out on their local lakes to collect water quality data through our Volunteer Lake Monitoring (VLM) program. At each site, data indicating water clarity and biological productivity are carefully collected to understand more about the overall health of each lake. In 2024, the program spanned 35 sites on 27 lakes. Each site tells part of a larger story of how lake conditions vary across our region, and how they may be changing over time.
WHERE DID WE MONITOR IN 2024?
Bass Lake
Lake Bellaire
Birch Lake
Black Lake
Burt Lake, South Lake Charlevoix, South Arm
Clam Lake
Crooked Lake
Deer Lake
Douglas Lake (Cheboygan)
Douglas Lake (Otsego)
Elk Lake
Hanley Lake
Intermediate Lake
Larks Lake
Long Lake
Mullett Lake, Main Basin
Mullett Lake, Pigeon Bay
Paradise Lake
Pickerel Lake
Six Mile Lake
Lake Skegemog
Thayer Lake
Thumb Lake (Lake Louise)
Torch Lake, North
Torch Lake, South
Twin Lake
Walloon Lake (West, Fineout, North, Mud, Wildwood, Schoof’s, Foot)
Wheeler Lake
HIGH NUTRIENT LAKES
Some lakes stand out because they exhibit signs of high productivity, such as turbid water or abundant algae. While many inland lakes in Northern Michigan are usually in a moderate to low nutrient state (mesotrophic), a few lakes, like Hanley Lake and Mullett Lake, showed signs of being in a high-nutrient state (eutrophic) during the summer of 2024. Watershed Council staff compare these results with past data to see if there might be signs of nutrient pollution or unusual plant or algae growth.
LOW NUTRIENT LAKES
Other lakes we monitored in 2024, like Lake Skegemog and Torch Lake, were very clear, with low chlorophyll-a levels. These lakes are in a moderate to low nutrient state and have less biological activity. It’s important to note that a nutrient-dense inland lake system is not inherently bad, and a clear, low-nutrient lake is not inherently good or healthy. Lakes naturally vary in their nutrient levels, depending on surrounding land use, wildlife populations, plant and algae types, and how much nutrient-rich water flows into them.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Each water sample collected by our volunteer monitors adds to something bigger: a long-term picture of how our lakes are doing and how they’re changing. Over time, shifts in a lake’s nutrient levels, or trophic state, can reflect large-scale changes in the surrounding watershed. New development, increased runoff, or altered land use often contribute to a lake’s nutrient level. Longterm monitoring efforts, combined with making trend data publicly accessible, help ensure the protection of our favorite lakes.
Volunteer Lake Monitoring began in June 2025, with results expected in spring of 2026. Until then, we’ll keep supporting volunteers, sorting samples, and stewarding the science behind clean water.
For more information or to learn what you can do to help your lake, contact lauren@watershedcouncil.org or 231-489-7277.
RIPPLE REPORT-A MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER FROM TIP OF THE MITT WATERSHED COUNCIL
If you’d like to get updates more often—or hear more about the science, stories, and stewardship—sign up for The Ripple Report, our monthly e-newsletter!
Sign up here!
IT TAKES A TEAM: TACKLING AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES TOGETHER
In northern Michigan, our lakes, rivers, and wetlands are more than just scenic backdrops. They are central to our identity, economy, and environment. But they’re also vulnerable. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) continue to pose a serious threat to water quality, habitat health, and native biodiversity. Preventing their spread and understanding their presence is critical, and it takes a coordinated community effort to meet the challenge.
AIS are non-native plants and animals that disrupt native ecosystems, damage habitat, and reduce water quality. Species like Eurasian watermilfoil, zebra and quagga mussels, and curly-leaf pondweed have already taken hold in parts of our region, crowding out native species and clogging waterways. Once introduced, invasive species are notoriously difficult and expensive to manage. That’s why early detection and prevention are critical. Knowing where invasive species are and where they are spreading is the first and most effective step toward long-term management.
Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council leads and supports several AIS monitoring and prevention efforts. One of our most longstanding tools is aquatic plant surveying. These surveys help us track where invasive species are taking hold and how plant communities are changing over time. Understanding which plants are present and how widespread they are is essential for planning management strategies. Our survey records are publicly available on our website.
Aquatic plants play a vital role in lake ecosystems, providing habitat for fish and aquatic insects, stabilizing sediment, and contributing to water clarity. But when invasive species take hold, they can rapidly outcompete native vegetation, disrupt food webs, and impair recreational use.
This summer, we’ve contracted with Bear Creek Township to conduct a comprehensive aquatic plant survey of Spring Lake in the Cheboygan River Watershed—a proactive step toward protecting the health of a waterbody. To understand what’s growing beneath the surface, Watershed Council staff will conduct a detailed survey using a weighted rake to collect submerged plant samples from numerous sites around the lake. Each sample is then carefully examined for morphological traits such as leaf shape, stem structure, and growth patterns to identify the species present. This meticulous work allows us to create a species inventory, assess the distribution and density of plants across the lake, and detect any invasive plants, such as Eurasian watermilfoil or curly-leaf pondweed, that may be gaining a foothold.
