Dear Lake Management Community,
We are occasionally asked why Lake Pulse doesn’t work directly on the Great Lakes.
It’s a fair question. The Great Lakes — Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario — are among the most important freshwater resources on the planet. They matter enormously to public health, ecosystems, economies, and communities across the United States and Canada.
This note is meant to explain, plainly and transparently, why Lake Pulse has chosen not to position itself as a Great Lakes platform — and why that choice is central to our mission.
First, respect where it’s due
The scientific and management work happening on the Great Lakes is essential and deeply impressive. Federal agencies, state and provincial governments, tribal nations, universities, binational commissions, and consulting firms are investing decades of expertise and billions of dollars into understanding and protecting these systems.
From nutrient loading and harmful algal blooms to climate-driven changes in temperature and circulation, the Great Lakes are among the most studied freshwater bodies in the world. That work saves lives, protects drinking water, and supports entire regional economies.
Lake Pulse does not compete with that effort, and we don’t seek to replace it.
The reality of the Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are, by necessity: Binational, Highly regulated, Politically complex, Scientifically dense, and Supported by many overlapping agencies and consultants
That density is a strength — but it also means there is relatively little unmet need for a platform like Lake Pulse at the lake-wide scale.
Put simply: the Great Lakes are already very busy.
What Lake Pulse was built to do
Lake Pulse was built for small and medium-sized lakes, roughly 20 acres to 250,000 acres.
These lakes represent the overwhelming majority of lakes in the United States. They are where people swim, fish, draw drinking water, and build communities. They are also where decisions are often made with:
- Limited data,
- Infrequent monitoring,
- Fragmented historical records, and
- Small or volunteer-led budgets
Most of these lakes will never have dedicated scientific teams or long-term, well-funded monitoring programs.
That gap is exactly why Lake Pulse exists.
A simple comparison
A lake 20 miles inland from Lake Michigan may face nutrient runoff, warming water, algal blooms, and development pressure — but have only sporadic sampling and few analytical tools to understand what’s changing.
Lake Michigan itself is supported by international agreements, federal agencies, state and provincial programs, universities on both sides of the border, and a deep bench of consultants.
Lake Pulse is simply more useful where fewer tools already exist.
Learning flows both ways
Choosing not to work directly on the Great Lakes does not mean ignoring them.
Research from the Great Lakes often provides early signals and hard-earned lessons that are highly relevant to smaller lakes — from nutrient thresholds to climate trends to monitoring approaches.
One of Lake Pulse’s roles is to help translate that knowledge into forms that are usable by lake associations, local governments, and watershed groups working on much smaller systems.
This is a complementary role, not a competing one.
Focus as a deliberate choice
Lake Pulse exists for lakes that don’t have:
- Billion-dollar restoration programs
- International treaties
- Multiple agencies overseeing every decision
We exist for communities that care deeply about their lakes but operate with limited resources and limited clarity.
Staying focused on small and medium-sized lakes allows Lake Pulse to remain practical, accessible, and grounded in real decision-making.
That focus isn’t a limitation — it’s the point.
In closing
The Great Lakes deserve the attention, investment, and complexity they require.
But the future of freshwater health in the United States will ultimately be shaped by what happens across hundreds of thousands of smaller lakes, quietly spread across the landscape.
Those are the lakes Lake Pulse was built to serve.
Best Regards,
Lake Pulse Founders