Valentine’s Volunteer Workday at Watkins Lake State Park & County Preserve

submitted by Laura Watkins Koelewijn, Friends of Watkins Lake State Park

The Friends of Watkins Lake State Park (FoWL) are hosting a volunteer workday to give some love to regional gem Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve, Michigan’s newest state park. The workday will be held Valentine’s Day morning, Saturday, February 14, from 10am to 12:30pm. FoWL stewardship subcommittee chair Wayne Appleyard encourages folks to come out to “enjoy some fresh morning air, coffee, and camaraderie in a tranquil setting. Come have some fun with us and meet new friends who care about this state park and are willing to dedicate a few hours to a wonderful cause.”

Volunteers will help to remove and treat autumn olive and other invasive species that tend to proliferate in open disturbed areas, shading out native plants beneficial to wildlife, increasing nitrogen that favors non-native weedy plants, and decreasing beneficial soil microbes. FoWL was formed in part to help the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) implement the park management plan that includes the objective of “invasive species early detection and rapid response, protecting high quality natural communities and sites occupied by protected species.”

The workday is being held in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Washtenaw County Parks, with support from the Jackson-Lenawee-Washtenaw Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (JLW-CISMA) group and Stewardship Network. The park is located at 14801 Arnold Rd, Brooklyn.

Sturdy boots, work pants, and work gloves are encouraged. Work tools and extra work gloves will be provided in addition to energizing snacks, coffee, and water.

RSVP at protectingwatkinslake.org or to friends@watkinslake.online.

Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve became Michigans 103^rd state park in 2016 encompassing over 1,200 acres straddling Jackson and Washtenaw counties in Norvell Township. It includes a waterfowl refuge that is used by thousands of migratory waterfowl spring through fall. The park is also home to many vulnerable aquatic and terrestrial species of wildlife and many state and regionally significant plants. FoWL aspires to foster an appreciation for Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve through stewardship, education, and advocacy and help to sustain its many natural and historical attributes for people and wildlife. 

To found out more about FoWL, RSVP for the workday, or get involved, email friends@watkinslake.online or find the group at protectingwatkinslake.org or Facebook.com/WatkinsLakeSPCP

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.