Did you know Glen Lake was home to three boat wash firsts in Michigan—the first boat wash, the first boat wash ordinance, and the first boat wash with hot water to kill viruses? For three decades, the Glen Lake Association has led the charge to protect our watershed from aquatic invasive species, starting with the opening of the GLA Boat Wash in 1995.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of that milestone. From portable power washers to today’s fully equipped hot-water decontamination station, the Boat Wash remains a cornerstone of our prevention strategy. It’s the only one of its kind in the Glen Lake/Crystal River Watershed, and its legacy of innovation and community stewardship continues today. The free Boat Wash is located at the boat launch site at 7075 W. Day Forest Rd., just west of M22.
The Glen Lake Association led a project, in cooperation with Empire and Glen Arbor townships, to be the first townships in Michigan to establish a boat wash ordinance in 2007, recognizing the threat of aquatic invasive species. Past GLA President Sarah Litch was a driving force behind this movement. Before it became a state law in 2019 to remove aquatic plants and drain water from watercraft before transporting them over land to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, some townships and local municipalities around the state followed the lead of the GLA and its surrounding townships and enacted their own ordinances.
Join us for a look at the GLA Boat Wash history and how the GLA has led multiple initiatives to preserve and protect the Glen Lake/Crystal River Watershed.
1950
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) acquired the Little Glen Boat Launch site at 7075 W. Day Forest Road, consisting of 250 feet of frontage, on July 12, 1950 for $4,500.
1973
The boat launch site was developed by the Michigan DNR to include a boat ramp, parking, toilet and roadways.
1993
The channel was dredged through the ice at a cost of $8,614, of which $5,000 was donated by the GLA.
1994
After reading about invasive threats in Lake Michigan and attending some state meetings on invasive species, GLA member Scott Gravelie approached Dick Budinger, GLA President at the time, requesting consideration of operating a boat wash program to prevent invasive threats. The board determined it would be beneficial, approached the Michigan DNR to request use of their boat launch site for the program, and received permission.
1995
The Boat Wash opened for its first year of operation. The GLA installed a well and electricity and purchased a portable power washer, which was stored at GLA members Debbie & Jerry Morawski’s garage, a few doors down from the launch, and wheeled back and forth each day as staff members started and ended their shifts.
The well, pump and electrical box in 1995, before the GLA had a shed at the Boat Wash.
Paul Hall working at the Boat Wash in high school (the GLA now requires staff to wear shoes!). This was Paul’s first job starting at age 14, and he worked there for eight summers. He was one of the GLA’s early employees who was not only a backbone of the Boat Wash staff, but also witnessed its growth – when he first started, he wheeled a power washer to the boat wash from GLA members Debbie & Jerry Morawski’s garage down the street, and wheeled it back at the end of the day before the GLA installed a shed to store equipment. Paul still lives and works in our community as a Manager at On the Narrows Marina and Glen Craft Marina & Resort.
I lived down the road from the Boat Wash and it was a perfect first job that I could walk or bike to. I have always loved water, boats, and fishing, and when the invasive species threats emerged, I enjoyed the opportunity to talk to people who came through the boat wash to help educate them. We all need to do our part to help protect this beautiful resource.
2004
The existing boat launch ramp was updated by the Michigan DNR with larger concrete planks.
2006
Mike and Sarah Litch took on the task of updating and improving the Boat Wash during Sarah’s tenure as President of GLA. Mike Litch applied for and received a permit to build the current shed, then applied for and received a grant from Inland Seas to purchase the shed. The DNR arrived at the site expecting to build the shed, but were met by a group of fine fellows from the GLA with tools. They had been looking forward to this project and planning it all winter. The DNR assisted them with leveling the floor and a few other minor details, but the volunteers did most of the work. Mike and Sarah Litch donated a computer, Mike wrote the access code for data collection, and the GLA went digital with information gathering. You can read more about the data we track in our annual report.
Ham Hobson (working inside the shed) was the GLA liaison to the Michigan DNR for 29 years and retired from this role at the end of 2024. John Davey is outside the shed.
Hampton (“Ham”) Hobson, in suspenders, building the Boat Wash shed along with other volunteers.
2007
The Glen Arbor Township and Empire Township Boards of Trustees adopted “Aquatic Nuisances Ordinances,” which addressed the prevention of aquatic invasive species. These two townships were the first in Michigan to do so. The ordinances were prompted by tireless efforts of the GLA board, including President Sarah Litch, and other volunteers. Other townships around Michigan followed this lead and eventually, in 2019, the state of Michigan passed a statewide ordinance.
