Monthly meetings have been scheduled on the 2nd Monday of the month, beginning at 3:30 PM at the Scottville Branch of the Mason County Library, located at 204 E State Street in Scottville. Public is welcome to attend.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88689582272?pwd=Ap3ja2XoZUca1ArILljAQOXb4kVmB8.1

Come kick off your summer with us on the Lincoln River for a macroinvertebrate sampling day! It's a great opportunity to meet fellow volunteers, get your feet wet, and contribute to the health of our local waterways.

Meet in the West Shore Community College - CTE Parking Lot

Volunteer roles include waders (entering the stream to collect rocks, leaves, and woody debris) and pickers (sorting through materials on shore to collect macroinvertebrates). All equipment is provided, including waders and boots if needed, just let us know ahead of time. Come prepared for all types of weather, wear long sleeves, long pants, a rain jacket, and closed-toed shoes. Bring water and a lunch. No experience needed, hope to see you out there!

To RSVP or for more info, contact Julia Place at julia.place@macd.org or (231) 757-3707 ext. 5.

This project has been funded wholly or in part through Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Nonpoint Source Program by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Looking for a reason to get outside this spring? Come spend the day with us sampling macroinvertebrates on the Big Sable River! It's a great opportunity to meet fellow volunteers, wade in a river, and do some hands-on work to help monitor the health of our local waterways.

Sampling will take place at two sites. Volunteer roles include waders (entering the stream to collect rocks, leaves, and woody debris) and pickers (sorting through materials on shore to collect macroinvertebrates). All equipment is provided, including waders and boots if needed, just let us know ahead of time. Come prepared for all types of weather, wear long sleeves, long pants, a rain jacket, and closed-toed shoes. Bring water and a lunch. No experience needed, hope to see you out there!

To RSVP or for more info, contact Julia Place at julia.place@macd.org or (231) 757-3707 ext. 5.

West Shore Bank's Scottville Branch is hosting their annual Community Car Wash, and this year all donations will benefit the Mason-Lake Conservation District! Bring your car by for a wash while supporting conservation work in Mason and Lake Counties. Your donation will help protect and preserve our local rivers, forests, and shorelines. We're grateful to West Shore Bank for choosing us as this year's beneficiary and for their commitment to our community!

Spring is here and we're heading to the river, come join us for a macroinvertebrate sampling day on the Little Manistee! It's a great opportunity to get outside, get your feet wet, and help us keep tabs on the health of our local waterways.

Sampling will take place at three sites. Volunteer roles include waders (entering the stream to collect rocks, leaves, and woody debris) and pickers (sorting through materials on shore to collect macroinvertebrates). All equipment is provided, including waders and boots if needed, just let us know ahead of time. Come prepared for all types of weather, wear long sleeves, long pants, a rain jacket, and closed-toed shoes. Bring water and a lunch. No experience needed, hope to see you out there!

To RSVP or for more info, contact Julia Place at julia.place@macd.org or (231) 757-3707 ext. 5.

This is the second day of the strategic planning retreat for board members and staff. The retreat will continue work on long-term planning, organizational goals, and foundational statements for the district.

This month's regular board meeting has been replaced with a strategic planning retreat session for board members and staff. The retreat will take place over two days and will focus on long-term planning, organizational goals, and foundational work on the district's mission and vision.

If you placed a pre-order for tree seedlings and selected Baldwin as your pick-up location, your order will be ready for you!

📅 Pick-Up Details:
✔ Check in with your name, and we’ll have your pre-packed order ready.
✔ Staff and volunteers will be available to assist.

⚠ Need to change your pick-up location? Call our office by Thursday, April 23rd, at 4:30 PM to request a change. If you’re unsure of your selection, contact us to confirm.

Please note: Extra stock will not be available for purchase at this location. Pre-orders only.

If you placed a pre-order for tree seedlings, it’s time to pick them up! Orders will be available at the Community Center Barn at the Mason County Fairgrounds. Please enter from the U.S. 10 entrance, take the first right, and park along the south side of the barn.

📅 Pick-Up Details:
✔ Check in at our pick-up table with your name, and we’ll grab your pre-packed order.
✔ Staff and volunteers will be available to assist.
✔ Didn’t pre-order? A limited selection of extra trees, shrubs, and other products will be available for purchase, including tree tubes, stakes, birdhouses, and nature activity books for kids!

⚠ Need to change your pick-up location? Call our office by Thursday, April 23rd, at 4:30 PM to request a change. If you’re unsure of your selected location, give us a call to double-check.

Stop by and see what’s available—while supplies last!

If you placed a pre-order for tree seedlings, it’s time to pick them up! Orders will be available at the Community Center Barn at the Mason County Fairgrounds. Please enter from the U.S. 10 entrance, take the first right, and park along the south side of the barn.

