Make a difference...

Your time and energy can have a real impact on the health of our lakes and watershed. By volunteering with the Marble–Coldwater Clean Water Partnership, you help protect clean water, support local wildlife, and strengthen our lake community.
Ways to Get Involved:

Water and Field Opportunities
  • Water Quality Monitoring
  • Aquatic Invasive Species Watch
  • Shoreline & Habitat Assessment
  • Wildlife Management Support

Planning and Support Opportunities
  • Data Entry & Research
  • Mapping / GIS
  • Grant Writing & Administration
  • Fundraising & Events
  • Education, Outreach 
​Review the volunteer opportunities below to learn more.

Volunteering is not just about giving back—it’s about connecting with your neighbors, learning more about the lakes you love, and seeing the difference your efforts make.
Join Us Today

Whether you can give a few hours or a full day, your contribution matters. Sign up to volunteer and help keep the Marble–Coldwater watershed healthy, vibrant, and thriving for generations to come.

Volunteer Opportunities

Join Our Grassroots Outreach & Canvassing Team
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The Marble-Coldwater Clean Water Partnership is launching a grassroots outreach effort across the Marble-Coldwater Lake chain — and we need your help.
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Healthy lakes begin with informed and engaged neighbors. As we work toward developing a comprehensive Watershed Management Plan for the Marble & Coldwater Lakes and their connected lakes, First, Middle, Archer,  Bartholomew, Wright, and Long Lake — community participation is essential.
What Is Grassroots Outreach?

Grassroots outreach means neighbors connecting with neighbors. Through friendly, informative conversations, volunteers help share important information about:
  • Water quality protection
  • Community Survey Participation
  • Septic system awareness and maintenance
  • Natural shorelines and native plant benefits
  • Invasive species prevention
  • Volunteer and monitoring opportunities
  • Upcoming meetings and watershed initiatives
This is not sales or political canvassing. It is educational, community-based engagement focused on protecting the lakes we all value.

How to Sign Up for Outreach ​

Once you have attended the Outreach Volunteer Meeting or watched the video, downloaded the Outreach  Volunteer Handbook you are ready to represent the the Marble–Coldwater Clean Water Partnership mission in one of two ways:

  • Canvassing neighbors door-to-door
  • Helping at a community event table
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Be sure to review the Handbook for tips on what to say, encourage neighbors to take the survey, and share simple ways to help keep our lakes healthy.

  • CANVASSING
  • EVENTS
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​Volunteer Outreach Map

See which neighborhood outreach areas are still available for canvassing.
Green areas are open. Red areas have already been assigned.
Use the sign-up buttons to reserve your area or volunteer for events.

​What Volunteers Will Do:
  • Help us connect with the community by visiting homes along the lake and surrounding watershed, and/or by staffing outreach tables at local community events.
  • Distribute educational materials
  • Invite residents to participate in surveys or programs
  • Answer basic questions and direct residents to additional resources
  • Help build a stronger network of lake stewards
We provide talking points, materials, and training so you feel confident and prepared.
Why It Matters
The success of our Watershed Management Plan depends on community involvement. The more residents who understand how everyday actions impact water quality, the stronger and more effective our plan will be.
Your participation helps:
  • Strengthen grant applications
  • Increase participation in monitoring and shoreline programs
  • Build support for long-term lake protection efforts
  • Create a culture of shared stewardship across the lake chain

Who Should Volunteer?
You do not need scientific expertise — just a willingness to engage respectfully and represent the partnership positively.
This opportunity is ideal for:
  • Lake residents
  • Seasonal property owners
  • Students needing service hours
  • Civic-minded community members
  • Anyone passionate about clean water

Flexible Commitment
Volunteer on your own schedule. Whether you can give a few hours a month or participate in a coordinated outreach day, every effort makes a difference.

Ready to Get Involved?
If you are interested in serving as a Grassroots Outreach Volunteer, please click the button below to complete our Volunteer form. Together, we can protect the Marble-Coldwater lake chain for generations to come.
Clean water starts with community — and community starts with you.

Become a Lake Monitoring Volunteer

Healthy lakes don’t happen by accident—they depend on people who care enough to watch over them. The Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) through Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) gives community members a hands-on way to protect and understand their local waters.