2008
The channel leading to and from the boat launch ramp was dredged hydraulically a second time.
2011
The threat of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (fish disease) was confirmed in Lake Michigan. Hot water was, and still is, known to kill the virus, so the GLA upgraded the Boat Wash to a hot water system with the guidance of Boat Wash Liaison Denny Becker. Sarah Litch received a grant for new equipment and signs at watershed road ends, and the electrical system was updated at the same time.
2012
Under the guidance of Boat Wash Liaison Denny Becker, the GLA installed a stop sign to “wash your watercraft” and a self-wash station along with a timer and instructions on how to wash boats when no staff was present. That system is still in use today! A dry hydrant for fire protection was also updated.
2019
A new Michigan law aimed at preventing the introduction of invasive aquatic plants and animals into state waters went into effect on March 21, 2019. The law, an amendment to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, aims to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species by prohibiting the transport or launch of watercraft and trailers with aquatic plants attached, the transport of watercraft without draining all water, and the release of unused bait. The law requires boaters, after removing their boat from the water and before transporting it, to remove all drain plugs and drain all water from compartments, and ensure the watercraft and trailer are free of aquatic organisms. Violations can result in fines.
In another leadership move, the GLA was the first in the state to develop a creel report and offer the data to the Michigan DNR. In the spring of 2019, GLA Watershed Biologist Rob Karner contacted the DNR Fisheries Management Biologist to see if there would be value to the DNR if the GLA were to conduct a creel survey at the boat launch. He suggested that since we already have a captive audience at the Boat Wash, we could capture this additional information relatively easily. The DNR readily agreed and felt the data would better help them understand exactly how much fishing was occurring and would help justify their fish stocking expenses. Our Boat Wash staff charts the date, time, how many people are fishing and what fish they are looking for. When those anglers return, we chart what they caught, what they kept and what they released. The function of the data is to determine if the lake has healthy fish and an appropriate quantity of fish, and the DNR can now fine tune their stocking program based on our data. Although there are other lakes in Michigan that conduct periodic creel reports in the form of angler journals, the GLA is the first to do a thorough point of contact creel report and it is unique that we are using our Boat Wash staff to collect the data.
2021
The original Boat Wash well failed. Rick Fink helped Bruce Lichliter, Sallyanne Morris and Jim Foltz install pipes running from the lake to our tank and a temporary pump to get the water up to the washing station. This system of utilizing our lake water got the GLA through the last few weeks of the 2021 season.
2022
After a competitive bid process, the GLA approved a contractor to dig a new well. The new well depth was 40 feet vs. the original 10 feet and included a 15’ stainless filtering screen which eliminated the need to change the filter monthly. The new well is still in use and is extremely efficient and simple to maintain.
2023
We would like to give a special shout-out to GLA member Bruce Lichliter, who maintained all of our Boat Wash equipment, opened the launch in the spring and shut down the launch in the fall for 17 years. He retired at the end of 2023. In addition, Bruce voluntarily came to the Boat Wash and checked on the equipment and staff daily. He always brought a treat for whoever was working – cookies, apples, candy…always something.
2024
In the spring, GLA Office Manager Sallyanne Morris worked with the DNR to get a 10-year land-use agreement initiated, with two five-year extensions if there are no major changes on either side. The GLA can now operate the Boat Wash for 20 years before renewing the lease. As a sign of growth, 4,036 boats came through the Boat Wash in 2024, compared to 1,342 in 2005, the first year we collected data.
2025
Thirty years later, the Boat Wash is still open and staffed by six seasonal employees to protect and preserve the Watershed from Memorial Day through the end of September from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., seven days a week, and for the same hours in October, Friday to Sunday only. A self-service power wash station is available after hours.
Thank you for helping us to Keep it Blue!
Years in Operation
Sallyanne Morris is coming up on her 20th year with the GLA and has played a major role in the success of our Boat Wash.
My favorite thing about working at the Boat Wash is meeting all the great people that come through the launch. Some have become great friends. I enjoy sharing with them ways to help protect the largest surface freshwater system on the planet and its surrounding watersheds. I am a retired horticulturist and have long been involved with terrestrial invasives. When I moved permanently up to this area (on a Friday) I saw an ad in the Leelanau Enterprise on Saturday for a position at the Boat Wash. I was excited and shared with my husband, Jim, that it seemed like the perfect fit for me for a retirement job. Jim looked at his watch and exclaimed ‘What? You haven’t even been retired 24 hours yet!’ It really has been a perfect job for me.