The  LTLA Water Quality Committee is working with Ron Reimink of Freshwater Solutions, in coordination with other neighbor lake associations, testing for levels of human fecal pollution through Enteric Bacteria analysis. ​​​

2017 E.coli Results
​2018 Enteric Bacteria Final Report
​2019 Enteric Bacteria Final Report
​2020 Enteric Bacteria Study Plan

2020 Enteric Bacteria Final Report

2020 Project Review Zoom Meeting​​​

Golden Brown Benthic Algae

Other Related Studies

​​Enteric Bacteria 

​​Water Quality Database

Compatibility:  PCs with Excel. The database graphing functions will not run using other programs (eg. Google Docs) or on Macs.  ​

To access the database on your PC please follow these steps:

  • Click on  "Water Quality Database" above.
  • Once the database opens in Google Sheets, left click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "download"
  • In the lower corner of your screen you'll see the file has downloaded as an "Excel" file. Left click on the file to open it in Excel.
  • Once the file has opened in Excel, click on the Security warning's "Enable Editing" button, then the "Enable Content" button.
  • If asked "Do you want to make this file a trusted document?", select YES.
  • If you’re unable to view the file’s worksheets or use the buttons within the file to navigate through the worksheets, try selecting the following options from the menu bar in Excel while the file is open: File>More>Options>Add-ins>Analysis ToolPak – VBA>OK.
  • An instruction video for how to use the database is HERE.

​​​​Water Chemistry & Shoreline Periphyton 


These studies are coordinated by the Little Traverse Lake Water Quality Committee, a group of volunteers committed to understanding the environmental health of Little Traverse Lake.  They continue to partner with regional experts and community organizations in these efforts.

LTL Water Quality Studies​

The  LTLA has contracted Dr. Ray Canale to conduct a multi-year water quality monitoring program and develop an EXCEL database.   The off-shore program measures algal nutrients, water clarity, chlorophyll, and dissolved oxygen at multiple depths at a deep water site several times per year.  The near-shore program measures periphyton (including Cladophora) at nine locations.  Near-shore algal growth is a sensitive indicator of nutrient inputs from sources such as septic system drain fields and fertilizer run-off. A report of findings is included below.



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