The Lakes
Learn about the lakes
Plain-language explanations of the words we use — Secchi depth, phosphorus, algal bloom — and short basics pages on how we monitor the lakes and what the results mean.
Glossary — start here
The lake terms we use, in plain English. Start here if a report or newsletter left you wondering what "phosphorus" even is.
Basics of the lake
How we measure the lake
How a white disk, a thermometer, and a few volunteers turn into the numbers on our Lake Status page.
Algal blooms
How to tell a harmless green week from something worth reporting — and what to do if you see scum.
Zebra mussels
The tiny striped invaders nobody wants — and the one habit that stops them: clean, drain, dry.
What the numbers mean
How to read clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a like a member, not a lab.
Why monitoring matters
How a few hours of volunteer sampling a month protects the lake — and the view you paid for.
Something to flag? You can report a weed or algae sighting in under a minute — it genuinely helps us act early.