The Annual Reports for the Education
& Communications Committee and the entire CLWA are available here.
EDUCATION
The Crystal Lake "Walkabout"
Introduction
"I have met with but one or two persons
in the course of my life who understood the art of Walking, that is, of taking walks,
who had a genius, so to speak, for sauntering . . ."
- Henry David Thoreau
"A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth's
eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature."
- Henry David Thoreau.
The Crystal Lake "Walkabout"
is intended to instill and nurture in young people and adults a sense of awareness
of their watershed environment through an interactive program of science education
involving "hands-on" observational monitoring and environmental exploring.
Three events are scheduled each year - a Spring event for 6th grade students, a Fall
event for 8th grade students, and a Summer event for the general public and summer
visitors.
Dedicated to "Winnie" (an
awfully good dog!),
the unofficial "Walkabout" mascot (1989-2004).
The Crystal Lake Walkaboutaddresses
diverse environmental features of a series of Interpretive Sites, each experienced
in its own natural setting. The series of Interpretive Sites has evolved from a progression
of interests, concerns, and demands. As the Walkabout has continued to develop,
various topics have been introduced which are associated with one or more of the
Interpretive Sites.
Click on image for
a much larger view
See the water drops on the larger
image for "Walkabout" Interpretive sites.
Site A. Crystal Lake (Lake,
East End).
(At Beulah Public Dock, 44° 37 57.59 N, 086° 05 35.13 W, 183 m.)
Site B. Cold Creek/Sediment Basin (Tributary).
(In Downtown Beulah, 44° 37 45 N, 086° 05 36 W, 184 m.)
Site C. Trapp Farm Nature Preserve (Lake Wetlands).
(On Narrow Gauge Road, 44° 37 56 N, 086° 05 12 W, 184 m.)
Site D. Railroad Point Natural Area / Outlet (High Ridge).
(On Mollineaux Road, 44° 38 28 N, 086° 08 13 W, 191 m.)
Site E. Crystal Lake (Lake, West End).
(At CSA Beach, 44° 37 56 N, 086° 14 42 W, 183 m.)
Site F. Betsie Valley Trail (River Wetlands).
(Near River Road & M22 Bridge, 44° 37 47 N, 086° 14 34 W, 178 m.)
Site G. Betsie Bay (Bay / Great Lakes / USCG).
(In Downtown Frankfort, 44° 37 N, 086° 13 W, 178 m.)
Site H. Pt. Betsie (Dunes / Lighthouse).
(On Pt. Betsie Rd. at Lake Michigan, 44° 41 27 N, 086° 15 19 W, 180 m.)
Site I. Benzie Area Historical Museum (Heritage)
(6941 Traverse Ave., Benzonia, 44° 37 02 N, 086° 06 00 W, 249 m.)
Site J. Round Lake (Bay of Crystal Lake).
(North on M22, entering SBDNL, 44° 41 39 N, 086° 11 11 W, 185 m.)
Site K. Hurdmans Bay/Winnetka Point (High Ridge).
(M-22, 1/2 mi North of Crystal Dr, Northshore of Crystal Lake)
44° 41 12 N, 086° 11 11 W, 249 m.)
Site L. Betsie Lake Utilities Authority (Wastewater Treatment).
(M-22, South of East End of Main St, Frankfort)
44° 37 51 N, 086° 13 22 W, 182 m.)
Site M. Personal Choice.
(Ones own special place or in minds eye).
(Links to some of these organizations
are available on our Links page.)
Logos for many of
these organizations:
(Click on the image for a larger
view.)
1. Participants
The general public, riparians,
visitors, and guests to our Watershed.
Benzie County Central Schools
- See page 11 of their Huskie Newsletter for a short writeup with pictures of the
Fall 2004 "Walkabout." (PDF
document, see
here for details).
Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools
Interlochen Arts Academy
2. Sponsors
The Crystal Lake & Watershed
Association
The Crystal Lake Watershed Fund,
Inc.
