The Board of Directors of Friends of Lake Leelanau today announced approval of a major grant to the Lake Leelanau Lake Association (LLLA) and the appointment of a new Treasurer.
Friends has committed $329,620 to support LLLA’s 2026 lake stewardship program. The funding will enable the Association to:
- Continue placement of burlap blankets over remaining patches of Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM);
- Document the natural recovery of native vegetation
- Expand monitoring to detect and respond to new invasive species;
- Increase staffing hours at boat wash stations; and
- Broaden water quality monitoring.
The grant will also support ongoing education efforts to help residents and visitors understand the critical role shoreline protection plays as both a natural buffer and filtration system—key to preserving the lake’s clarity and ecological health.
Friends’ contribution will fund approximately 84% of LLLA’s 2026 program budget and 56% of its projected total budget of $591,400.
“What makes this grant especially meaningful is that it reflects both urgency and optimism,” said Jennie Keller, President of Friends of Lake Leelanau. “Our supporters are not just responding to today’s challenges—they’re investing in a future where Lake Leelanau remains as clear, vibrant, and resilient as it has been for generations.”
“Friends’ generous support allows us to move from maintaining the lake to actively strengthening it,” said Nancy Popa, President of the Lake Leelanau Lake Association. “It gives us the capacity to stay ahead of emerging threats while expanding the kind of hands-on stewardship that produces lasting results.”
In addition, Friends announced that board member Dawn Lund has been elected Treasurer. Lund’s family has been part of the Lake Leelanau community for five generations. She and her husband Chris live on the Leland River, and her family continues to own property on South Lake Leelanau, where she grew up.
Lund brings deep financial expertise, strong community ties, and a longstanding commitment to lake stewardship. She also serves on the Dam Authority Board. Although Friends and the Lake Leelanau Lake Association share many supporters, they are distinct legal entities that operate independently. Friends’ independence allows it to direct funding to the organizations best positioned to protect and preserve the health of Lake Leelanau.