The CLWA is a nonprofit
(501c3) organization of concerned local citizens and environmental professionals
committed to protecting the integrity of Crystal Lake, Benzie County, Michigan, for
the enjoyment of future generations.
The current organization evolved from
two predecessor organizations, the CLWF and the CLA, and have roots going back fifty years. See History of the CLWA
below for more details. CLWA's four-part
purpose is:
Protect and promote the natural
qualities of Crystal Lake and its surrounding Watershed.
Preserve for future generations
the beauty and recreational resources of Crystal Lake and its Watershed.
Engage in water-quality monitoring,
educational programs, promotion of harmonious land development, and promotion of
the safe use of Crystal Lake.
Advocate and ensure the continued
aesthetic beauty and environmental integrity of the Lake and its Watershed.
The Stakeholders
"The stakeholders are all
the people of our Crystal Lake Watershed: the Lakies, the Townies, the Fudgies.
You are: Citizens, Riparians, Teachers, Students, Businesses, Government, and Visitors."
See lots pf
photos of people involved
with CLWA, the former CLWF and CLA organizations, and photos of the Crystal
Lake area and nearby.
What does the CLWA
do?
View the details of CLWA
Committees and their Activities.
CLWA Management Committees
CLWA Management Committees are
defined by the Bylaws to manage the CLWA.
Executive Committee
Responding to the immediate needs
as authorized by the CLWA Board.
The Executive Committee is comprised of the President, Vice President, Secretary,
and Treasurer, and two Board members. It is empowered by the Board to act on any
issue requiring immediate action exclusive of regular Board meetings.
Standing (Formal) Committees
Standing (Formal) Committees are
defined by the Bylaws to manage the CLWA and respond to new and
existing issues affecting the Crystal Lake Watershed.
The Water Quality Committee is responsible for monitoring environmental parameters,
including lake level, that determine the overall quality of Crystal Lake. It will
reporting results to the Board, maintain records, and publish results.
Preserving our Watershed through
Environmental Regulation and Enforcement.
The Zoning & Land Use Committee is responsible for monitoring zoning changes
within Benzie County and individual Townships. It is to be aware of proposed land
developments. It will report to the Board on proposed land developments. It will
also monitor road and water safety.
Interpreting our Watershed through
educational programs.
The Education & Communications Committee is responsible for education of the
membership and the public regarding the value of the Lake and its Watershed and the
need for continued stewardship. It will coordinate the "Walkabout"
program, edit the newsletter, directory, and other publications, maintain the website,
and promote the CLWA at public events.
Using dues, contributions, and grant funds wisely.
The Financial Development Committee is responsible for promotion of a large, involved,
supportive, and active membership. It is responsible for coordinating all fund-raising
activities.
Nominating Committee
Choosing leaders for the future.
The Nominating Committee is comprised of six Board members. It is responsible for
seeking qualified individuals to serve as future Officers and Board Members.
CLWA Personnel
Officers, Board of Directors, Summer Interns, Contractors, Committee Members, and
Past Personnel
PRESENT CLWA PERSONNEL
Officers
President
Ed Hoogterp (2008-2012)
Vice-President
Joel Buzzell (2010-2013)
Secretary
Ellen Herscher (2011-2012)
Treasurer
Bob Schmidt (2005-2013)
Board of Directors
Bill Beck (2009-2014)
Richard Cassard (2011-2014)
Rick Cosaro (2011-2014)
Stacy L. Daniels (2004-2013)
Eddie Ellsworth (2010-2013)
Jim Laarman (2004-2012)
Julianne McNight (2009-2012)
Sandra O'Neal (2009-2012)
Roger Perry (2010-2013)
Wanda Shreiner (2009-2014)
Hugh Walton (2008-2013)
Jana Way (2011-2014)
Ex Officio Curmudgeons: Ron
Renner and Bill Decker
R.
