By Suha Augenstein, 2025 Watershed Science and Outreach Intern
Photo credit: Purple Loosestrife. Flickr User Liz West via Creative Commons 2.0
As the Glen Lake Association’s Watershed Science and Outreach Intern, I joined a hands-on conservation project at Brooks Lake, a smaller, but connected waterbody within the Glen Lake/Crystal River Watershed. We were on the lookout for shoreline invasives and curly-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus).
Curly-leaf pondweed is an invasive aquatic plant that grows under the thin winter ice and quickly forms dense mats in the spring. These mats can crowd out native vegetation, reduce habitat for fish, hinder recreation, and release nutrients when they die back, leading to algae blooms. To remove curl-leaf pondweed growth, we waded in the shallows and worked from a kayak. We identified the plant by its crinkled, lettuce-like leaves, and pulled it out carefully from the base to remove the root crowns. We collected every fragment and disposed of them away from the water.
Above: Curly-leaf pondweed after being pulled from Brooks Lake
We also kept an eye out for a plant you may have seen and even admired. Have you noticed a tall, showy plant with vibrant, magenta flower spikes? While beautiful to the untrained eye, purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is one of the most aggressive invasive species threatening Michigan’s wetlands. Native to Europe and Asia, it outcompetes and replaces native wetland plants that fish, birds, and pollinators rely on. One mature plant can produce over 2.5 million seeds per year, allowing it to spread rapidly. You’ll often see this plant growing along shorelines, roadside ditches, wetlands, and at the edges of streams. You can help by learning to identify it by its tall spikes of bright purple flowers, square stems, and opposite leaves.
Please avoid pulling this plant yourself as improper removal can cause fragmentation and unintentionally spread the plant. If you see purple loosestrife, report it to Rob Karner, the Glen Lake Association’s watershed biologist.
When dealing with invasives, early detection and rapid response is our best defense to protect the overall health of the watershed. This experience reminded me of how even small-scale, local actions can make a real difference in preserving the water quality, wildlife, and recreational value of our lakes, wetlands, and rivers.
About the GLA’s Internship Program
The GLA Watershed Science and Outreach Internship is an eight-week, hands-on learning experience where interns engage directly in field research, environmental monitoring, community outreach, and communications. This year, Suha Augenstein is the 2025 Watershed Science and Outreach Intern. Our internship program began in 2017 and is made possible by generous annual donations from Jim and Susan Dutmers, Tom and Monica Dutmers, and Bill and Rita Witler, in honor of their mothers, Patricia Johnson Dutmers and Elva Witler. We are so grateful for their support.