Why Volunteer?
By assisting with lake monitoring, you help build a long-term record of water quality that scientists, local organizations, and decision-makers rely on. Your efforts can:
  • Track changes in water clarity and nutrient levels
  • Detect early signs of algae blooms or invasive species
  • Support lake management and protection efforts
  • Contribute to statewide water quality knowledge in Michigan

Even a few hours a month during the monitoring season can make a real difference.

What Do Volunteers Do?
As a Lake Monitoring Volunteer, you can choose from a suite of measurements that asses the condition of your lake.
  • water clarity
  • spring and summer phosphorus
  • chlorophyll (algae)
  • dissolved oxygen and temperature
  • native and invasive aquatic plants

Click here for information on each monitoring parameter including monitoring instructions, recorded trainings, data sheets, and more.

No prior scientific experience is required—just reliability, curiosity, and a love of lakes. Training and guidance are provided.

Who Should Get Involved?
  • Lakeshore residents
  • Boaters and anglers
  • Students and educators
  • Conservation-minded community members
  • Anyone who values clean water and healthy ecosystems

A Small Commitment, A Big Impact
Volunteer monitoring is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect lakes. When more people participate, data becomes stronger and lakes get the attention they deserve.
If you enjoy being on the water and want to give back to your lake community, becoming an assistant volunteer is a meaningful and rewarding step.

Score the Shore Volunteers

Score the Shore is one of the most important pieces of data collection for our Watershed Management Plan. Volunteers survey sections of shoreline and document things like erosion, runoff concerns, habitat conditions, and shoreline practices.

That information gives us real, lake-specific data that consultants can build from instead of starting from scratch. That saves time, reduces professional consulting costs, strengthens future grant applications, and helps us target projects where they’re needed most.
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The surveys will take place between mid-June and mid-August, and the commitment is extremely flexible. If you enjoy being out on the lake anyway, become an observer. If you can give us one hour, we’ll take it. Some volunteers may cover a small section of shoreline, while others may choose to do more. Every section completed adds value to the project.
​When watching the training video, please don’t be alarmed by all of the setup steps shown. All of that work has already been completed for this project. Volunteers also will not need to perform any calculations manually, as all observations and data will be entered through a customized mobile app that automatically handles the calculations for you.

2026 Interactive Monitoring Schedule

Before using the interactive scheduling system to select monitoring parameters, times, and locations, please ensure that you have registered as an assistant lake volunteer on the MiCorps website.

​If you experience any issues with registering or scheduling, please notify Margie Franker at [email protected], who can assist you or complete the sign-up on your behalf.
  • Secchi
  • Secchi Map
  • Plant Watch
  • Plant Map
  • Score The Shore
  • Score The Shore Map
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Sign Up for Secchi
Please click on the "Sign Up" button.  Enter your name and select the dates and lake/locations you would like to monitor.​
Important:
If you do not see your name in the dropdown list, and you have not already Registered with MICorps Cooperative Lake Monitoring Program, please do so now.  This is important so both Marble-Coldwater Clean Water Partnership and MICorps have your contact information on file.  Once your you register with MICorps, your name will appear in the list within 24 hours.  Please return and try again.  
Sign Up for Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch
We are seeking broad coverage across all lakes and ask volunteers to sign up for specific lakes and weeks when they are available to survey lakebeds for exotic invasive aquatic plants.
While this schedule helps us ensure consistent coverage, participation is flexible. If you are on the water outside of your selected time, you are encouraged to observe and report findings at any time. Simply use the Aquatic Plant Monitoring App to record your observations.
You are not limited to submitting data only during your scheduled weeks—any monitoring effort is valuable and appreciated.

