CRYSTAL LAKE TOWNSHIP IN BENZIE COUNTY MICHIGAN
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LAND, WATER & WILDLIFE STEWARDSHIP:
BURNING - FORESTRY - INVASIVES - RECYLCING - WILDLIFE - & MORE
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Get A Burn Permit:
The  Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds those burning leaves, or anything else, will first need to check if 1) weather conditions or 2) materials being incinerated, require a permit. Checking out permitting is easy.  For the Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula, residents can visit Michigan.gov/Burn Permit or call 866-922-BURN to find out whether burning is currently allowed by the DNR. This process is a little different from the "downstaters"; all Southern Lower Peninsula residents can obtain burn permits from their local government or fire department. For any questions regarding responsible burning information, call (616) 260-8406.

​Get Free Forestry Management Advice:
District Forester, Kama Ross provides free assistance through the Forestry Assistance Program (FAP) to encourage and enable landowners to more actively manage their woodlands.  DOWNLOAD THE PDF TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION.
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SPOTTED LANTERN FLY:
READ ABOUT ONE OF THE LATEST THREATS

​Combat Invasive Species:
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Marine invasives can be and must be twarted! Boaters should be aware that the boat washing ordinances apply wherever your boat is launched – if it has navigated other waters within 10 days, it must be washed.

One of the more important protections we can advocate is to keep our waters clean and clear. Towards that end, a new Michigan law went into effect in March 2019 that requires thorough cleaning of all watercraft --including non-motorized !-- emptying of all water from the craft, and also restricts disposal of fish and bait.  Click Here for the full text of the law.

But long before that, by 2014, all the Townships surrounding Crystal Lake had taken the initiative to do so [including  CLT: see the Crystal Lake Aquatic Nuisance Ordinance; they approved ordinances, with $500 fines, requiring boats to be washed prior to being launched into the lake if they have been operated in another watershed in the last 10 days.

In addition to the main DNR boat launch at Mollineaux Road, where the Crystal Lake Watershed Association's (CLWA’s) washing facility is readily available, there are several other secondary boat launch sites around Crystal Lake, for example at the Beulah Public Beach, the Crystal Lake Yacht Club, and public road ends.

SPOTTED LANTERN FLY:
READ ABOUT ONE OF THE LATEST THREATS

Links Invasive Species:
In no particular order, the following are links to environmental information & events, and agencies & action groups whose missions are to combat a myriad of invasive species, both flora and fauna.
  • Disposal of Invasive Species 
  • Northern Michigan Invasive Species Network  
  • Comprehensive Invasive Species List  
  • Combating Garlic Mustard  
  • Combating Garlic Mustard 2   
  • Spotted Lantern Fly  
  • Woolly moth attacking Hemlocks
  • Japanese Knotweed  
  • Japanese Barberry and Blacklegged Ticks  
  • Ticks  ​
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​Recycle in Northern Michigan:

Recycling is a small thing that can make a difference at the local level.  Benzie County and NW Michigan makes a concerted effort to provide for as much recycling as is feasible.
For example, there is a really neat shop in Traverse within the Commons called the Refillery. You can BYO reusable bottles for household cleaning products/bath and body, and they also have products with zero waste containers.  Click here for the county recycling webpage.
​Where to Recycle Everything
      (A New Yorker article
              on Recycling)
Recycling Sports Equipment

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​Wildlife:
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Report all poaching by calling or texting: (800) 292-7800.
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Report Wildlife observations of diseased wildlife, tagged fish, invasive carp and more: Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField
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Helpful links to wildlife-related issues include:
  • Rehabilitators  
  • Management 
  • Fauna List
  • Birding  

​Click here for a Local Waterways List ​

​Check out these organization's websites
for more information on what they are doing to improve and preserve the environment:

Crystal Lake and Watershed Association 
Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
Benzie-Leelanau Health Department-Environmental Health
Water Quality Maps by County
Water testing
Forest Management
Native Flora Species or plantitwild.net
Benzie County Conservation District 
Conservation Resource Alliance  
Oil & Water Don't Mix   
Nature Conservancy  
Sierra Club  
Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council  
Michigan Climate Action Council  
Michigan DNR Conservation Organizations Directory  or  https://www.epa.gov/greatlakes  
Environmental Protection Agency  
Great Lakes Coalition  
EGLE: MI Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy 
Grow Benzie 

Michigan State Extension
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1651 Frankfort Highway | PO Box 2129 | Frankfort, MI 49635​
Phone: (231) 352-9791 | Fax: (231) 352-6689
© Copyright 2023 Crystal Lake Township
  • HOME
  • Staff
  • Meetings & Minutes
    • Upcoming Meeting Info
    • Meeting Minutes
    • Archived Minutes
  • A - E
    • ADA Compliance
    • Assessment
    • Airport
    • Audits
    • Blight
    • Board of Review
    • Budget & Finances
    • Cemeteries
    • Clean Up Days
    • Elections & Voting
    • Environment
    • Enforcement
  • F - Z
    • Fireworks
    • Fire Protection & Rescue
    • Newsletters
    • Planning
    • Policy & Procedure Manual
    • Records & FOIA
    • Roads
    • Support Services
    • Taxes
    • Volunteering
    • Zoning
    • Zoning Board of Appeals
  • General Township
    • Fun Facts
    • History
    • Maps
    • Roles & Responsibilities
    • Salaries
    • Township Law
  • PAYMENTS
  • Quick Forms
  • Message Us