Introduction to Lakes Online
Course Overview
Introduction to Lakes Online is designed for interested individuals, decision makers, local leaders, resource professionals, and lakefront property owners interested in gaining knowledge about inland lakes and connecting with others who have a similar interest. In this introductory course, participants increase their knowledge and understanding of the following six topics:
- Lake ecology
- Watersheds
- Shorelines
- Aquatic plant management
- Michigan water law
- Community involvement
Course instructors include Bindu Bhakta, Erick Elgin, Paige Filice, Jeremy Hartsock, Julia Kirkwood (EGLE), Dr. Jo Latimore, Brad Neumann, Mary Reilly, and Dr. Lois Wolfson (retired).
The course is offered once a year, typically in January.
Questions? Contact Paige Filice at filicepa@msu.edu.
Can't join us in 2025? You can sign up here to be added to the MSU Extension Center for Lakes and Streams mailing list to receive alerts when registration for the 2026 course opens.
2025 Course Information
Registration is open until January 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM.
Course Format
- Six-week online class taught via pre-recorded video lectures
- Three Ask-an-Expert webinars
- Access to units will be provided on a week-by-week, unit-by-unit basis with each new unit opening on Tuesdays at 8:00 AM eastern. Access to future units will be based on completion of the previous unit’s quiz. The quizzes are made up of 10 multiple choice and true/false questions.
- Once a unit is available to view, it will remain open.
What to expect
Every week a new unit exploring an inland lake topic will be released on our website. Participants will explore course topics through video lectures and activities such as readings and interactive websites. Many units also include a discussion forum, prompting participants to interact with others and the instructional team. For those looking to dive deeper into a topic, we also provide numerous additional resources. Each unit takes approximately 2 hours to complete.
Ask-an-Expert webinars
Every other week we offer optional one hour Ask-an-Expert webinars specific to topics in the course. These are hosted by the instructional team and outside experts including staff from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The panel of experts address questions submitted via a Q&A box.
Course Schedule
| Open Date | Course Topic | Description |
| 1/21 | Getting Started | Explore the Introduction to Lakes course website and introduce yourself to the class and instructors via discussion forums |
| 1/28 | Unit 1: Lake Ecology |
An introduction to lake ecosystems and the exploration of basic lake functions |
| 2/4 | Unit 2: Watersheds |
Primer on the water cycle, hydrologic features of a watershed, and land use impacts to lake water quality |
| 2/11 | Unit 3: Shorelines |
Review of shoreline features and functions in inland lake ecosystems and best practices to protect water quality and lake habitat |
| 2/18 | Unit 4: Aquatic plants |
Introduction to plant identification, short and long-term management techniques, and regulations regarding aquatic vegetation in Michigan lakes |
| 2/25 | Unit 5: Water Law |
Summary of federal, state, and local laws regarding riparian rights, navigability, and permitting on inland lakes in Michigan |
| 3/4 | Unit 6: Community Involvement |
Review of institutions involved in lake management, coordinating with other lake groups, and components of a lake management plan |
| 4/4 | Certificate/CEU Deadline | To receive a Certificate of Completion or Continuing Education Credits all course requirements must be met by this date |
| Ask-an-Expert Webinars | ||
| 2/12 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. |
Webinar #1 | Lake Ecology and Watersheds |
| 2/26 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. |
Webinar #2 | Shorelines and Aquatic Plants |
| 3/12 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. |
Webinar #3 | Water Law and Community Involvement |
2025 course syllabus and schedule
Continuing Education Options
The course as been approved for 16 Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development Pesticide recertification credits (8 Commercial Core & 8 category 5 [aquatic]) and continuing education hours in the following MSU Extension courses: Master Citizen Planner and Master Naturalist.
Everyone who completes Introduction to Lakes Online is also eligible to receive a free one-year membership to the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association.
Register today!
Register for the class at the link provided below. The deadline to register is January 28. The course website will be available starting on January 21 for a "getting started" week.
Price: $115/person **
If the cost of the course is a burden to your participation, please email Paige Filice at filicepa@msu.edu. Financial assistance is available.
** Current individual members of the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association are eligible to receive a $95 reimbursement upon successful completion of the course.
Registration Instructions (YOU NEED TO FOLLOW STEPS 1-3 BELOW)
To register for this course you will need to 1) create an account, 2) sign in with your email/password, and 3) complete the registration. To watch a video tutorial demonstrating an overview of the registration process, click on the following link: Online Course Registration Video Tutorial. Step-by-step instructions are below.
- STEP #1: Create your Michigan State University Guest Account by selecting the Create Your MSU Guest Account button below. (For detailed instructions visit the following web page: Instructions: Creating Your Guest Account.)
Create Your MSU Guest Account - STEP #2: Click on the button below to login to the registration system with your Guest Account (your email) and Password. Follow the instructions to register for the course. Upon registration, you will receive a receipt and instructions for accessing the course.
Register for the Introduction to Lakes Online course - STEP #3: After registration is complete, login at https://d2l.msu.edu/ with your Guest Account and password. Note you will not have access to the course until January 21, 2025.
*If you need to reset your password at any time go to https://auth.msu.edu/ and select the option for "Need help signing in."
Cancellation policy: If you need to withdraw from the course you can request a partial refund of $50 until January 28, 2025. Once your request is received, you will no longer be able to access the course. No requests for refunds will be considered after January 29, 2025.
More Information
Have a question about the course? For more information, contact Paige Filice at filicepa@msu.edu.
Need help registering for the course?
Technical Assistance If you have any technical problems, please contact the Michigan State University IT Service Desk. They are available every day the University is open from 7 AM to 12 AM midnight.
- Phone: (517) 432-6200
- Phone (toll free): 1 (844) 678-6200
Frequently Asked Questions
What is my username/NETID? Your username (or NET ID) is the email address you used to create your account during registration (you use the same email address/password for registering and for taking the course).
What URL do I go to for logging into the course? Go to: https://d2l.msu.edu/. You will see the Michigan State University at the top of the page. Login with the email address and password you set during the registration process.
I received a “not authenticated” response when trying to login – what do I do? A “not authenticated” message is typically an issue with a password not being entered correctly.
I forgot my password – where can I reset it? If you need to reset your password at any time go to https://auth.msu.edu/ and select the option for "Need help Signing in."
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