2026 Lake Monitoring Season Begins on the Chain of Lakes

The 2026 lake monitoring season is officially underway across the Marble–Coldwater Chain of Lakes, marking the start of tracking water quality and lake health.

Volunteer Jack Sanderson of Coldwater Lake recently kicked off the effort by paddling nearly eight miles round trip to collect water samples from the deep basin of Coldwater Lake. Heading out early last week, Jack was able to beat the high winds that moved in later in the week. The samples will be analyzed for phosphorus levels, a key nutrient that can influence algae growth and overall lake health.

These early spring samples are collected as part of the Michigan Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP). Spring sampling is especially important because it measures phosphorus concentrations before summer algae growth begins, helping scientists and lake managers understand nutrient levels and track long-term trends.

This same testing effort is underway on several other lakes in the chain, including First, Marble, Archer, Bartholomew, Mud, and Long Lakes.  Sampling on those lakes is being coordinated by volunteer Greg Cavey, who is leading the monitoring effort with volunteers on each lake.

While volunteers on those lakes were prepared to collect samples over the weekend, strong winds and rough water conditions delayed their monitoring efforts.

Volunteer lake monitoring provides critical data that supports ongoing water quality protection efforts and helps guide future watershed management planning for the entire chain of lakes.

A great big THANK YOU to these volunteers!