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
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
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
Mercer County Ag & Natural Resources Director Theresa Dirksen offered an update at the March 2026 LIA meeting.
Pro fisherman Matt Tuttle discussed how to catch crappie at Grand Lake St. Marys at the March 2026 LIA meeting.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has released its 2026 dredging plan for Grand Lake St. Marys.For the first time in six years, the dredge crew is fully staffed. Two new crew members will be trained as dredge operators, which will require some training time, but a fully staffed program is pos
Learn why gizzard shad are frozen in the ice on Grand Lake this winter.We asked Wright State University-Lake Campus biology professor Dr. Stephen Jacquemin why we’re seeing so many fish frozen in the ice at Grand Lake. Here’s what he said (thank you, Dr. Jacquemin!).Winter Mortality of Gizzard ShadD
This graphic compares one of Grand Lake’s worst years for microcystin levels (2015) with the most recent full year of data (2025), demonstrating the progress made over the past decade.This didn’t happen by accident. It reflects a sustained, coordinated effort by many individuals, organizations, and
Wright State University Lake Campus Biology Professor Dr. Stephen Jacquemin gave an update on 2025 wetland performance in the Grand Lake St. Marys watershed at the February 2026 Lake Improvement Association meeting.Highlights760 million gallons treated in 2025 (compared to 620 million in 2024 and 44
Troy Shively discusses Grand Lake St. Marys’ migratory birds at the February 2026 Lake Improvement Association member meeting.
Mercer SWCD’s annual tree seedling sale is underway. Order by the March 6, 2026 deadline. View the flyer for more info.VIEW FLYER
A new $2.54 million mixed-use building will be built at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park to replace two old and deteriorating structures that no longer meet operational or visitor needs.Key details:The current camp store and park office are outdated, cramped, and in disrepair, prompting long-standing
The Lake Improvement Association presented Theresa Dirksen and Dr. Stephen Jacquemin with the Guardian of the Lake Award at its December 2025 member meeting.The Guardian of the Lake Award is presented to individuals who have taken extraordinary action to improve Grand Lake St. Marys, and both recipi
ODNR Wildlife Research Technician Neil Baker gave a presentation on beavers, muskrats, and other Grand Lake furbearers at the December 2025 Lake Improvement Association meeting. Watch the video and view the presentation below.VIDEOPRESENTATION
Theresa Dirksen presents on ag and natural resources.Mercer County Ag & Natural Resources Director Theresa Dirksen offers an update at the December 2025 Lake Improvement Association meeting. Watch the video, view the presentation, and watch the H2Ohio TAP 2.0 video below.VIDEOPRESENTATIONH2Ohio TAP
Wright State University-Lake Campus Biology Professor Dr. Stephen Jacquemin offers an update at the December 2025 Lake Improvement Association meeting. Watch the video and view the presentation below.VIDEOPRESENTATION
LIA Trustee Brian Miller gave a wetlands and natural resources update provided by Mercer County Ag & Natural Resource Director Theresa Dirksen at the November 2025 Lake Improvement Association member meeting.
Grand Lake St. Marys State Park Manager David Faler gave an update on the state park and dredging efforts at the November 2025 Lake Improvement Association meeting.
Jerry “Jerrdog” Love asked trivia questions about Grand Lake St. Marys at the November 2025 Lake Improvement Association member meeting. Video and questions and answers below.Grand Lake Trivia1. What 19th-century waterway was Grand Lake St. Marys constructed to supply?Miami and Erie Canal.2. At the
The Lake Improvement Association is proud to again offer three $1,000 scholarships available to Wright State University-Lake Campus students studying water quality and related fields for the 2026-2027.Two of the scholarships are directly funded by the LIA, and the third scholarship – the Thomas Ramp
The Lake Improvement Association will hold its annual elections on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at the December member meeting to be held at 10 a.m. at the Celina Moose.As required by the by-laws, the election committee will conduct the election for the following positions (current officers, trustees and
Huge thank-you to Tri-Star for constructing the West Bank Shelter House! This is part of a new recreation area on the West Bank of Grand Lake, which also features a new playground and ADA fishing dock. The project is nearing completion and a ribbon cutting will be held on a future date.
Wright State University-Lake Campus Biology Professor Dr. Stephen Jacquemin offered a water quality update at the October 2025 Lake Improvement Association meeting. Video and PowerPoint below.VideoPowerPoint
Grand Lake St. Marys State Park Manager David Faler offered a recap of 2025 improvements at the October 2025 Lake Improvement Association meeting.
