Benzie Conservation District

Benzie Conservation District Serving Benzie County for 80 years! Our mission is to preserve and enhance the natural resources of Benzie County.

Thank you everyone who helped clean the Upper Platte River last weekend! Last Friday, 13 volunteers joined us to remove ...
06/17/2026

Thank you everyone who helped clean the Upper Platte River last weekend! Last Friday, 13 volunteers joined us to remove plastic bottles, flip flops, and other litter. If you’re missing a full can of spray cheese, we found it for you!

Jokes aside, if you’re looking for more chances to get out on the water, visit Benziecd.org/events for free paddle tours, aquatic plant scouts, volunteer opportunities and more.

Want to know the secret to protecting our lakes and rivers?Whether you live in Northern Michigan year-round, spend summe...
06/15/2026

Want to know the secret to protecting our lakes and rivers?

Whether you live in Northern Michigan year-round, spend summers here, or are a short-term visitor, our love for the water unites us! This shared value is one of the most powerful tools we can leverage to protect water quality.

When one person decides to go the extra mile for our lakes and streams, others are sure to notice and follow suit.

Three ways you can lead the way:

💧 Leave an unmowed green belt on your shoreline

💧 Clean, drain, and dry your boat and gear after hitting the water

💧 Tell your friends about helpful resources like your local lake association or conservation district (hi!)

Read our column in the Benzie County Record Patriot for more info about how we can all set good examples for the environment:

https://www.recordpatriot.com/columns/article/protect-northwest-michigan-waters-22295850.php

Explore the Platte River Watershed with us in our summer paddle series! To start, we’ll explore the headwaters of the Pl...
06/13/2026

Explore the Platte River Watershed with us in our summer paddle series! To start, we’ll explore the headwaters of the Platte River and its unique features. Join us June 25 at 9:30 for a free, easy paddle on Lake Dubonnet.

Visit our website for details and registration! This event is limited to 17 attendees.

Happening now! Show your love for Benzie’s landscapes & waterways with BCD merch.From t-shirts and tote bags for days at...
06/10/2026

Happening now! Show your love for Benzie’s landscapes & waterways with BCD merch.

From t-shirts and tote bags for days at the beach, to sweaters and thermal mugs for chilly nights by the bonfire, there’s something for everyone in this limited time sale.

Visit or website or the link below to place your order. Act now, these items are only available until July 1!

https://stores.inksoft.com/benzie_conservation_district_ap/shop/home

Ever wondered what that “seaweed” is in our inland lakes?Michigan’s lakes actually have a HUGE diversity of plant life! ...
06/10/2026

Ever wondered what that “seaweed” is in our inland lakes?

Michigan’s lakes actually have a HUGE diversity of plant life! Native plants like northern watermilfoil and clasping leaf pondweed provide essential habitat for fish spawning, and their roots even help hold the sandy lake bottom together (keeping our water clear!).

Unfortunately, we also have to keep an eye out for invasive plants like Eurasian watermilfoil and curly leaf pondweed, which overrun lakes and push out the essential native plants.

If you’re ever unsure if an aquatic plant is invasive, email a pic to our Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator at [email protected].

Welcome, Sarah! We’re thrilled to have Sarah Meyers join the BCD team as our summer intern. Sarah has a long connection ...
06/09/2026

Welcome, Sarah! We’re thrilled to have Sarah Meyers join the BCD team as our summer intern.

Sarah has a long connection to Northern Michigan, having spent all her summers here. In sixth grade, she wanted to be a marine biologist, but later learned about limnology (the study of inland aquatic ecosystems): something much closer to home because of all the time she spent on Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan.

Currently, Sarah is studying Fisheries at Lake Superior State University so she can give back to what she loves.

If you see Sarah monitoring water quality with us, be sure to say hi!

Photo: Sarah charter fishing on Lake Michigan.

For the first time ever, we’re launching a limited-time, online merch sale! Show your love for local landscapes and wate...
06/05/2026

For the first time ever, we’re launching a limited-time, online merch sale! Show your love for local landscapes and waterways with BCD gear.

How it works:

Next week, we’ll share a direct link to the online store, where you can shop a wide selection of indoor and outdoor clothes, like sweatshirts for chilly nights by the bonfire and UPF t-shirts for your next trip to the lake.

Products will be shipped directly to you!

Dates: Three weeks only! The sale runs June 10 - July 1.

Follow along for the official link 🛍️

Happy ! Last week, we had an incredible speaker lineup at our Northwest Michigan Watersheds Coalition spring meeting. T...
06/03/2026

Happy ! Last week, we had an incredible speaker lineup at our Northwest Michigan Watersheds Coalition spring meeting.

The conversation covered arts-based environmental education, natural shoreline design, and septic system health—things that all flow back to water quality.

Actions in everyday life have a direct impact on the health of our waters. At NMWC meetings like this one, lake associations, government leaders, and other stakeholders share creative ideas and the latest research so we can work together to improve our region’s waters.

Special thanks to our guest speakers, including:

Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department

Platte Lake Improvement Association

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Ben Eiler, Master’s Student at the Department of Fisheries & Wildlife at Michigan State University

And Ann Lake Property Owners Association.

Let’s keep the conversation going. Reach out to our Watersheds Coordinator, Eric Moore, to learn more about how YOU can get involved in keeping Northwest Michigan’s waters clean and beautiful. 💙

Calling all volunteers! Enjoy a morning on the Upper Platte while helping keep the river beautiful and trash-free.Join u...
06/02/2026

Calling all volunteers! Enjoy a morning on the Upper Platte while helping keep the river beautiful and trash-free.

Join us for a paddle from Veterans Memorial Park to Platte River Park, where we’ll remove debris like water bottles, flip flops, and fishing line. Meet us at Veterans Memorial Park in Honor at 9:30 am on June 12. We’ll bring the snacks and cleanup supplies!

Will we see you there? Let us know by signing up online at benziecd.org/events.

We’re so grateful to have this project in Benzie County! 🌲
06/01/2026

We’re so grateful to have this project in Benzie County! 🌲

Address

280 S Benzie Boulevard
Beulah, MI
49617

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(231) 882-4391

Website

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