Fast Facts about Gratiot Lake Conservancy:

• Gratiot Lake is the largest inland lake in the Keweenaw Peninsula

• made up of over 510 acres surrounding Gratiot Lake

• includes approximately 18,000 feet of shoreline

• is home to the Noblet Field Station, a restored 1940's log cabin

• several miles of trail allow visitors to traverse shoreline and wooded habitat

• also includes Bammert Farm, a 466 acre parcel located about 2 miles from Gratiot Lake

Gratiot Lake has been the host to many educator-led activities. In 2019, we had many programs going on. For example, ornithologist Zach Gayk led a Keweenaw Bird workshop in the spring which included visits to a variety of bird habitats and an informational lecture. GLC funded the teacher salary for a five day “Michigan Tech Summer Youth Program Exploration: Aquatic Ecology at Gratiot Lake” environmental education program. GLC also awarded two Sandretto scholarships to two local high school students to attend this program.

We also hosted Aquatic ecology professor Rod Chimner as he presented a slide show “A Primer to Wetland Restoration” and Geologist Daniel McPherson led a boat and land Geo-tour of Gratiot Lake in late summer. A guided natural and human history tour lead by environmental educator Bonnie Hay was held at Bammert Farm in September.

GLC hosts an ongoing research project, a small mammal demographic study site, on the GLC preserve at Gratiot Lake. Graduate students from Governor’s State University, under direction of Dr. John Yunger, are monitoring rodent species present at the study site and comparing data with other study sites in the region. Dr.Yunger taught a Governor’s State University course “Aquatic an Wetland Ecology” onsight at the Noblet Field Station a the preserve.

In 2019, GLC completed its 19th year of volunteer water quality monitoring program of Gratiot Lake transparency and phosphorus levels as well as participation in the Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch program in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Cooperative Lake Monitoring Program (CLMP). In early July, KISMA weed crew and GLC volunteers removed invasive plants at GLC Preserve. In partnership with the Alliance for the Great Lakes Adopt-A-Beach program, GLC undertook its annual clean-up of trash along Gratiot Lake shoreline in mid-September with assistance of local volunteers.

The conservancy land is most easily accessed via boat or kayak in the summer and some brave souls have traversed to it on snowshoe in the winter. There is also a 5.8 mile road (requires a four wheel drive vehicle to traverse) off the Gay-Lac la Belle Road.

The best way to get to the land is to take Gratiot Lake Road, park on the north side at the boat launch, and make your way across, whether it be a kayak, canoe, or small boat.

There is also the option of driving to the land directly via the Conservany Road. It is about a six mile drive from the Gay-Lac Labelle road, with the entrance near Brunette park. A bus, unfortunately, would not make it down the road and a four-wheel drive vehicle is best.

Kayaking on Gratiot Lake