William (Bill) Decker, Ex Officio, Deceased
Bill and his wife Char are natives
of Michigan, with homes in Grand Rapids and Crystal West Shore. They and their extended
family have been intimately associated with Crystal Lake since 1951. Bills professional
experience in engineering and contracting prompted him to initiate and chair the
Ad Hoc Committee of the Benzie County Public Works Department in 1987. This
Committee addressed water quality and development issues facing Crystal Lake. It
became the Crystal Lake Clean Water Committee, which with the Friends of Crystal
Lake, became the Crystal Lake Watershed Fund (CLWF) in 1994, leading to many innovative
programs. Bill was the first President of both groups. (The CLWF in turn merged with
the Crystal Lake Association (CLA) to become the CLWA in 2004.) Bill is well-known
as the author of the prototypical Lake Owners' Manual, Crystal Lake: Life or Death?
He edited 17 Updates, which became the CLWA newsletter, Crystal Shorelines from
1994-2004.
In 1989, Bill was a leader in promoting a precedent-setting ordinance in Benzie County
to require inspection and upgrading of all onsite septic systems prior to sale. This
ordinance, one of the first in the U.S., is enforced by the Benzie-Leelanau District
Health Department, leading to the review of several hundred systems. For more than
20 years, Bills passion for Crystal Lake has been evidenced by his willingness to
write and speak out on issues, volunteer his time and boat for water sampling, promoting
Crystal Lake at art fairs and public functions, and erecting the Now Entering/Leaving
the Crystal Lake Watershed signage. Bill is committed to two issues: (1) identification
of present and future challenges to water quality, and (2) creation of an equitable
and effective watershed management plan. Bill has truly raised the awareness of his
family, friends, and everyone he touched with the desire to keep Crystal clean.
Ron
Renner, Ex Officio
Ron and his wife, Marilyn, have
two sons and three grandchildren. He is a graduate of Notre Dame and managed the
Family Trucking Co. - Renner's Express in Indianapolis for many years. Ron is a Past
President of the former CLA and currently an ex officio member of Boat Launch
& Road Ends and Development Committees for the CLWA. Since arriving at
Crystal Lake in 1969, the Renner family has been in awe of its beauty, serenity and
uniqueness. They have always had a strong commitment to serve as good stewards and
to be involved with others of like mind to assure, as best we can, that the future
generations of riparians and non-riparians will inherit a lake of like quality. The
merger of the CLA and the CLWF was undoubtedly the most important step in bringing
together the very best women and men available to work in concert to provide the
leadership and the vision vital to protecting the integrity of our Watershed. With
so many important issues before us - water quality monitoring, invasive species concerns,
swimmers itch, sensible zoning laws - working together is paramount. Crystal Lake
is worth the effort.
Robert
Appleford, Ex Officio
Robert Appleford served as the
first President of the then new Crystal Lake & Watershed Association beginning
in the fall of 2004. He ably steered the organization from the merger of the Crystal
Lake Watershed Fund and the Crystal Lake Association through it first four years
of operation to its present successful operation. He and his wife, Molly reside just
over the hill on Beach Road in Crystal Downs but Crystal Lake is never far from their
thoughts.
Science Review Panel
The Science Review Panel (SRP)
considers environmental issues pertaining to the Crystal Lake Watershed, Benzie County,
Michigan. The SRP is proactive in developing independent consensus viewpoints upon
review of environmental issues of particular local interest and provides scientifically
sound recommendations where appropriate to the public.
The collective expertise of the SRP bears directly on the scientific components of
environmental issues having current or potential future impact on the Crystal Lake
Watershed. Since its inception, the SRP has reviewed environmental studies sponsored
by the CLWA and cooperative studies by CLWA with other organizations. Assessment
of studies conducted by other responsible organizations that have demonstrated performance
in related environmental areas provided upon request. Specific topics and issues
have included: water quality studies, alternative waste treatment systems, greenbelts
and herbicide applications, the Cold Creek holding pond, the proposed DNR boat launch,
the Railroad Point Natural Area, swimmers itch, and related environmental studies
outside the Crystal Lake Watershed.
The SRP represents a unique group of individuals from academia, government, and industry,
with local, state, and national reputations. The SRP includes the directors of all
the past and current water quality studies of Crystal Lake since 1960, and other
knowledgeable individuals from government and academia at local, state, and national
levels. All members are environmental professionals who serve as volunteers.