Important:
If you do not see your name in the dropdown list, and you have not already Registered with MICorps Cooperative Lake Monitoring Program, please do so now.  This is important so both Marble-Coldwater Clean Water Partnership and MICorps have your contact information on file.  Once your you register with MICorps, your name will appear in the list within 24 hours.  Please return and try again.  
How to Use This Map
This map shows aquatic weed treatment areas from the past three years. These locations are known problem areas where invasive species have been found and managed.
As a volunteer participating in the MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program, you should:
  • Pay close attention to these highlighted areas — they are high-priority spots where invasive plants are more likely to reappear.
  • Also survey other parts of the lake — new infestations can start anywhere, and early detection is critical.
Your goal is to help us both monitor known problem areas and identify any new invasive species as early as possible.
Sign Up for Score the Shore
Please locate the lake group you plan to survey in the form and  indicate the number of hours you expect to contribute during the 8-week project period.
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Score the Shore monitoring will run from June 15 through August 15, with the goal of completing all shoreline assessments within that timeframe.
  
Important:
If you do not see your name in the dropdown list, and you have not already Registered with MICorps Cooperative Lake Monitoring Program, please do so now.  This is important so both Marble-Coldwater Clean Water Partnership and MICorps have your contact information on file.  Once you register with MICorps, your name will appear in the list.  Refresh the spreadsheet and try again.  

Become a Shoreline Ambassador

Photo Credit:  Great Lakes Echo
Help protect your lake—one shoreline at a time
Healthy shorelines are the foundation of clean, clear lakes. They filter runoff, prevent erosion, provide wildlife habitat, and help maintain the natural beauty that makes lake living so special. The Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership offers a simple way for volunteers to make a real difference: become a Shoreline Ambassador.

What is a Shoreline Ambassador?
Shoreline Ambassadors are trained volunteers who help promote natural shoreline practices and the Michigan Shoreland Stewards program within their lake communities. They serve as a friendly resource for neighbors, answer basic questions, and connect residents with tools and information to improve their properties and protect the lake.
Ambassadors do not need to be experts, and you don’t even need to own lakefront property. The program is designed for anyone who cares about the health of their lake and wants to help others make positive changes.

What do Shoreline Ambassadors do?
Typical ambassador activities include:
  • Learning the basics of natural shoreline practices
  • Promoting the Shoreland Stewards program in their community
  • Talking with lake residents about simple, lake-friendly improvements
  • Sharing educational materials at meetings or events
  • Serving as a link between property owners and lake organizations
  • Assist with shoreline consultations, helping property owners explore ways to reduce erosion, manage runoff, and add native plants.

Training is simple and free
The Shoreline Ambassador training is:
  • Free and self-directed
  • Completed online at your own pace
  • Focused on practical, easy-to-share information
Most volunteers complete the training in a short series of modules and then begin sharing what they’ve learned within their lake community.

Why volunteer?
Becoming a Shoreline Ambassador is a meaningful way to:
  • Protect water quality and wildlife habitat
  • Help neighbors improve their shorelines
  • Strengthen your lake community
  • Support long-term watershed health
  • Make a visible, positive impact on your lake

Even small changes along the shoreline—like planting native vegetation or reducing fertilizer use—can have a big impact when many property owners participate.

A small commitment, a big difference
Ambassadors typically commit to at least a year of volunteer service and help promote the program through conversations, newsletters, websites, or community events.

It’s a flexible role that can fit a variety of schedules and interests.

Ready to get started?
If you care about the future of your lake and want to help others do the same, consider becoming a Shoreline Ambassador. With just a little time and training, you can help protect water quality, restore habitat, and build a stronger lake community.

​Steering Committee – We’re Strengthening Our Representation

Our Watershed Management Plan Steering Committee brings together community members and stakeholders who understand that water quality is directly tied to our local economy, recreation, and quality of life.

We are currently looking to expand representation in a few key areas where water quality has a direct and measurable impact, including:
  • Additional voices from tourism and hospitality businesses
  • Agriculture and land management stakeholders
  • Recreation-based businesses (fishing, boating, outdoor services)
  • Lake-related property and real estate interests
  • Local business leaders whose operations depend on healthy lakes and waterways
The Steering Committee helps guide priorities, provide real-world insight, and ensure our watershed efforts reflect both scientific recommendations and community needs.
This is a collaborative advisory group—not a governing board—and members serve as a bridge between community interests, technical planning, and long-term restoration goals.

​Time commitment is minimal. The Steering Committee meets only periodically (typically a few times per year), with occasional brief updates or input requested between meetings as needed.

If your work or livelihood is connected to our lakes and watershed, we welcome your participation in strengthening this effort.