The Grand Traverse Regional Land
Conservancy
The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa
and Chippewa Indians
Crystalaire Camp
The Nature Conservancy MI Chapter
Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail
Friends of Betsie Bay
U. S. Coast Guard -Station Frankfort
The Congregational Summer Assembly
Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse
3. Supporters/Contributors
Bayside Printing Company
John N.Barnes Environmental Education
Fund
Benzie Area Youth Council (BAYCO)
Benzie-Leelanau District Health
Department
Benzie Conservation District
Chimney Corners Resort
City of Frankfort
The Dow Chemical Company
Elf Atochem
Field Crafts, Inc.
Great Lakes Water Quality Laboratory
Inland Seas Education Association
L'Chayim Delicatessen
MacDonald Marine
MacDonald's Restaurant
Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality
Michigan Lake & Stream Associations
(ML&SA)
Michigan Land Use Institute
MSUE Betsie Valley Trailway
MSUE Michigan Groundwater Stewardship
Program
MSUE Michigan Sea Grant
Michigan Water Research Center,
CMU
Northwest Michigan Council of
Governments (NWMCOG)
There are many ways that we may
look at the Crystal Lake Watershed -as a student, a visitor, an owner of watershed
property (a "lakie," a "townie,", a "fudgie," etc.).
All of us have slightly different perspectives, but we all share the benefits -the
use and enjoyment of our Watershed for fishing, boating, swimming, recreation, working,
and living. We also share the same concerns for maintaining a proper balance between
reasonable environmental protection and sustainable development. Together, we are
all stewards of the environment that makes up Crystal Lake and its surrounding Watershed.
Concerns and Issues - Web
page includes a broad range of concerns for all involved and/or affected by the Crystal
Lake Watershed.
Geographic Names Information
System (USGS)
The CLWF initiated a project
in 1999 to modify local names contained in the Geographic Names Information System
(GNIS), a national database managed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This project
supports local water quality monitoring efforts by the CLWF within the Crystal
Lake Watershed and elsewhere in Benzie County by creating a comprehensive listing
of names and locations of local geographic features.
The CLWF reviewed 183 "existing" features for Benzie County which
include: some repetitive entries, a few misspellings, other possible incorrect latitudes/longitudes,
and some partial or incorrect names. There are also omissions of some well-known
(old and new) features. In addition, 65 potentially "new" features of local
interest suggested to the USGS by the CLWF are currently under review.
The CLWF is partnering with county, township, and village governments, and
interested local citizens to solicit new, old, and modified names. Locations will
be verified, identified on USGS topographic quadrangle maps, and submitted to USGS
for approval. The project is a continuing volunteer effort.
Major benefits to be realized from the GNIS project include: (1) creation of an accurate,
consistent, and updated listing of geographic features, (2) better recognition of
features by local citizens, riparian owners, local government, and schools, and (3)
increased publicity of local features for visitors through local information sources
and the Internet.
The high ridge promontory east of Outlet Creek on the SE shore of Crystal Lake has
been known locally as "Railroad Point" ever since the Toledo Ann Arbor
& North Michigan Railroad established service (the famous "Ping-Pong")
between Frankfort and Beulah in the 1890's. (A spectacular train wreck occurred near
"Bay Point" in 1911!). More recently, the "Railroad Point Natural
Area" was established by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (which
is used as an interpretive site during the Crystal Lake "Walkabout").
On August 4, 2003, the CLWF received formal notification from Roger L. Payne,
Executive Secretary, U.S. Board on Geographic Names, "approving our proposal
to change officially the name of Bay Point in Benzie County to Railroad Point."
This decision was made in agreement with the findings and recommendations of the
Supervisors of Benzonia Township, the Supervisors of Crystal Lake Township, the Commissioners
of Benzie County, and the Michigan State Board on Geographic Names.
Other Environmental
Attractions
The Crystal Lake Watershed contains
many unique sites of environmental diversity. The following four locations are featured
as part of the Crystal Lake "Walkabout" cosponsored by the CLWA.
