Adopt your shoreline
ONE HUNDRED MILES OF SHORELINE are monitored by volunteers examining the plant community for aquatic invasive species
Here’s how it works
The Three Lakes Waterfront Association (TLWA) operates the Adopt-Your-Shoreline (AYS) volunteer program, which monitors one-hundred miles of shoreline for the occurrence of aquatic invasive species. The program’s goal is to enlist one volunteer for every half-mile of shoreline. Additionally, each lake has a designated Lake Captain who oversees the AYS program on that specific lake.
YOUR EYES ON THE WATER
In late spring, midsummer, and early fall, volunteers set out in boats and inspect the aquatic plant community in shallow nearshore waters along their designated area. Shorelines are scanned for signs of Pale-Yellow Iris and Purple Loosestrife. Suspected aquatic invasive species (AIS) are sampled and delivered to the Three Lakes Winery for identification by our resident biologist.
Volunteer hours, motorized boat hours and non-motorized boat hours, are documented. These reports contribute to an annual summary of hours and findings by lake, which serves as valuable data for grant matching and demonstrates public interest in maintaining the quality of our lakes.
Lake Captains
| Big Fork Lake | Kathy Olkowski |
| Big Lake | Steve Laszewski |
| Big Stone Lake | John Higgins |
| Crystal Lake | Jeffery Goelz |
| Crystal Lake | Lionel Kliss |
| Deer Lake | Open |
| Dog Lake | Gene Baltz |
| Fourmile Lake | Mike Gray |
| Fourmile Lake | Lori Gray |
| Island Lake | Doug Scheffen |
| Lake Julia | David Mitzner |
| Laurel Lake | Charles Brady |
| Laurel Lake | Mark Wallesverd |
| Little Fork Lake | Mary O’Hara |
| Long Lake | Gary White |
| Maple Lake | Ron Bennett |
| Medicine Lake | Dick Wilder |
| Medicine Lake | Nancy Wilder |
| Moccasin Lake | Ryan Lamon |
| Planting Ground Lake | Noris Ross |
| Range Line Lake | John Folaron |
| Round Lake | Gwen Hutchins |
| Spirit Lake | John Lake |
| Thoroughfare | Paul Matthiae |
| Townline Lake | Gary Mastalish |
| Virgin Lake | Bob Borek |
| Whitefish Lake | David Wheeler |
Lake Captain contact information is available in the TLWA Newsletter
Join the team
Volunteers and interested parties are cordially invited to attend our annual Aquatic Invasive Species Workshop to learn how to identify AIS effectively. At season end, TLWA’s gratitude to our dedicated volunteers is expressed through an annual Volunteer Appreciation Party.
If you’re interested in becoming a lake volunteer, or have questions about the AYS program, contact David Wheeler at [email protected]