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, Dr. Jeremy Hartsock, Julia Kirkwood (EGLE), Dr. Jo Latimore, Brad Neumann, Mary Reilly, and Dr. Lois Wolfson (retired).
The course is offered once a year in January. You can be added to the MSU Extension Center for Lakes and Streams mailing list below to receive alerts when registration opens every year and to say up to date on the latest Michigan lake and stream news.
Questions? Contact Paige Filice at filicepa@msu.edu.
Course Information: Registration is open!
Course Format
- Six-week online class taught via prerecorded video lectures
- Three live Ask-an-Expert webinars
- Course units: lake ecology, watersheds, shorelines, aquatic plant management, Michigan water law, and community involvement
- Access to units is provided on a week-by-week, unit-by-unit basis with each new unit opening on Tuesdays at 8:00 AM eastern. Access to 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.
- Course website closes May 31, 2026.
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. In order to view proceeding units, you must receive an 80% or higher on the previous unit quiz. You can retake quizzes an unlimited number of times.
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 live during the webinar.
Continuing Education Credits/Hours Available
The course has been approved for 16 Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development Pesticide recertification credits (8 Commercial Core & 8 category 5 [aquatic]). Continuing education hours are also offered in the following MSU Extension courses: Master Citizen Planner, Master Gardener, and Master Naturalist. Everyone who completes Introduction to Lakes Online in 2026 is eligible to receive a free one-year membership to the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association.
2026 Course Schedule
The open date signifies when the unit will be viewable. You are not required to login on the open date. In order to view proceeding units, you must receive an 80% or higher on the previous unit quiz. You can retake quizzes an unlimited number of times.
| Open Date | Course Topic | Description |
| 1/20 | Getting Started | Explore the Introduction to Lakes course website and introduce yourself to the class and instructors via discussion forums |
| 1/27 | Unit 1: Lake Ecology |
An introduction to lake ecosystems and the exploration of basic lake functions |
| 2/3 | Unit 2: Watersheds |
Primer on the water cycle, hydrologic features of a watershed, and land use impacts to lake water quality |
| 2/10 | Unit 3: Shorelines |
Review of shoreline features and functions in inland lake ecosystems and best practices to protect water quality and lake habitat |
| 2/17 | Unit 4: Aquatic plants |
Introduction to plant identification, short and long-term management techniques, and regulations regarding aquatic vegetation in Michigan lakes |
| 2/24 | Unit 5: Water Law |
Summary of federal, state, and local laws regarding riparian rights, navigability, and permitting on inland lakes in Michigan |
| 3/3 | Unit 6: Community Involvement |
Review of institutions involved in lake management, coordinating with other lake groups, and components of a lake management plan |
| 3/27 | 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 | ||
| 2/11 Noon to 1 p.m. (eastern) |
Webinar #1 | Lake Ecology and Watersheds |
| 2/25 Noon to 1 p.m. (eastern) |
Webinar #2 | Shorelines and Aquatic Plants |
| 3/11 Noon to 1 p.m. (eastern) |
Webinar #3 | Water Law and Community Involvement |
2026 course syllabus and schedule
Cost
The course is $115/person. Register by January 5 for a discounted early bird rate of $95/person. If the cost of the course is a burden to your participation, please email Paige Filice at filicepa@msu.edu. Financial assistance may be available.
*** Special pricing for Individual Members of the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association!***
Current individual members of the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association are eligible to receive a $95 reimbursement upon successful completion of the course. This reimbursement is only applicable to first time participants of the course.
Register today! The deadline to register is January 27 at 5:00pm EST.
Registration Instructions (FOLLOW STEPS 1-3)
To register for this course you will need to create an account, sign in with your email/password, and complete the registration process. 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 20, 2026.
Cancellation policy: If you need to withdraw from the course, you can request a partial refund of $50 until January 27, 2026. Once your request is received, you will no longer be able to access the course. No requests for refunds will be considered after January 28, 2026.
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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