ESLA to celebrate 75 years!
Sam Ogle demonstrates the use of a Secchi disc to study water quality. Photo by M. McAlpine
By Mark McAlpine, Contributing Writer
Members of the Elk-Skegemog Lakes Association (ESLA) will gather at the Edward C. Grace Memorial Harbor Pavilion in Elk Rapids on June 27 at 5 p.m. to celebrate 75 years as a leader in the promotion and protection of the rights and responsibilities of lakefront property owners. Their efforts began on September 1, 1950, when 15 property owners on Lake Skegemog filed articles of incorporation for the Skegemog Association. That group quickly grew and added new members living on Elk Lake. On August 19, 1961, the decision was made to change their name to ESLA, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Over the years, ESLA has continued to add members attracted to its core mission. George Seifried, the current president of ESLA, is looking forward to leading those members in celebration of the past with a rededication to the core principles set by the group’s founders. He joined ESLA 13 years ago and became more involved in their mission. He has been a memeber of the board for five years. He began his career as a civil engineer and spent many years working for a large commercial and industrial contractor in Ohio. Seifried and his wife discovered the Elk Rapids area after friends and family recommended it as a place to retire.
Seifried confirmed that ESLA will continue their core mission of watershed environmental protection, water quality preservation, lake levels, invasive plant species management, riparian rights and responsibilities, and the promotion of safe and respectful water recreation. He acknowledges that new challenges will be faced. “The big question and the unanswerable is how two main factors will affect ESLA going forward,” Seifried said. “One factor is climate change. We are a science-based organization that is trying to keep up with climate change information. How will temperature changes affect water quality and invasive species growth? Only by continuing to monitor what we are seeing will we be able to identify the canary in the coal mine to educate the public.”
According to Seifried, the second issue is continued education for ESLA members, families, and politicians to help provide facts that will drive good decisions. “Fifty years from now, will the next generation be the same kind of stewards to our waters,” Seifried said. “We have to be aware of the changes happening around us. Our role is to educate others about those changes. We recognize that growth will happen on the water and far away from the water. We are not trying to control that growth. Our educational goal is to make it respectful growth by reaching the most people possible through our regulators, politicians, zoning, and local master plans.”
Seifried admits that their educational challenge is complicated because ESLA touches three counties, Grand Traverse, Antrim and Kalkaska; four townships, Elk Rapids, Milton, Whitewater, Clearwater; and the village of Elk Rapids. None share the same zoning, buffer regulations and levels of interest. ESLA tries to collaborate with realtors with informational packets for new property owners and it reaches out to state and local politicians. “We are all connected by these waters,” Seifried said, “and we need to be cognizant of our responsibilities.”
Biologist Samantha Ogle plays a leading role in the ESLA commitment to being a science-based organization. Ogle began her work with ESLA as an intern in 2019. She would later graduate from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Freshwater Science and Sustainability and then joined ESLA as an independent contractor. Ogle is currently under contract with ESLA through 2026. She is an active member of the Elk Rapids Shoreline Committee and has assisted in a number of grant submissions for them.
As the summer months edge closer, Ogle is gearing up to tackle the aquatic and terrestrial invasive plant species challenge. “We are coming up on the period when the early aquatic plants bloom in May and June,” Ogle explained. “In July through September the terrestrial invasive plant species kick in.” Ogle considers part of her job is educating property owners on the existence of invasive species near their shoreline. “At times,” she chuckled, “I am concerned that property owners see me as a prowler because I patrol the shores in a boat with binoculars staring at the shoreline, looking for a specific terrestrial invasive species. Last year, I did a full survey of Elk and Skegemog Lakes for Yellow Flag Iris that way.”
Seeking aquatic invasive species under the surface of the water require special tools. Ogle is on the lakes in the morning with GoPro cameras fixed on telescoping poles, which are lowered into the water to capture footage that she reviews at a later date. “Aquatic plants that are not invasive are beautiful,” Ogle said. “I am on a mission to change people’s opinion of aquatic plants.” If Ogle locates aquatic invasive species, landowners are contacted and ESLA works with them to remove those plants.
