Indiana Lakes Management Society upcoming events

Lake weeds or plant communities? Some thoughts on Eurasian watermilfoil management, control prioritization, and new work to nurture care and appreciation (20 Oct 2026)

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

This presentation will start with some findings about Eurasian watermilfoil management and management prioritization – in that work, we wanted to better understand and provide context to some of the effects of whole lake herbicide treatments we observed in survey data. From there, we developed a model to predict lakes likely to experience future Eurasian watermilfoil introductions and lakes likely able to support dense populations. We hope that information could help guide smart prevention and smart management. More recently, we are interested in expanding the way folks are able to think and talk about plant communities – by naming, narrating, and celebrating unique community assemblages, we hope eventually to enable people to appreciate, connect to, and experience part of the natural world that usually remains hidden.

This event is not being hosted by ILMS. To register for this webinar, please follow the link here. Webinar Registration - Zoom

This webinar is being hosted by the MGLP (Midwest Great Lakes Partnership). Speakers for the webinar will be Alison Mikulyuk and Katie Hein. See speaker bios below.

Alison Mikulyuk

Research program coordinator·Water@University of Wisconsin-Madison

I lead Water@UW-Madison, a cross-disciplinary community of practice that fosters connection and collaboration within Wisconsin’s water research community. We provide immersive research experiences for undergraduates through the Freshwater@UW program and work to connect faculty, graduate students, and community partners across disciplines, but this talk is not about that. I also have a background in aquatic ecology, applied research, and years of experience in programming and policy. I use a science-based approach to work for healthy waters, resilient ecosystems and thriving communities. I know more than is typical about aquatic macrophyte communities.

Katie Hein

Research Scientist·UW-Madison Center for Limnology

Katie Hein is a research scientist based at UW-Madison's Trout Lake Station. She has more than 20 years of experience studying aquatic ecosystems in temperate, tropical, and arctic environments and spent 11 years working at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as the Lake Monitoring Technical Leader. Much of Katie's current research focuses on better understanding the role of native and invasive aquatic plants in lake ecosystems.

Protecting land for water quality: Watershed-based land conservation strategies (27 Oct 2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, or polluted runoff, is the predominant cause of water quality problems in the United States. Land protection can play a critical role in protecting waters by maintaining forests, riparian buffers, and other critical natural areas that filter polluted runoff. Protected lands also help ensure the durability of water quality restoration by preventing new pollutant loads. Over the last several years the USEPA has worked to highlight the role of land protection as a NPS management strategy and strengthen partnership opportunities between clean water programs and land conservation community. This webinar will spotlight this work and how its relevance to protecting lake ecosystem health.

This event is not being hosted by ILMS. Register for this event by clicking the link here. Webinar Registration - Zoom

This webinar is being hosted by the MGLP (Midwest Great Lakes Partnership). The speaker for the webinar will be Steve Epting. See speaker bios below.

Steve Epting

National Lead for Healthy Watersheds Protection & Watershed Planning·US Environmental Protection Agency

Steve Epting is the national lead for healthy watersheds protection and watershed planning in the Office of Water at the US Environmental Protection Agency. Steve works to advance healthy watersheds protection by supporting state Clean Water Act programs’ efforts to protect unimpaired/high-quality waters. Additionally, Steve leads work to integrate watershed protection with other EPA programs and external partners, like the land conservation and land use planning communities. Steve has a master's in environmental science from the University of Maryland, where he studied wetland-stream connectivity on the landscape. Steve lives in Virginia with his wife, two sons, and a counter-surfing beagle named Banjo.

From DNR Data to the Dock: Making Indiana Lake Information Accessible to Everyone (10 Nov 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

The Indiana DNR and its fisheries biologists have built an outstanding record of Indiana's lakes, covering everything from depth and fish surveys to public access sites. Lake professionals know where to find this information, but many people who spend the most time on Indiana lakes—including casual anglers, paddlers and families planning a day on the water—rarely see it. In this webinar, Jay Goklani of Indiana Lake Depths shares how that public information has been brought together on a free website. Each lake features an interactive 3D depth map alongside its access sites and amenities, fish survey results and a Paddling Index for canoes and kayaks. The site also offers tools for identifying invasive species and data for conservationists, such as non-native species records and aquatic vegetation estimates. Jay will discuss how lake associations can use resources like these to engage members and visitors in lake stewardship. The session ends with an open discussion, and feedback from ILMS members will help decide the site's next focus.

38th Annual Conference (2027) - Sponsors & Exhibitors (24 Mar 2027)

Wed, 24 Mar 2027 13:00:00 GMT

Thank you for sponsoring the 38th annual Indiana Lakes Management Society Annual Conference! Your support allows us to bring lake association members, government agency representatives, academics, and lake management professionals together to share their knowledge, experiences, and resources regarding the many lakes in Indiana. Please also consider renewing your membership when you register.

Sponsorship levels and their associated benefits are listed to the left. All levels except for "Brook" include one complimentary conference registration and an exhibitor space in the main room. Exhibitor set‐up will occur from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 23rd. Each exhibitor will be provided with a 6‐foot table (or similarly sized area for floor displays) and electricity is available upon request.

The conference opens Wednesday morning with a plenary speaker and offers two tracks of presentations throughout the day. Past presentation topics have included lake management case studies, aquatic plant identification, water quality data for the state, and panel discussions of water-related legislation. (Click here to see last year's schedule.) Conference registration includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner on Wednesday plus breakfast on Thursday.

Please note that hotel rooms must be reserved directly with Potawatomi Inn online or by calling 877-LODGES-1.

Have questions? Please contact sponsorship coordinator Jacob Bannister at jacob.bannister@davey.com.

38th Annual (2027) Indiana Lakes Management Conference - Attendee (24 Mar 2027)

Wed, 24 Mar 2027 13:00:00 GMT

Join us March 24-25, 2027 for our annual conference! This is a great opportunity to meet with lake enthusiasts and water professionals from around the state. The conference opens with a plenary speaker Wednesday morning and offers two tracks of presentations throughout the day. We will have our annual awards banquet Wednesday evening and the conference will continue Thursday morning, wrapping up at noon. Last year's agenda can be viewed here with presentation topics including lake management case studies, harmful algal bloom mitigation, zebra mussels, fundraising for lake associations, water quality monitoring, and more! Registration includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner on Wednesday plus breakfast on Thursday.

Please note that anyone registering after March 5 is not guaranteed a printed copy of the conference program. Also, hotel rooms must be reserved directly with Potawatomi Inn either online or by calling 877-LODGES-1.

Would your organization be interested in sponsoring the conference? Please visit our Sponsors & Exhibitors page to learn how to register as a sponsor.