Mission Statement
The Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed LOON NETWORK connects common loons with the community through habitat protection, monitoring and research.
Where We Work
The Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed (ERCOL) has been home to common loons since the glaciers retreated 10,000 years ago. The ERCOL Watershed covers more than 500 square miles in northwest Michigan. Contributing 60% of the surface water draining into Grand Traverse Bay, our watershed contains some of the highest quality waters in the world. The 14 interconnected lakes flow into East Grand Traverse Bay at Elk Rapids. The watershed lies primarily within Antrim County but also includes portions of Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Charlevoix counties.
Our Approach
We use a watershed approach to loon conservation. Property owners, who enjoy watching loons on their lake, contact the LOON NETWORK. The Network connects them with other people nearby who also care about the loons. We work with them to develop a conservation plan for their area of the lake. Then we connect the teams from throughout the watershed, so people can share their observations and work together to solve common problems.