Online course increases lake literacy and protects Michigan's waterways - Land-Grant Impacts

a Michigan lake with plants growing on the water and around the shore

Online course increases lake literacy and protects Michigan’s waterways

Environmental Stewardship, Story 2024, Ecosystem Services, Extension, Michigan, Michigan State University, North Central, Water Resilience/Management

Michigan’s 11,000 inland lakes are complex ecosystems, and communities often struggle to protect and manage them in a way that incorporates the best available knowledge and resources.

To increase lake literacy and create peer and resource connections to help property owners, community leaders and concerned citizens address management concerns, Michigan State University Extension educators created an Introduction to Lakes Online course. Priority areas for the course include sharing science-based information, encouraging the protection and restoration of inland lakes, fostering a conservation ethic and building a peer-to-peer network.

Since the program launched in 2015, over 1,850 participants from 75 Michigan counties and 35 states have participated in the class. More than a thousand lakefront property owners also participated in the class as well as 187 government officials. On average, 86% of participants complete all units of the course and receive a certificate of completion.

After taking the course, many participants indicate their plans to implement best management practices on their property and in their communities. By engaging participants across different backgrounds, the course empowers learners to actively engage in the protection, restoration and stewardship of Michigan’s inland lakes and their watersheds.

View the full statement on the NIDB.

Project supported by Smith-Lever (3b&c) funds.

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