Stargazing Over Grand Lake
Lima Astronomical Society President Mark Casazza gave a presentation on stargazing over Grand Lake at the November 2026 Lake Improvement Association member meeting.
Natural Resources Update – November 2026
Mercer County Ag & Natural Resources Director Theresa Dirksen provided an update at the November 2026 Lake Improvement Association member meeting.
Grand Lake Murder, Mystery & Mayhem
LIA trustees Donna Grube and Brian Miller gave a fun Halloween-themed presentation recounting dark tales from Grand Lake’s past at the October 2026 Lake Improvement Association meeting.Grand Lake Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem5 dark tales from Grand Lake’s past1900 Lakeside Saloon/Brothel MurderOn Marc
Water Quality Update – October 2026
Wright State University-Lake Campus Biology Professor Dr. Stephen Jacquemin provided a water quality update for Grand Lake St. Marys at the October 2026 Lake Improvement Association meeting. Video and PowerPoint below.
All Abilities Playground Ribbon Cutting
The playground is officially open!Thank you to everyone who attended the All Abilities Playground ribbon cutting held during last week’s Kids Fishing Derby.And a HUGE THANK-YOU to every individual, business, and organization that helped us bring an inclusive playground to the banks of Grand Lake St.
2026 Kids Fishing Derby Recap
Thank you to everyone who made the 2026 Kids Fishing Derby a success!More than 240 students participated in the fishing derby, joined by over 140 teachers, aides, bus drivers, parents, and Auglaize County DD staff.Another 60+ volunteers helped made the day possible, representing the Lake Improvement
Grand Lake Amphibians
Naturalist Laura Walker discussed the amphibians of Grand Lake at the September 2026 LIA member meeting.
Water Quality Update (September 2026)
Wright State University-Lake Campus biology professor Dr. Stephen Jacquemin provided a water quality update for Grand Lake St. Marys at the September 2026 Lake Improvement Association member meeting. Video and slides below.
Grand Lake St. Marys Dredging Update (September 2026)
Grand Lake St. Marys State Park Manager David Faler provided a dredging update at the September 2026 Lake Improvement Association meeting.As of 9/5/2026, the dredge team has removed 106,850 cubic yards of sediment. That includes these targeted areas:Sailboat Club channel (204 cu. yd.)Service area ch
2026 Bar Stool Open Winners
Here are the winners from the 2026 Bar Stool Open! Thank you to everyone who made this year’s a event a success!CHECK OUT OUR ALBUM ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGEGOLF 1. Pars Then Bars (105) 2 (tie). Shut Up and Putt (107) 2 (tie). Tee Party (107) 3. Hillbillies from Hungry Hollow (109)COSTUME 1. Founding For
Grand Lake St. Marys Hydrology Study
Where does Grand Lake's water come from? And where does it go? Find out in this new study.Where does Grand Lake St. Marys’ water come from? And where does it go?Grand Lake St. Marys occupies a fascinating and unusual place in Ohio’s water system. Because of outflows created during the canal era, wat
Harmon’s Landing Wetland Project Awarded $1.115 Million Grant
The Lake Restoration Commission has secured an ODNR H2Ohio grant to fund wetland construction at Harmon’s Landing.Mercer County Ag & Natural Resources Director Theresa Dirksen applied for the grant, which will provide $1.115 million to:Construct 15-20 acres of open water wetlandPreserve and/or estab
East Bank to Be Resurfaced
Capital budget allocates $800,000 to East Bank Road improvements.It’s official – East Bank Road is getting resurfaced! Governor Mike DeWine signed the capital budget bill for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, which allocates $800,000 to East Bank Road improvements. We don’t have a timeline or total cost e
Boat Busters of Grand Lake (Video)
Meet Chris Monroe & Andrew Vogel - the Boat Busters of Grand Lake.Meet Chris Monroe and Andrew Vogel of the popular Boat Busters YouTube channel, filmed on Grand Lake St. Marys.
Natural Resources Update June 2026 (Video)
Grand Lake natural resources updates wtih Theresa Dirksen.Mercer County Ag & Natural Resources Director Theresa Dirksen gave an update at the June 2026 Lake Improvement Association meeting.
Study: Water Quality Improvements from Prairie Creek wetlands
Wright State University-Lake Campus professor Dr. Stephen Jacquemin, Mercer County Ag & Natural Resources Director Theresa Dirksen, and colleagues recently published a new study highlighting long-term water quality improvements associated with the restored Prairie Creek wetlands in the Grand Lake St
Latest Microcystin Levels
Latest microcystin numbers from Grand Lake St. Marys (from 5/6/2026).This is three weeks out from the “spike” we saw. Algae biomass is still high, but it is lower than the biomass from three weeks ago – about 75% of the levels we saw then (a 25% decrease).We are hopeful that we see a continued downw
May 2026 Water Quality Update (Video & PPT)
Wright State University-Lake Campus Biology Professor Dr. Stephen Jacquemin provided a water quality update at the May 2026 LIA meeting. Key facts, video, and PowerPoint below.Why Are We Seeing Elevated Algae and Toxins Now?Exact mechanisms are challenging to disentangle at a watershed scale. Howeve
VIDEO: Grand Lake Rec Club President Brad Fisher
Grand Lake Recreation Club President Brad Fisher gave a presentation about the Rec Club’s lake projects at the May 2026 LIA meeting.
2026 Pontoon Winner Announced
Our 2026 Pontoon Raffle winner is ticket #334 Brooke Brown. Congratulations and thank you to all who purchased a ticket to support the LIA!
LIA Trustee Brian Miller Talks Grand Lake on Diving In Podcast (Listen Now)
Episode 3 of Diving In is all about Grand Lake. Lee Keaser sits down with Brian Miller of the Lake Improvement Association for a conversation about the lake’s past, present, and future. From growing up at his family’s marina to serving as former manager of Grand Lake St. Marys State Park, Brian brin
VIDEO: World Champion Hydroplane Driver Tony Black
Hydroplane driver Tony Black – a six-time national champion and world champion who pilots one of the fastest boats in the sport – spoke at the April 2026 Lake Improvement Association meeting. Tony shared stories from the racing circuit and what it’s like behind the wheel at extreme speeds. He was ac
Help Finish the All Abilities Playground
The All Abilities Playground for the East Bank at Grand Lake St. Marys is here, and we’re just one step away from installing it. To make the playground fully accessible and safe, we need to purchase and install rubber surfacing. Our goal is $71,000, and we hope to raise it quickly so the playground
Natural Resources Update – March 2026 (Video)
Mercer County Ag & Natural Resources Director Theresa Dirksen offered an update at the March 2026 LIA meeting.