News
Northern Michigan waterways benefit from projects led by GVSU students and grads
December 05, 2023
Grand Valley State University graduates and students are making significant strides in improving the health of Lake Leelanau and conducting pivotal tests on the Boardman River to explore the possibility of reintroducing a fish species.
There are more possibilities for students to work on water projects in northern Michigan, according to Mark Luttenton, interim director of GVSU’s Annis Water Research Institute, located in Muskegon.
“We have good connections between Grand Valley and the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute at Northwestern Michigan College,” Luttenton said. “This creates great potential and extraordinary opportunities for students to witness the whole ecology of the Great Lakes system.”
One noteworthy endeavor involves Grand Valley graduate student Anna Briem, who has been involved in data collection at Lake Leelanau. These efforts aim to enhance our understanding of the effectiveness of a new method to control Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM), an invasive plant species.
Luttenton said this project, sponsored by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Lake Leelanau Lake Association, involved placing a sheet of burlap on the lake’s bottom to see if it prevents EWM.
“They used burlap instead of the plastic sheet because burlap naturally degrades over time,” he said. “They will test to see if it eliminates EWM and fosters a natural plant community.”
At the Boardman River, another project is underway, led by Dan Mays, a Grand Valley graduate and lead biologist for the tribe. Mays is investigating the suitability of water conditions for the possible reintroduction of the Artic Grayling. “Dan is eager to work with AWRI on this and other special projects. It’s a great association to have that connection,” Luttenton said. Nick Vander Stelt worked on the study as a GVSU student and now also works for the tribe.
Additionally, AWRI is exploring the idea of bringing one its research vessels north to Traverse City in the summer, for K-12 educational trips and broadening the scope of their educational outreach.
For more information about these projects and the collaborative efforts of Grand Valley State University in northern Michigan, please visit gvsu.edu/traverse.
By Michele Coffill