The Inland Lakes Partnership is currently advertizing two trainings. The first training is the Michigan Certified Natural Shoreline training, which is a technical training opportunity for contractors (e.g.: excavating, landscaping, shoreline protection companies).  The trainings are scheduled for February 2011 in Brighton and March 2011 in Cadillac.  The contractor workshop includes a certification component and requires continued education classes to maintain the certification.  This training program started last year with two sessions in southern Lower Peninsula.  There is a list of certified contractors on the Partnership’s website: 
http://michiganlakes.msue.msu.edu/Home.aspx

The second training is Natural Shoreline Workshop for Homeowners.  This workshop targets riparian homeowners; however, the training is also set up to provide a “tool kit” and “training a trainer” (e.g. train the president of a lake association and they in turn present the information to their association).  This training is less technical and focuses more on “lake-scaping”.  Check out the web site for the schedule, viewed on the Home page.  The train the trainer workshops will be held on March 29 in Marshall and April 1 in Gaylord.  As you may already be aware, there will also be a presentation April 15 at the annual Michigan Lakes and Streams Association conference in Boyne City.

questions should be directed to:.

Robyn L. Schmidt
Department of Natural Resources and Environment

Water Resources Division
Cadillac District Office
120 West Chapin Street, Cadillac, MI 49601-2158
tx: 231-876-4444  fax: 231-775-1511