📅 Pick-Up Details:
✔ Check in at our pick-up table with your name, and we’ll grab your pre-packed order.
✔ Staff and volunteers will be available to assist.
✔ Didn’t pre-order? A limited selection of extra trees, shrubs, and other products will be available for purchase, including tree tubes, stakes, birdhouses, and nature activity books for kids!

⚠ Need to change your pick-up location? Call our office by Thursday, April 23rd, at 4:30 PM to request a change. If you’re unsure of your selected location, give us a call to double-check.

Stop by and see what’s available—while supplies last!

The Mason-Lake Conservation District is inviting the community to join us for a stream monitoring workshop at the Ludington Library. This workshop will introduce participants to the fundamentals of stream health and provide training for macroinvertebrate sampling conducted in the spring and fall on the Little Manistee, Big Sable, and Lincoln rivers. Topics include the importance of macroinvertebrate sampling, species identification, and how volunteers can get involved. This event is held in collaboration with the Little Manistee Watershed Conservation Council. No prior experience needed. To RSVP or for more information, contact Julia Place at julia.place@macd.org or (231) 757-3707 ext. 5.

Interested in joining us for a sampling day? More information on upcoming dates can be found here:

• Little Manistee River – May 16

• Big Sable River – May 21

• Lincoln River – May 30

Monthly meetings have been scheduled on the 2nd Monday of the month, beginning at 3:30 PM at the Scottville Branch of the Mason County Library, located at 204 E State Street in Scottville. Public is welcome to attend.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88689582272?pwd=Ap3ja2XoZUca1ArILljAQOXb4kVmB8.1

*Meeting has been rescheduled to Tuesday, March 17th. It will still be at 3:30 pm at the Scottville Library

Monthly meetings have been scheduled on the 2nd Monday of the month, beginning at 3:30 PM at the Scottville Branch of the Mason County Library, located at 204 E State Street in Scottville. Public is welcome to attend.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88689582272?pwd=Ap3ja2XoZUca1ArILljAQOXb4kVmB8.1

This 2-hour presentation is for landowners and professionals interested in planting trees and shrubs. Topics include choosing the right species for site conditions, fruit tree selection, planting and pruning techniques, seedling care, deer protection, and conservation-focused planting strategies. The session will help attendees make informed choices for upcoming conservation district tree sales.

This event is free to attend. Snacks will be provided. Donations are appreciated but not required.

Join us in celebrating 85 years of local conservation!

The Annual Dinner celebrates conservation successes from the past year. An open house will be held from 5–6 pm, featuring staff table displays, conservation information, Board of Director elections, and raffles.

Dinner begins at 6 pm and will be catered by Pere Marquette Bistro and Catering. After dinner, a brief presentation will highlight recent projects and those planned for 2026. Conservation Awards will be presented, and election and raffle winners will be announced. There is no cost to attend or vote, though donations are appreciated.

RSVP: by February 13th at www.mason-lakeconservation.org/annual-dinner-registration26 or by calling 231-757-3707 ext. 5

Monthly meetings have been scheduled on the 2nd Monday of the month, beginning at 3:30 PM at the Scottville Branch of the Mason County Library, located at 204 E State Street in Scottville. Public is welcome to attend.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88689582272?pwd=Ap3ja2XoZUca1ArILljAQOXb4kVmB8.1

Join us for a fun evening at Ludington Bay Brewing Co. during a Celebrity Bartender Night supporting local conservation efforts. Community supporters will step behind the bar, with proceeds benefiting conservation programs in Mason and Lake Counties.

The night will include raffles and a relaxed, social atmosphere, making it a great opportunity to enjoy good company while supporting a meaningful cause. Staff and board members will be in attendance to show their support throughout the evening.

Join us for a winter grower meeting focused on practical, real-world conservation topics for farms and forested land. This event will cover regenerative agriculture, soil health, and funding opportunities that support sustainable practices.

Presentations will include biochar and how it can be used to improve soil and reduce fertilizer inputs, the benefits and options for using cover crops, and available cost-share programs for conservation projects. The meeting will also touch on invasive species management in northern Michigan forests and highlight conservation equipment and MAEAP-related resources available to producers.

To register, visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScu-H4L96o_yu3FXnVX4a2vCSb3h17Dj8uA8b9f8u6GI2B4MQ/viewform

Hybrid event, held in person at Ludington Library or online via Zoom

Join a panel of conservation professionals from the Cadillac Area Land Conservancy, Land Conservancy of West Michigan, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to learn about options for protecting and conserving land into the future. The discussion will cover tools such as land donations, conservation easements, and other preservation approaches.

Presentations and panel discussion will address a wide range of land types, including forested areas, agricultural land, wetlands, riparian areas, and natural open spaces. A future event is planned to focus more specifically on Michigan Department of Agriculture programs related to agricultural easements and PA-116 open land preservation.

This hybrid seminar includes a mix of presentations and panel questions. Refreshments will be provided for those attending in person. Participants may attend in person or virtually.

