Welcome to the Pennsylvania Lake Management Society!

The Pennsylvania Lake Management Society commonly known as “PALMS” or “PA Lakes” is a non-profit organization dedicated to the management, restoration and protection of Pennsylvania’s lakes and surrounding watersheds.  PALMS is comprised of lake and watershed associations, concerned citizens and watershed management professionals from the private and public sector with the common interest of protecting Pennsylvania lakes for future generations.

We encourage and support programs for lake and watershed protection, restoration and management; provide educational resources and information about lake and watershed management; and foster communication and coordination among lake and watershed stakeholders.

Thousands of people each year enjoy being on and around Pennsylvania lakes and reservoirs. Water in Pennsylvania provides habitat for wildlife, swimming, fishing, boating, bird watching, and even serving as a drinking water source for towns and cities and irrigation water for farms throughout our state. Pennsylvania’s water is a precious resource that must be preserved and protected for the future. Join PALMS and support this mission!

PALMS is an Affiliate Member of the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS).

Growing Greener Grants Update 

2009 Lake BMP Grant

Thanks to the efforts of PALMS Executive Director and the PALMS Board of Directors, PALMS first lake best management practice mini-grant program, awarded by PA DEP in 2010 is complete. Although the funding provided much needed financial support for the 2011 and 2012 Annual Conferences, the primary purpose of the grant was to fund small projects aimed at improving water quality and recreational value of the Commonwealth’s lakes. Of twenty-two applications received, thirteen projects ranked sufficiently high in the review process to be awarded funding. Eight of the projects were located in the eastern region and five in the western region. The minigrants provided for approximately 1600 linear feet of shoreline stabilization and erosion control, mechanical control and/or herbicide treatment of aquatic invasive plants in 18 ponds and lakes, the establishment of approximately 70,000 square feet of native shoreline/riparian buffers, the installation of 3 floating wetland islands to provide for nutrient uptake and additional aquatic habitat and the education of and direct participation from countless project stakeholders and volunteers. 

2011 Lake BMP Grant

In 2012, the PALMS Board was thrilled to be able to offer another round of mini-grants thanks to a second generous Growing Greener grant from PA DEP. Of twenty applications, twelve projects sufficiently addressed the PALMS ranking criteria and PA DEP priorities to be awarded mini-grants. Nine of the awarded projects are located in the eastern region, one in the central region and two in the western region. Many of the projects received high scores in the review process by addressing multiple priorities for funding in their proposed scope of work. Ten of the projects include riparian buffer establishment, six address invasive plant control and four will stabilize lake shorelines.