SCIENCE
REVIEW PANEL MEMBERS
FIRST
NAME
FULL NAME
TITLE
AFFILIATION
Stacy
Dr. Stacy L. Daniels
Chair, Science
Review Panel
Director of Research
Adjunct Professor
Emeritus
Crystal Lake & Watershed
Association (CLWA)
Ingenuity IEQ, Inc.
Dept. Civil & Env. Engineering,
& Chemical Engineering
The University of Michigan
Al
Dr. Alfred M. Beeton
Retired Chief Scientist
Director, Emeritus
National Oceanographic and
Atmospheric Administration
Great Lakes Environmental
Research Laboratory
Bill
William A. Crawford
Sanitarian
Benzie/Leelanau District
Health Department
Eckhardt
Dr. Eckhart Dersch
Associate Chair
and Professor,
Retired
Dept. Resource Development
Michigan State University
Wally
Dr. Wally Fusilier
Consulting Limnologist
Water Quality Investigators
John
Dr. John Gannon
Professor Emeritus
School of Public Health
EIS/EH, University of Michigan
John
John R. Gehring
Biology Teacher,
Retired
Biology Department,
Benzie County Central Schools
Don
Dr. Donald Gatz
Former Chief
Air Quality & Chemistry,
Atm. Env. Section,
Illinois State Water Survey
Doug
Douglas Gibson
Sixth Grade Teacher
Lake Ann Elementary School,
Benzie County Central Schools
Elizabeth
Dr. Elizabeth
Rodgers Hill
Aquatic Ecologist,
Retired
NASA
Jim
Jim Laarman
Hydrologist, Retired
Army Corps of Engineers
Scott
Dr. A. Scott McNaught
Associate Professor
Biology Department,
Central Michigan University
Troy
Troy R. Naperala
Senior Water Resources
Engineer
URS Corporation
Andy
Andy Norman
Agricultural Agent,
Retired
Agriculture & Natural Resources,
MSU Extension Service
Jack
Jack Randall
Educational Consultant
Vernier Software & Technology
Tom
Thomas K. Rohrer
Chief -
Enforcement Section
Surface Water Quality Division
MI DEQ
Fred
Dr. Fred J. Tanis
Senior Researcher
Environmental Research
Institute of Michigan
John
Dr. John C. Walton
Associate Professor
Civil Engineering
University of Texas at El Paso
Richard
Dr. Richard L. Whitman
Station Chief
Aquatic Ecologist
Lake Michigan Ecological
Research Station, USGS
Awards & Accolades
April 2010...
CLWA
Receives Michigan Inland Lakes "Steward of the Year" Award for 2010
The Michigan Lake and Stream Associations (www.MLSWA.org), which represents 300 member associations
across Michigan, recently honored the CLWA with the prestigious Michigan Inland
Lakes "Steward of the Year" Award for 2010. At the 49th Annual Meeting
of ML&SA held in Lansing on April 1 - May 1, 2010, a plaque was presented "in
recognition of outstanding leadership, teamwork, and dedication in preserving and
protecting Michigan's freshwater heritage for future generations." The award
was presented by ML&SA Executive Director, William S. Brown and accepted by Dr.
Stacy L. Daniels, CLWA Chair, Education & Communications Committee. In
presenting the award, Brown said,
You and the CLWA have always been
there for ML&SA your continued support of our humble organization is greatly
appreciated! We recognize lake associations who through their hard work and dedication
have set an example of proactive stewardship and leadership in working to preserve
and protect their lakes and watersheds that others may follow.
ML&SA was founded nearly fifty years ago on the premise that the best way to
help preserve these freshwater gems for future generations was for concerned riparians
to create and sustain active lake associations focused on resolving local lake management
issues. You and your organization have established a solid path for other lake associations
to follow.
The CLWA has been a long-time
supporter of ML&SA. The CLWA has participated in the Cooperative Lake Monitoring
Program (CLMP) sponsored by the ML&SA, MDNRE Water Division, and MiCorps. Volunteers
collect samples in the Spring and Summer for analysis of total phosphorus (a nutrient),
and periodic samples for Chlorophyll a (an indicator of algal productivity) and Secchi
disk depths (water clarity).
