Pictured: Kids color at the 2026 LakeFest

Keep on scrolling, we have a LOT of updates this month!

Our first attempt had to be cancelled due to poor air quality. We will try again this coming Friday, which is forecast to be much cooler. We have a few spots remaining... Please fill out this form to register by tomorrow.

FYI, save this link to check Culver, IN air quality. We are >30 miles in all directions from the nearest particulate matter monitoring station, so the values given are modeled based on regional values.

Thanks to all who contributed to another great LakeFest! We had a great time (between the downpours) to talk turtles with young and old.

A few beetle friends stopped by as the kids were coloring...

The smoke was awful on Friday morning... visibility was <1.0 mile, with Long Point barely visible from the park. Fortunately, it (mostly) cleared by the evening.

LMEF has started to invest in blue-green algae sampling, the microorganisms that are responsible for the release of toxins that can be harmful to people and pets. It's a complicated subject with a lot of nuances... but step #1 is understanding which species of algae are actually present in Lake Maxinkuckee, and familiarizing ourselves with rapid test kits that can detect toxins if and when they occur.

More to come! In the meantime, how do you know if what you're seeing is potentially a blue-green algae? Start here with the Lily Center for Lakes and Streams' wonderful overview.

Intern Katie Schouten & LMEF science volunteer Scott Holaday assist with learning the new testing methods for three different algae toxins. Microcystin, anatoxin, and cylindrospermopsin, oh my!

Earlier this year, the Venetian Channel Conservancy was awarded a DNR Lake and River Enhancement grant to dredge their channel to improve navigation. The project is now underway. 

Read more about this project from our March blog post.

"Cancer Doesn't Care What Party You Belong To" in Politico.

"Iowa has a long-simmering water problem that has finally begun to boil over — and it’s changing Iowa politics. People are angry and worried about the quality of the state’s water, the health risks it poses and its increasingly undeniable tie to the state’s signature industry: agriculture..."

Photo by Deni Chamberlin

They grow up so fast! Last month we shared a photo of an American Robin's nest with three blue eggs, taken June 23.

The photos below were taken on July 7 and 9, and the nestlings were already making excursions out of the nest. Yes, from hatching to leaving the nest in just 2 weeks. Then they become "fledglings" where they hop around on the ground, often still fed by momma, but not really taking flight on their own. Sounds like teenage birdies to me!