The MGLP is one of twenty partnerships that span the nation under the umbrella of the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP). The MGLP area of focus is glacial lakes and their watersheds (see figure). Nine Midwestern states, numerous federal agencies, tribal governments, and private natural resource entities have been integral partners in the development and operation of the MGLP.
We support conservation projects that work toward meeting the goals and objectives set forth in the MGLP Strategic Plan (midwestglaciallakes.org/resources). Projects should benefit glacial lake fish habitats, which include the chemical, physical, and biological components of the habitats that fishes found in glacial lakes use throughout their lives. We have directed funding toward a wide range of aquatic conservation projects that benefit imperiled, endangered, and recreational fish species and their habitats. We typically fund 3-5 projects annually between $30,000 and $100,000, but larger projects will be considered for funding up to a maximum of the approximately $300,000 expected for distribution. Previous projects have been successfully implemented because the contributions and capabilities of many partners have enabled accomplishment of project goals that none of the partnering entities could complete on their own.
Projects considered for funding must align with the goals and objectives of the MGLP and can range in scale from single-site projects to multiple sites to entire glacial lake watersheds. Projects should address the processes that cause fish habitat impairments as opposed to managing or treating the symptoms of those causes. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- projects that implement or demonstrate new approaches
- watershed-level nutrient control projects;
- water quality and erosion control measures;
- native vegetation or wetland rehabilitation;
- natural riparian or in-lake habitat restoration and protection;
- barrier removal for improved native fish passage;
- fish population or watershed assessments needed for project evaluation;
- habitat assessment, prioritization and planning for future habitat projects;
- evaluating current and future habitat conditions;
- projects addressing climate change adaptation or mitigation through fish habitat;
- projects training biologists and managers on inland lake fish habitat management tools and approaches; and
- community outreach and education on the importance of and how to better conserve glacial lake fish habitat.
In addition to conducting independent outreach and/or education, successful applicants will be expected to work with the MGLP to coordinate media and public outreach to raise the profile of MGLP-funded projects.
If you have a lake conservation project aligned with the goals and objectives of the MGLP and need financial assistance, we encourage you to submit a proposal for project funding. If you have any questions, please contact Joe Nohner at nohnerj@michigan.gov or 517-599-6825. Application documents are below, and you can submit your application by emailing it to MGLP Coordinator Joe Nohner at nohnerj@michigan.gov.
Applying for the grant
The 2024 Lake Conservation Grant proposal deadline has passed. We anticipate announcing the request for 2025 proposals in the late Fall on this website and through our newsletter.
Please click on the links below to download the application documents. If they don’t automatically download, try right-clicking, copying the link address, and then pasting into a new window or email Joe Nohner at nohnerj@michigan.gov.
- 2024 Request for proposals, instructions, and handbook
- 2024 Grant application form
- 2024 Budget and monitoring template
Past projects
2024
- Assessing and restoring shoreline vegetation to improve lake habitat, Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District ($60,000)
- Designing and engineering wetland restoration to protect aquatic habitat and benefit a Cisco population at Long Lake, Springfield Township ($40,000)
- Local partners collaborate to solve fish passage issues in priority systems and train local teams, Hubbard County Soil and Water Conservation District ($35,621)
- Restoration of Turkey Creek and Martin Creek to reduce nutrients and sediment entering Lake Wawasee, Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation ($42,000)
- Stearns County shoreline habitat restoration projects, Stearns County Soil & Water Conservation District ($75,000)
- Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Operations, Michigan Department of Natural Resources ($78,082)
2023
- Fostering Stewardship on Michigan’s Glacial Lakes ($68,910)
- Linking Forests Water & Fisheries in the Midwest Glacial Lake Region: Building a Shared Conservation Funding Vision ($30,000)
- Nutrient and sediment loadings in Clear Lake, Indiana: Water quality improvement and sustainable fish habitat ($59,450)
- Phase 4: Data and Approaches to Support Conservation Efforts of the MGLP ($133,425)
- Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership operations ($60,271)
2022
- Assessing relationships between fisheries and aquatic vegetation to improve lake habitat management (MGLP Region; $60,155)
- Shoreline habitat restoration projects (MN; $75,000)
- Identifying and prioritizing lakes of biological significance (MN; $37,646)
- Lake Goguac stormwater diversion (MI; $75,000)
- Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership operations (MGLP Region; $76,436)
2021
- Crooked Lake Basin Landowner Outreach (MN; $30,000)
- Quantifying multi-scale drivers of hypolimnetic oxygen to inform management of Cisco habitat (MN & MI; $58,505)
- Citizens Protecting and Maintaining iconic Chain of Lakes fisheries (MN; $97,122.10)
- Stearns County Shoreline Habitat Restoration (MN; $75,000)
- Lake Goguac stormwater diversion (MI; $75,000)
- Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Operations (MGLP Region; $47,886)
2020
- Assessing and conserving high-quality Michigan lakes for Cisco and Walleye (MI; $86,357)
- Systems-level perspectives on fish habitat: capacity building workshops with lake associations across the Midwest (MGLP Region; $56,043)
- MGLP Database Management (MGLP Region; $40,000)
2019
- Prairie Lake and Lizzie Lake fish passage (MN; $30,000.00)
- Pickerel Lake shoreline restoration project (SD; $30,000.00 )
- Nutrient and sediment loads entering Lake Wawasee: A scientific approach to assess lake restoration strategies (IN; $15,000.00)
- MGLP Database Management (MGLP Region; $40,501)
2018
- Promoting Bioengineering Options for Erosion Control on Michigan Inland Lakes ($22,500)
- Lake Carlos fish passage project (MN; $30,000)
- Assessment of oxythermal habitat of Cisco in Minnesota lakes for prioritizing habitat protection efforts ($47,750)
- Assessment of critical thermal fish habitat in Midwest Glacial Lakes Fish Habitat Partnership lakes: Phase II (MGLP Region; $30,000)
- Reconnecting Mason Creek to Duck Lake Restoration Project (MI; $50,000)
- MGLP Database Management (MGLP Region; $17,495)
2017
- Crane Lake Fish Passage (MN; $25,000)
- Stearns County Shoreline Habitat Restoration Project (MN; $63,000)
- Eagle Lake Nearshore Habitat Restoration & Septic System Discharge Mitigation with Native Vegetation (MI; $35,300)
- Growing degree day assessment in the MGLP (MGLP Region; $22,881)
2016
- Habitat Assessment and Prioritization for Cisco and Walleye Lakes in the Midwest Glacial Lakes Fish Habitat Partnership (MGLP Region; $40,000)
- Michigan Shoreland Stewards: Partnering to Protect our Inland Lakes through Outreach and Education ($11,256)
2014
- Island Protection Projects on Webster and Loon Lakes (IN; $25,000)
- Knutson Dam Modernization Project Cass Lake (MN; $25,000)
- Partnering with MGLP to Restore Habitat in St. Croix Headwaters Watershed Lakes (WI; $9,163)
2013
- Phase II Assessment for MGLP using Science to Evaluate Lake Health and Fish Potential in Lakes (MGLP Region; $18,875)
- Protecting the Unique Sinkhole Lakes in the Pigeon River Country State Forest (MI; $20,504)
- Healthy Shorelines Initiative in the Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed (IN, $25,000)
2012
- Greenbelt Workshops for Lakefront Property Owners in Northern Michigan ($17,200)
- Near Shore Woody Habitat Restoration Long Lake, Chippewa County (WI; $13,756)
2011
- Strategic fish habitat conservation directed through GIS modeling (MGLP Region)
- Human Disturbance Index Development for Glacial Lakes Based on Dock Frequency (MGLP Region)
- Large Woody Habitat Rehabilitation Project in the Northern Lakes and Forest Ecoregion of Wisconsin ($18,571)
- Protection for Sensitive Fish Habitats in Cass County, Minnesota ($28,571)
2010
- Lakescaping Demonstration Projects in Eastern South Dakota ($21,429)
2008
- Using GIS to prioritize fish habitat conservation for the Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership (MGLP Region; $71,429)