History of
the CLWA
The Crystal Lake & Watershed
Association (CLWA) represents a merger of two predecessor organizations:
Both the CLA and the CLWF share
common roots of the family tree going back fifty years.
The genealogy of lake associations at Crystal Lake, Benzie Co., MI, has evolved through
eleven organizations with separate and shared interests and directions.
Click on image
for a full-size view
Who was the former CLWF?
The former Crystal Lake Watershed
Fund, Inc.(CLWF), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, was formed in 1994 upon merging
the Clean Water Committee of Crystal Lake (with focus on water quality monitoring)
and the Friends of Crystal Lake (with focus on land use and zoning). The CLWF
grew from the roots of several predecessor organizations tracing back to the early
1960's. The CLWF consisted of concerned volunteers, property owners, and scientists
who give freely of their time, skills, and expertise.
The former Clean Water Committee of Crystal Lake (ad hoc Committee, now merged
in the CLWF) was instrumental in supporting the Benzie/Leelanau Health Department
in developing a model ordinance to ensure that septic systems in proximity to Crystal
Lake and other water bodies in Benzie County comply with the latest standards in
design and performance. The former Friends of Crystal Lake (now merged in the CLWF)
was supportive of efforts by Township and County zoning boards to work with local
land owners and builders to promote reasonable and consistent land use regulations
to ensure sustainable development that is compatible with the desirable environmental
qualities unique to the Crystal Lake Watershed. The CLWF worked with the Grand Traverse
Regional Land Conservancy in support of the Trapp Farm Nature Preserve and the water
management of the subwatersheds of Cold Creek. The CLWF, together with more than
20 cosponsors and supporting organizations with local environmental presences, coordinated
the biannual Crystal Lake "Walkabout."
The Past CLWF Organization
2003-2004 CLWF OFFICERS
President:
William Decker
Vice-President:
Jim Buzzell
Secretary:
Virginia Sorenson
Treasurer:
Charles Clarke
Executive Coordinator:
Paul Murphy
2003-2004 CLWF Board of
Directors
Alan Appelhof
Joanne Applehof
Ken Baker
Tom Bolin
Ted Bosler
Tom Cobb
Eleanor Comings
Stacy L. Daniels
Char Decker
Wally Edwards
Marjorie Pearsall-Groenwald
Jim Hinkamp
Gail Hunter
Telfer Mook
Michael D. Morris
Tom Osborn
Mollie Rogers
Larry White
Who was the former
CLA?
The former Crystal Lake Association
was founded in 1960, by property owners along the shores of Crystal Lake, Benzie
County, Michigan. The organization has continued to grow from a few dozen members
to over a thousand members today. At the same time, the mission and purpose of the
organization has continued to develop and now encompasses environmental issues in
the entire Crystal Lake watershed.
The Crystal Lake Association was
committed to protecting and improving the quality of Crystal Lake, by monitoring
the water and surrounding environment through the effective action and leadership
of the membership, thereby preserving the natural beauty of Crystal Lake for future
generations.
The Crystal Lake Association was
organized exclusively for charitable, educational, scientific, and testing for public
safety purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended to date, including but not limited to: to protect, preserve
and promote the natural qualities of Crystal Lake; to prevent environmental deterioration
and impairment of the natural resources of Crystal Lake and the surrounding areas;
to promote the safe use of Crystal Lake and adjacent areas; and, through educational
programs, to enhance public awareness of activities to be encouraged or discouraged
in connection with carrying out the purposes specifically described above.
The Past CLA Organization
2003-2004CLA OFFICERS
President:
Ron Renner
Vice-President:
Toby Tull
Secretary:
Elizabeth Hill
Treasurer:
Robert Schmidt
Support Staff:
Charles McDaniel
2003-2004 CLA Board of
Directors
Doug Bard
Dr. Harry Blecker
Grant Brown, Jr.
Peter Ellsworth
Amy Kinney
James Laarman
James Martin
Weezie Morris
Jay Pettitt
Chelin Satherlie
Kathryn Simpson
Virginia Sorenson
Susan Teteak
Crystal Lake
& Watershed Association P.O. Box 89, Beulah, MI 49617
Phone: (231) 882-4001
FAX: (231) 882-7810 Email
Us