Trapp Farm Nature Preserve (Lake Wetlands)
For over sixty years, up until
1982, much of the land that is now the Trapp Farm Nature Preserve was managed as
a produce farm yielding abundant crops of celery, cabbage, broccoli, radishes, and
onions. In 1991, the land, which contains regional significant wetlands (land covered
or saturated with water for extended periods) was donated to the Grand Traverse Regional
Land Conservancy. The Preserve has now increased in size through subsequent donations
to encompass 132 Acres. A number of trails have been developed to facilitate interpretive
nature hikes through the diversity of ecosystems ranging from open fields to cedar
stands, and including remnant orchards and mature woodlands. The Sediment Basin in
downtown Beulah receives the combined flow of Cold Creek, the major tributary to
Crystal Lake. The CLWF was instrumental in the creation of the TFNP and has
been monitoring the chemical and biological parameters of the Cold Creek subwatersheds
for several years. (Please see our Water Quality page
for details of the CLWA studies.)
Railroad Point Natural Area (High Ridge)
Located on the southeastern side
of Crystal Lake, Railroad Point is one of the last remaining undeveloped parcels
on the Lake. It consists of 61 Acres including more than one-third mile of shoreline
and featuring high-forested ridges ("bluffs0/0) that are visible from many vantage
points on the Lake. It also affords the viewer a spectacular vista of Crystal Lake.
The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy received a $ 2.1 million grant from
the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to conserve this resource. Acquisition
of Railroad Point is the catalyst for a Benzie County Parks System with the support
of many local organizations. Recently the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
has proposed the construction of a boat launch facility nearby to provide access
to Crystal Lake for use area fishermen and visitors. (Please see our Zoning & Land Use page for comments by the CLWA and its
predecessors.)
Betsie Valley Trail (River Wetlands)
The Crystal Lake Watershed (a "lucustrine0/0
or lake watershed) is considered part of the Betsie River Watershed (a "riverine0/0
or river watershed). Crystal Lake overflows into the Betsie River by way of Outlet
Creek. The Betsie Valley Trail, a 22-mile rail-trail, stretches between Thompsonville
and Elberta/Frankfort, Michigan, and runs adjacent to Crystal Lake at Railroad Point,
the Outlet, and Cold Creek. Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning
System (GPS) technologies have been used extensively to highlight sites of special
interest along the Trail, including the extensive wetlands near Betsie Bay.
Pt. Betsie (Dunes / Lighthouse)
Pt. Betsie is the site of the world-famous
Pt. Betsie Lighthouse, now under the stewardship of Benzie County and the Friends
of Point Betsie Lighthouse. It is a prominent location mentioned in the early travels
of Frs. Marquette and Charlevoix, and appears on many early maps. It is situated
on the east shore of Lake Michigan with only 1-1/2 mile of sand dunes separating
it from the Crystal Lake Watershed. The Point Betsie Dunes Preserve of 94.5 Acres
is maintained by The Nature Conservancy - MI Chapter. It features interdunal wetlands,
open dunes, cobble and sand beach, and pockets of boreal (northern conifer) forest.
Pitcher's thistle and Lake Huron locust are two species found only on Great Lakes
shores. Spotted sandpiper and American redstarts are commonly seen there, as are
migrating birds of prey, such as peregrine falcons.
Historical information on environmental
issues as reported by the former Crystal Lake Watershed Fund, Inc. Biannual newsletter
(published in annual updates) contains information on activities and environmental
issues of interest to residents and visitors of the Crystal Lake Watershed. Crystal
Lake Watershed Management.
As a prototypical Lake Owners'
Manual, Crystal Lake - Life or Death (CLLD) is a significant book. It resulted from
discussions by local citizens who formed an Ad Hoc Committee to the Benzie County
Public Works Department. This Committee raised concerns about two issues: (1) present
and future water quality problems of the Crystal Lake Watershed, and (2) absence
of an equitable and effective plan for watershed management.
