Anyone in Otsego County who enjoys boating, fishing, swimming or being near water understands the importance of Otsego Lake. While it’s a valuable economic and recreation resource for the region, Otsego Lake’s water quality has been impacted through the years by a variety of sources. Partners are currently working to better understand these problems and take action where possible through the development of a watershed management plan.

Watershed planning is an approach that is used to conduct field inventories and identify problems, work with key stakeholders to develop solutions that are acceptable for the local community, and then produce a management plan that serves as the blueprint for completing future projects.

Recently, project partners have completed one part of the watershed project – a study of the shoreline greenbelt area surrounding the lake. Staff from Huron Pines, a resource conservation group that often works on many hands-on natural resource projects, finished the shoreline study last month and recently presented the results to project committee members. The shoreline study was used to document the status of waterfront greenbelts and identify erosion areas. Greenbelts along waterways are the best line of defense for reducing polluted runoff from the land, providing a transition zone between land and water, and minimizing erosion risks. These shoreline greenbelts are a mix of trees, shrubs, and perennial flowers, all of which have deeper root systems than turf grass. The deeper roots help hold soil together and filter pollutants by taking up excessive nutrients. As development increases along lakes and streams, one of the common results is a loss of these natural greenbelt areas and a hardening of the shoreline. The excessive nutrient loading and sedimentation that results from such a change can lead to algae blooms, more weeds, and the premature aging (filling in) of lakes.

While much of the shoreline of Otsego Lake has lost its natural buffering capacity, the good news is that there is a potential to improve water quality by moving in the other direction – encouraging the growth of shoreline greenbelts. Tips for how landowners can do this are available at the Huron Pines website (www.huronpines.org) and also by contacting the Otsego Conservation District, where knowledgeable staff can help provide good information. The Conservation District can be reached at 732-6526.

Funding for the shoreline study and the ongoing Otsego Lake watershed protection effort has been provided by a generous grant from the Otsego County Community Foundation (OCCF). The foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of the area now and for future generations by building community endowment, awarding grants to address community needs and convening leadership on key issues.

“For the last several years, we have heard from members of the community about the issues facing Otsego Lake. It’s been unfortunate that the state budget has kept this resource from getting the attention it needs, but it’s great to see the Otsego County Community Foundation take the lead role in providing funding to help move this project forward,” noted Brad Jensen, Executive Director of Huron Pines. Based in Grayling, Huron Pines is a not-for-profit organization that conserves the forests, lakes and streams of Northeast Michigan. More information on getting involved with this project or learning more about other conservation efforts is available at www.huronpines.org or by calling 344-0753.