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GLA Launches Community-Based Monitoring Program to Combat EWM

by | Jul 2, 2026 | Education, Get Involved, Guardian Tips, News

In 2024, an EWM colony developed in Little Glen Lake. Photo taken before burlap barrier treatment began.
The adage “A little goes a long way” holds true in the fight against Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM). With the support of our community, the Glen Lake Association (GLA) intends to take full advantage! EWM is an aggressive invasive plant that crowds out native aquatic plants, kills fish, and limits recreation activities. But with surveillance and management, we can eradicate it and keep the Glen Lake/Crystal River Watershed as clear as ever. The best part: you can help us stop an EWM infestation, and it only takes a few minutes. Join our Community-Based Monitoring Program!

How the Program Works

Residents can participate in community-based monitoring for EWM by following three simple steps:

  1. Let us know you’re in! Complete our Community-Based Monitoring Program sign-up form so we know we can count on you. Visit: glenlakeassociation.org/EWM-CBMP
  2. Take a stroll. From June-October, spend just a few minutes walking your shoreline twice a week. Look for EWM fragments floating in the shallows or washed up on shore.
  3. Send an email. If you see a suspicious plant, take a photo and send it to rob@glenlakeassociation.org. If possible, note the wind direction and save a sample of the wet plant in a resealable plastic storage bag.

How to Identify EWM

Comparison of native and invasive milfoil from the e-book “Aquatic Invasive Plants: A Field Guide for Michigan Lakes, Stream, and Ponds” by MSU Extension.

EWM appears similar to native watermilfoil, but there are key differences that make identification easier:

  1. Count ’em up. Native watermilfoil will have only 4-11 pairs of leaflets per leaf. EWM has more—sometimes up to 20 pairs!
  2. Color check. Native watermilfoil stems are green or whiteish-green, but EWM stems will look whiteish-pink or even red.
  3. Strength test. Native watermilfoil has structural integrity. EWM’s leaves will fall limp when it’s out of the water.

What Happens Next

If the GLA’s watershed biologists confirm that you have found EWM, we’ll notify important stakeholders. This includes the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, who have collaborated with us in recent years to remove EWM infestations using the sustainable burlap method. We’ll work together with drones, underwater remote operated vehicles, and SCUBA surveys to locate and assess the infestation before beginning mitigation. From there, we’ll do what we always do: keep our community informed. Our mission is to preserve water quality and overall health of the watershed. With riparians acting as our eyes and ears, we can continue our monitoring and management efforts while reporting back on the impact we have—together.