This year might bring a new hot spot focus on the Torch River. “We discovered Curly Leaf Pond Weed in late 2024 in the Torch River rapids,” Ogle explained. “This will be a big year trying to understand the boundaries of how far down the river the weed has gone. Hopefully, it has not made its way into Skekemog yet. It is hard because the Torch River is so busy in the summer. It is deep and it is fast. The GoPro cameras will come in handy as we figure out how to survey it to understand the life of that aquatic plant.”
As part of their mission to protect and preserve the quality of Elk and Skegemog Lakes, ESLA, The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Initiative filed suit in Grand Rapids Federal court in 2023 against Burnette Foods of Elk Rapids over long-term allegations of improper application of wastewater into local wetlands and a creek that flows into Elk Lake. “Our goal is not to cause Burnette to stop processing in town,” Seifried said. “They are a good employer for many people in the area. Our goal is to ask them to live by the operation and criteria in the permits they have been given. The evidence shows they have not been doing that.” According to Seifried recent efforts to schedule a settlement conference were not successful. A late July date is being considered for another attempt at a settlement in the case. “This is an important issue for us, and it is important that it get the proper attention and remediation to fix the problem.”
Ogle invites the public to visit the ESLA information booth this summer during Evenings on River Street in Elk Rapids for membership information. Volunteers will be available to answer questions about summer programs being offered by ESLA. Four “Lake Learning Tours” out of Elk Rapids Marina are scheduled for June 25, July 16, July 30, and August 20. The two-hour pontoon guided tour hosted by Ogle will explore a wide range of topics, including plankton sampling, local geology, loon behavior, aquatic plant identification, and the impact of invasive species. Each trip is limited to eight passengers and two passengers per household.
Seifried sees a future for ESLA with more involvement with the townships and Village of Elk Rapids. “Whether you are tourist or live here, these lakes and waters are wonderful resources,” he said. For those interested in supporting the ESLA programs, membership information is available online at www.Elk-Skekemog.org.
The June 27 anniversary celebration is limited to 140 ESLA members with a $25 per person contribution. Nationally recognized speakers on the Great Lakes and inland waterways will join the celebration.
Members of the Elk-Skegemog Lakes Association (ESLA) will gather at the Edward C. Grace Memorial Harbor Pavilion in Elk Rapids on June 27 at 5 p.m. to celebrate 75 years as a leader in the promotion and protection of the rights and responsibilities of lakefront property owners. Their efforts began on September 1, 1950, when 15 property owners on Lake Skegemog filed articles of incorporation for the Skegemog Association. That group quickly grew and added new members living on Elk Lake. On August 19, 1961, the decision was made to change their name to ESLA, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Over the years, ESLA has continued to add members attracted to its core mission. George Seifried, the current president of ESLA, is looking forward to leading those members in celebration of the past with a rededication to the core principles set by the group’s founders. He joined ESLA 13 years ago and became more involved in their mission. He has been a memeber of the board for five years. He began his career as a civil engineer and spent many years working for a large commercial and industrial contractor in Ohio. Seifried and his wife discovered the Elk Rapids area after friends and family recommended it as a place to retire.
Seifried confirmed that ESLA will continue their core mission of watershed environmental protection, water quality preservation, lake levels, invasive plant species management, riparian rights and responsibilities, and the promotion of safe and respectful water recreation. He acknowledges that new challenges will be faced. “The big question and the unanswerable is how two main factors will affect ESLA going forward,” Seifried said. “One factor is climate change. We are a science-based organization that is trying to keep up with climate change information. How will temperature changes affect water quality and invasive species growth? Only by continuing to monitor what we are seeing will we be able to identify the canary in the coal mine to educate the public.”
According to Seifried, the second issue is continued education for ESLA members, families, and politicians to help provide facts that will drive good decisions. “Fifty years from now, will the next generation be the same kind of stewards to our waters,” Seifried said. “We have to be aware of the changes happening around us. Our role is to educate others about those changes. We recognize that growth will happen on the water and far away from the water. We are not trying to control that growth. Our educational goal is to make it respectful growth by reaching the most people possible through our regulators, politicians, zoning, and local master plans.”