The results of this survey will guide future management decisions for Spring Lake, helping township officials, lake residents, and environmental partners determine whether restoration or control actions are needed. Just as importantly, the data contributes to a long-term understanding of plant community trends in our region—an essential part of sustaining healthy, resilient lakes over time.
In addition to our plant monitoring work, we’re assisting with a new pilot project led by Michigan Trout Unlimited, focused on tracking the spread of an invasive freshwater algae called Didymo (short for Didymosphenia geminata), often referred to as “rock snot.” Didymo forms dense mats on riverbeds, particularly in coldwater streams where trout live, and may harm aquatic habitats and fisheries. Through this project, we’re adding Didymo testing into our Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program, helping expand the network of sample sites across northern Michigan. Volunteers will collect algae samples from rivers and streams, which will then be analyzed to detect the presence of Didymo. This collaborative effort will provide critical early detection data that can inform statewide AIS management.
No single organization can tackle aquatic invasive species alone. It takes a collective effort—from nonprofits and government agencies to teachers, lake associations, volunteers, and the people who live and play on the water every day. These projects reflect what we believe: that protecting Northern Michigan’s waters is a shared responsibility. And with knowledge, vigilance, and action, we can stop the spread of invasive species—and keep our waters clean, healthy, and beautiful for generations to come.
Learn more about aquatic plant surveys and explore past reports:
Invasive Eurasian Watermilfoil. Credit: Alison Fox
LINKING LAKES: STRONGER TOGETHER FOR CLEAN WATER
Earlier this summer, the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council hosted our annual Linking Lakes event—an energizing day of collaboration, conversation, and shared commitment to protecting our region’s waters. With over 50 attendees representing more than 25 different organizations, the event brought together a powerful network of local water stewards.
Participants heard presentations and shared stories on a range of critical topics, from shoreline protection, to invasive species prevention, to monitoring for harmful algal blooms. Representatives from the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association (MLSA) and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) also presented, providing state-level updates and resources to support local efforts.
One of the biggest strengths of Linking Lakes is the opportunity it creates for lake associations to connect with one another by swapping success stories, lessons learned, and creative ideas.
We’re grateful to everyone who took part and helped make this year’s event such a success.
If you care about protecting our lakes and streams, we hope you’ll join us next year. When we bring our knowledge and passion together in one room, we build the partnerships that make real progress possible.
BUILDING FUTURE WATER STEWARDS
With grant funding from the Great Lakes Fishery Trust, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council has expanded its flagship education program, Watershed Academy, through two exciting new programs: an After School Program and a Watershed Educator Training Workshop. Together, these initiatives are helping to build the next generation of water stewards—and supporting the teachers who guide them.
The Watershed Academy’s After School Program returned for its second year to Pellston Elementary and Alanson Public Schools. Over five weeks, students explored the fundamentals of freshwater ecosystems through fun, interactive activities. Each session featured a science-based lesson, a hands-on activity, and a game or creative craft. From building mini watersheds to identifying aquatic invasive species, students gained a better understanding of where their water comes from—and what it takes to protect it.
In addition to expanding student programming, the Watershed Council hosted its first Watershed Educator Training Workshop this past winter. The two-day training brought thirteen teachers from across Northern Michigan together to deepen their knowledge of watershed science and to learn how to integrate watershed science into their existing curriculum. Not only did participants learn how to use hands-on resources like watershed models and aquatic insect identification keys, they also explored teaching strategies that engage students in real-world science. Teachers took part in discussions about the most pressing water issues facing Northern Michigan today, like invasive species, stormwater runoff, and shoreline development, so they could bring timely, relevant content back to their classrooms. Now, participants are in the process of applying for mini-grants to implement what they learned back in their own classrooms— an exciting next step that we hope will extend the impact to hundreds of students in the coming year.
This training has become an important part of the Watershed Academy’s long-term goals, not only to engage students directly, but also to build capacity among local educators. As more teachers feel confident and supported in teaching water-related topics, we expect watershed education to grow in classrooms throughout our service area.
The Watershed Council has long emphasized place-based, handson learning. With the addition of the After School Program and Educator Training Workshop, we are strengthening the foundation for long-term stewardship in Northern Michigan. Students are getting more opportunities to connect to their local environment, and teachers are receiving the resources they need to make those experiences possible.
We’re excited to continue expanding the educational offerings provided by our Watershed Academy program in the year ahead. Because when young people understand and care about their watershed, they’re far more likely to protect it.
NIMIIGWECHWENDAM NIBIISH:
I AM THANKFUL FOR WATER
This summer, a powerful partnership brought together water, culture, and community in a way never before seen at the Watershed Council. In collaboration with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians’ Niigaandiwin Education Department, we launched Nimiigwechwendam Nibiish, which means “I Am Thankful for Water” in Anishinaabemowin.