To join in person, please register [here]

Monthly meetings have been scheduled on the 2nd Monday of the month, beginning at 3:30 PM at the Scottville Branch of the Mason County Library, located at 204 E State Street in Scottville. Public is welcome to attend.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88689582272?pwd=Ap3ja2XoZUca1ArILljAQOXb4kVmB8.1

Monthly meetings have been scheduled on the 2nd Monday of the month, beginning at 3:30 PM at the Scottville Branch of the Mason County Library, located at 204 E State Street in Scottville. Public is welcome to attend.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88689582272?pwd=Ap3ja2XoZUca1ArILljAQOXb4kVmB8.1

Monthly meetings have been scheduled on the 2nd Monday of the month, beginning at 3:30 PM at the Scottville Branch of the Mason County Library, located at 204 E State Street in Scottville. Public is welcome to attend.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88689582272?pwd=Ap3ja2XoZUca1ArILljAQOXb4kVmB8.1

We'd love for you to join us for macroinvertebrate sampling in the coming weeks. This is a fun chance to meet other amazing volunteers, wade in a river, collecting insects that will help us monitor the health of the river. We have two rivers that we are planning to tackle and we need volunteer helpers! Details below are for the Big Sable River.

Volunteers should plan to dress for the weather, wear long sleeves, long pants, rain jacket and closed-toed shoes (poison ivy occurs in some areas). We can lend out waders or knee boots if you let us know ahead of time. Volunteers can wade in the stream to collect macroinvertebrates with nets, pull logs and rocks, or hang out streamside and pull insects from these items and sort for later identification. No experience needed and we'll provide all equipment. Hope to see you out there!

Meet at 9am on US31, park across the road from Doc's Sable River Inn. Sampling this site and maybe carpooling to a 2nd site at Stephens Rd. Sampling generally goes 10-2. Bring a lunch!

Contact Julia Place at - julia.place@macd.org or 906-236-0488.

*Date has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 14th due to Columbus Day

Monthly meetings have been scheduled on the 2nd Monday of the month, beginning at 4:00 PM at the Scottville Branch of the Mason County Library, located at 204 E State Street in Scottville. Public is welcome to attend.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87569296410?pwd=gAhC4nt6K1TrCOmfAXvlkecSqgfJ3Y.1#success

Meeting ID: 889 2133 2369
Passcode: 390670

We'd love for you to join us for macroinvertebrate sampling in the coming weeks. This is a fun chance to meet other amazing volunteers, wade in a river, collecting insects that will help us monitor the health of the river. We have two rivers that we are planning to tackle and we need volunteer helpers! Details below are for the Little Manistee River.

Volunteers should plan to dress for the weather, wear long sleeves, long pants, rain jacket and closed-toed shoes (poison ivy occurs in some areas). We can lend out waders or knee boots if you let us know ahead of time. Volunteers can wade in the stream to collect macroinvertebrates with nets, pull logs and rocks, or hang out streamside and pull insects from these items and sort for later identification. No experience needed and we'll provide all equipment. Hope to see you out there!

Meet at 10am at Club 37 on M37 north of Baldwin. Sampling generally goes 10-2. Bring a lunch!
We divide into teams and carpool to sites, visiting 3 sites. It usually takes until 2 or 3pm, but people can just stay for one site if they wish.

Contact Julia Place at - julia.place@macd.org or 906-236-0488.

Arborists, foresters, and other tree-care professionals are invited to join this free workshop on treating Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), hosted by the Mason-Lake Conservation District and Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network. Presenters from the Conservation District and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will cover HWA biology, effective treatment options, and provide a hands-on field demonstration. Continuing education credits are available for Certified Pesticide Applicators in several categories, and a $5–$10 donation is suggested.

Please register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwngt43_KCJNunL6ORdegO2smgZo4Rddmx-ZVv9wxiYEaRXA/viewform

For more information see the attached flyer

Take part in our Ag Pesticide Container Recycling event and help reduce plastic waste in agriculture. This program accepts clean, empty containers made of HDPE plastic (#2 or #7) that have been triple-rinsed, dried, and had labels, booklets, and caps removed. Containers must be ag-based products and 55 gallons or smaller. For more information, see the attached flyer below.

Stop by to pick up your Native Plant Sale order. Thank you for supporting native plants in our community! A limited selection of extra plants will also be available for purchase during pickup.

Farm Field Day is an annual event that brings together farmers, landowners, and community members to explore conservation practices and farming approaches that support healthy land and productive operations. During this field day, you will take part in a tour of local farms with demonstrations and discussions led by conservation specialists and partners. The evening will wrap up with dinner and time to connect with others in the community.

There is no cost to attend Farm Field Day, and donations toward dinner are appreciated. Space is limited, so please register by September 8th, 2025, at https://forms.office.com/r/a6TuSmX6WV or by calling the Mason-Lake Conservation District office at (231) 757-3707 ext. 5.