Seifried admits that their educational challenge is complicated because ESLA touches three counties, Grand Traverse, Antrim and Kalkaska; four townships, Elk Rapids, Milton, Whitewater, Clearwater; and the village of Elk Rapids. None share the same zoning, buffer regulations and levels of interest. ESLA tries to collaborate with realtors with informational packets for new property owners and it reaches out to state and local politicians. “We are all connected by these waters,” Seifried said, “and we need to be cognizant of our responsibilities.”
Biologist Samantha Ogle plays a leading role in the ESLA commitment to being a science-based organization. Ogle began her work with ESLA as an intern in 2019. She would later graduate from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Freshwater Science and Sustainability and then joined ESLA as an independent contractor. Ogle is currently under contract with ESLA through 2026. She is an active member of the Elk Rapids Shoreline Committee and has assisted in a number of grant submissions for them.
As the summer months edge closer, Ogle is gearing up to tackle the aquatic and terrestrial invasive plant species challenge. “We are coming up on the period when the early aquatic plants bloom in May and June,” Ogle explained. “In July through September the terrestrial invasive plant species kick in.” Ogle considers part of her job is educating property owners on the existence of invasive species near their shoreline. “At times,” she chuckled, “I am concerned that property owners see me as a prowler because I patrol the shores in a boat with binoculars staring at the shoreline, looking for a specific terrestrial invasive species. Last year, I did a full survey of Elk and Skegemog Lakes for Yellow Flag Iris that way.”
Seeking aquatic invasive species under the surface of the water require special tools. Ogle is on the lakes in the morning with GoPro cameras fixed on telescoping poles, which are lowered into the water to capture footage that she reviews at a later date. “Aquatic plants that are not invasive are beautiful,” Ogle said. “I am on a mission to change people’s opinion of aquatic plants.” If Ogle locates aquatic invasive species, landowners are contacted and ESLA works with them to remove those plants.
This year might bring a new hot spot focus on the Torch River. “We discovered Curly Leaf Pond Weed in late 2024 in the Torch River rapids,” Ogle explained. “This will be a big year trying to understand the boundaries of how far down the river the weed has gone. Hopefully, it has not made its way into Skekemog yet. It is hard because the Torch River is so busy in the summer. It is deep and it is fast. The GoPro cameras will come in handy as we figure out how to survey it to understand the life of that aquatic plant.”
As part of their mission to protect and preserve the quality of Elk and Skegemog Lakes, ESLA, The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Initiative filed suit in Grand Rapids Federal court in 2023 against Burnette Foods of Elk Rapids over long-term allegations of improper application of wastewater into local wetlands and a creek that flows into Elk Lake. “Our goal is not to cause Burnette to stop processing in town,” Seifried said. “They are a good employer for many people in the area. Our goal is to ask them to live by the operation and criteria in the permits they have been given. The evidence shows they have not been doing that.” According to Seifried recent efforts to schedule a settlement conference were not successful. A late July date is being considered for another attempt at a settlement in the case. “This is an important issue for us, and it is important that it get the proper attention and remediation to fix the problem.”
Ogle invites the public to visit the ESLA information booth this summer during Evenings on River Street in Elk Rapids for membership information. Volunteers will be available to answer questions about summer programs being offered by ESLA. Four “Lake Learning Tours” out of Elk Rapids Marina are scheduled for June 25, July 16, July 30, and August 20. The two-hour pontoon guided tour hosted by Ogle will explore a wide range of topics, including plankton sampling, local geology, loon behavior, aquatic plant identification, and the impact of invasive species. Each trip is limited to eight passengers and two passengers per household.
Seifried sees a future for ESLA with more involvement with the townships and Village of Elk Rapids. “Whether you are tourist or live here, these lakes and waters are wonderful resources,” he said. For those interested in supporting the ESLA programs, membership information is available online at www.Elk-Skekemog.org.
The June 27 anniversary celebration is limited to 140 ESLA members with a $25 per person contribution. Nationally recognized speakers on the Great Lakes and inland waterways will join the celebration.
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