Gratiot Lake Conservancy

Aquatic Ecology at GLC _SYPMichiganTech_group-testing_web _NathanMiller.jpg — Nature Sanctuaries, Environmental Education, Ecological Research

Gratiot Lake Conservancy’s (GLC) mission is to conserve the natural environment of Gratiot Lake and its watershed and environs and to promote environmental stewardship through education and research related to the ecology and cultural history of the area.

John Yunger, professor of population and conservation biology at Governors State University conducts field research with post graduate students on small mammal populations on a site at the GLC preserve. In 2019 Dr. Yunger conducted the field portion of an aquatic ecology class at GLC preserve and the Noblet Field Station. In the above photo, students compare chlorophyll content of water samples taken at various nearby locations.

Each summer, the Gratiot Lake Conservancy (GLC) organizes and hosts several environmental education programs for youth and adults including Michigan Tech University’s Summer Youth Program Exploration: Aquatic Ecology at Gratiot Lake, field botany and birding workshops, natural history and geoheritage field trips, and presentations on watershed stewardship and inland lake ecology.

The GLC’s 510 acre Gratiot Lake nature sanctuary includes 14,000 feet of shoreline and a restored 1940’s log cabin, the Noblet Field Station. Several miles of trail allow visitors to traverse shoreline and wooded habitat surrounding Gratiot Lake.

GLC’s Bammert Farm conservation area is comprised of 466 acres of upland forest, riparian/wetland corridors feeding into Snake Creek. It contains a mosaic of native hardwood, conifer, and mixed forests as well as a portion of a 1950’s red pine plantation. Sustainable forest management takes place here. The aim is to protect the historical value of the land which was a 19th century mining-era farm, while managing the red pine plantation areas to create a mixed forest ecology.

“Thank you for taking us to this cabin and for showing me how to connect to nature even more… from learning some tracking to canoeing and just sitting on the dock while enjoying the lake…”

“I really enjoyed my experience here. The teacher was really inspirational and taught me a lot about field science.”

“Seeing a the stars, full moon, northern lights, and a rainbow…was amazing despite all the yucky bugs…”

— Student comments from the high school program Aquatic Ecology at Gratiot Lake

Daniel Lizzadro-McPherson leader of an August 2019 Geoheritage field trip at Gratiot Lake displays a map of the Keweenaw fault line. GLC offers field trips and workshops focused on natural history, geology, and environmental stewardship. Attendees at any workshops for which GLC must charge a fee may apply for the Janet Avery Scholarship for tuition remission.

The view from a stretch of sandy shoreline on the west end of Gratiot Lake, acquired by GLC in 2014-2016. Natural shoreline owned by GLC is open to the public for hiking and accessible from the water by boat.

In 2018, Erick Elgin an MSU Extension limnologist came to Gratiot Lake to offer a free workshop on identification of aquatic invasive plants and training in protocol for monitoring for detection on inland lakes. This was part of GLC’s participation in the Michigan Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program. Since 2000 GLC has tested lake transparency and phosphorus levels. In 2005 a survey of aquatic plants of Gratiot Lake was completed. Now a yearly sampling to help detect invasive plants has been added to GLC monitoring tasks.

GLC provides a scholarship with preference for local students to attend Tech’s Aquatic Ecology program at Gratiot Lake. In 2019 the Jack and Rita Sandretto Scholarship was awarded to two Calumet High School juniors, Lila Frantti and Serenity Snyder.

Eight high school students attended the Michigan Tech Summer Youth Program Exploration: Aquatic Ecology at Gratiot Lake in 2019. Since 2004, GLC has hosted this program at the Noblet Field Station and provides a teacher salary for the five-day program.

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By supporting the Gratiot Lake Conservancy fund you help provide educational opportunities and protect this special area in the Keweenaw.

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