Introduction l Project Information l Project Products l Partners l Contacts

The Annis Water Resources Institute conducted scientific review and biological and chemical assessments of the watershed. The Muskegon Conservation District partnered with AWRI, and was responsible for education and outreach activities. This multidisciplinary project involved staff from all program areas within AWRI. The project lasted from 2002 to 2004.

Overall Project Goals

• Scientific review of the watershed
• Biological and chemical assessment of the watershed
• Educating and building citizen awareness about the watershed
• Establishment of a permanent citizen support group
• Establishment of a permanent endowment at the Community Foundation for Muskegon County to support the future needs of Mona Lake and the surrounding watershed

AWRI Scientific Assessments

• Assessing land use changes over the past 20 years in the watershed using Geographic Information System analyses
• Characterizing the chemical contaminants at select sites in Mona Lake, Black Creek, and Little Black Creek
• Characterizing the invertebrate and fish communities at select sites in Mona Lake, Black Creek, and Little Black Creek
• Characterizing the water quality and phytoplankton at select sites in Mona Lake
• Conducting experiments to determine what nutrients are limiting growth of algae in Mona Lake
• Measuring the amount of nutrients entering Mona Lake and determining the major sources of these nutrients
• Developing an action plan with recommended practices to improve the environmental health of this watershed