If you’ve been on the lake in the past week, you’ve probably seen large numbers of dead snails floating on the water. This snail die-off is likely triggered by extreme heat.

Here in lakes country, a broad but often under-appreciated role is that of an individual lake within the context of a much larger watershed. Watersheds contain all types of land...

July Fourth is the busiest holiday on Big Mantrap Lake. It’s also one of the most dangerous times for our loon chicks. Stay safe and watch for loons while boating. Chicks can’t dive and boat strikes are the most common cause of death for our beloved babies.

Hope you are all busy preparing your award-winning entries for this year’s Fourth of July Big Mantrap Lake Association boat parade. If you’re not competing, plan to hit your docks to cheer on contestants and then vote for your favorites on the BMLA website.

Mantrap neighbors from across the lake enjoyed camaraderie, great food, a lovely setting and important discussions during the Big Mantrap Lake Association’s June membership meeting, hosted by Cindy and Mark Condiff at their Steamboat Bay cabin.

Blue skies and perfect temperatures greeted the roughly 100 people who attended the grand opening of the Mantrap Wildlife Management Area June 25. The event celebrated a huge conservation accomplishment for Big Mantrap Lake.

The BMLA foraging hike and potluck lunch scheduled for July 8 at Laura Barta and Ted Jastrzebski’s cabin in Steamboat Bay has been canceled. Due to a scheduling conflict, the hike will be rescheduled for next summer.

Big Mantrap Lake’s loon nesting program recently earned national recognition. Our volunteer program received the 2025 John Muir Resource Preservation Award.

Our July 4th tradition continues in 2026. After assembling at the narrows, boats will circle the Big Bay, parade into East Arm, Steamboat and Hoist bays.

Big Mantrap Lake Association volunteers picked up trash along both sides of County Highway 24 on May 30 as part of BMLA’s Adopt-a-Highway commitment.

A new custom map is available to help boaters make informed decisions about where to use wake boats on Big Mantrap Lake. This map identifies in purple the areas where enhanced wake activities, such as wake surfing, are recommended to occur.