Over the course of two summer camps, tribal youth explored local watersheds, examined environmental issues, and developed action projects that reflected both scientific understanding and cultural knowledge. Every part of the experience was rooted in and traditional ecological knowledge, combining hands-on science with Anishinaabe teachings and language. The result: a deeper connection to place, identity, and responsibility.
Funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) for Indigenous Communities program, the initiative not only created space for Indigenous youth to lead, learn, and grow—it also centered their voices in the larger conversation about environmental stewardship in Northern Michigan. This collaboration builds on years of relationship-building between the Watershed Council and LTBB and reflects our shared belief that meaningful environmental education must reflect and respect the people and places it serves.
WHY IT MATTERS
Across the country, Indigenous youth remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Nimiigwechwendam Nibiish helped shift that narrative by placing Indigenous perspectives at the center of environmental education, showing young people that their knowledge, stories, and voices are vital to the future of conservation.
TAKING THE CLASSROOM ON THE OPEN WATER
Secchi disks. Water testing kits. Watershed models. For two days in May, more than 240 middle school students swapped their desks for deck space aboard the Beaver Islander ferry, transforming Lake Charlevoix into their science lab.
In partnership with the Lake Charlevoix Association, Students Experience Lake Charlevoix (SELC) is designed to bring science to life, giving students direct experience with the water they’ve grown up around but may be seeing with new eyes.
Students rotated through seven interactive stations covering everything from aquatic macroinvertebrates and shoreline erosion to fish ecology, invasive species, and water chemistry. They used real tools and worked together to sample, observe, test, and learn.
“It’s amazing to watch students light up when they get out on the water,” said Eli Baker, Watershed Council Education Manager. “They start making connections between what they’ve learned in school and what’s happening right under the surface of the lake.”
Teachers praised the program’s ability to spark curiosity and critical thinking. Students asked big questions, practiced real science skills, and left with a better understanding of their role in protecting freshwater resources.
SELC isn’t just a field trip. It’s an investment in the next generation of Great Lakes stewards and a reminder that the best classrooms aren’t always inside four walls.
Tribal youth gather along the Bear River for a hands-on water quality activity during Nimiigwechwedam Nibiish camp. Their observations and reflections are guiding community-based stewardship projects rooted in both culture and science.
STURGEON TALES
Winnie, our lake sturgeon, continues to grow bigger and stronger by the day. As she grows, staff are careful to avoid scrapes from her scutes, the bony plates that give sturgeon armored protection from predators. She’ll be released this fall, but until then, watching her grow has reminded us that these ancient fish are living fossils.
Spring brought change to more than just Winnie’s tank. After an ice storm knocked out power for five days, we worked with our partners at the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Fisheries Enhancement Facility to return the arctic grayling in our care. Their tank has since been transformed into an inland lake habitat, featuring sunfish and other species commonly found in the littoral zone, the vibrant, nearshore area of our lakes where most aquatic life thrives.
We’re also excited to partner with Crooked Tree Arts Center this summer for their Immersed exhibition. A livestream camera now broadcasts footage directly from our stream tank to their gallery, offering visitors an up-close look at species like crayfish, northern redbelly dace, and central mudminnows as they scuttle, dart, and glide through their watery world.
With warmer water temperatures, we’ve seen a remarkable burst of life in the tank: a male stickleback built a nest out of leaves and twigs for a female to lay eggs in, which he diligently guarded even after they hatched. A female crayfish is carrying a cluster of eggs on her abdomen, the northern redbelly dace are showing off their brilliant red spawning colors, and stoneflies continue to emerge from their larval forms with new wings. Keep an eye on the livestream and let us know if you catch a glimpse of transformation or new life!
Check out the livestream
FIELD TRIPS AT THE WDC: EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION TO PROTECT WATER
The Watershed Discovery Center (WDC) continues to expand its role as a hub for high-quality environmental education in northern Michigan. Since launching our field trip program this year, we’ve welcomed students from across our service area, providing hands-on, immersive learning experiences designed to deepen understanding of freshwater systems and inspire a lasting connection to water stewardship.
Each WDC field trip includes a guided tour and a curriculum-aligned lesson plan that teachers can select based on their classroom goals. Current lesson themes include adaptations, aquatic ecosystems, earth systems and water, human impacts, and invasive species. These topics are presented through engaging, place-based activities. Students can explore how rain gardens mitigate stormwater runoff, examine and identify aquatic macroinvertebrates, or investigate how water moves through a watershed by building their own model.
Thanks to generous support from the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation and individual donors, these educational programs are offered completely free of charge. Our goal is to make science accessible, memorable, and deeply relevant, reinforcing classroom concepts while helping students recognize that protecting our waters isn’t just an academic exercise, but a vital responsibility for the future.
As we continue to grow, we hope the WDC will become a long-term resource for teachers, helping them reinforce the value of environmental literacy and empowering their students to become informed advocates for our freshwater ecosystems.
To explore available topics, download lesson materials, or schedule a visit, educators can visit our Teacher Resources page:
Explore here
A stonefly emerges from the water as an adult with wings.
