The Lake Leelanau Lake Association (LLLA) announced the recipient of its Living Legend Award, presented to founding member and former president, Wayne Wunderlich, at the LLLA Annual Meeting held July 24th. The award recognizes Mr. Wunderlich’s enduring contributions to the establishment and success of the association.

In 1980, Wayne Wunderlich placed an advertisement in the Leelanau Enterprise urging lakeshore property owners to unite and advocate for their shared riparian rights. The response to his call was overwhelmingly positive. Thirty charter members joined, each contributing $15, and the Lake Leelanau Lake Association was born. Wayne was elected association’s first president. He served in this role for ten years, guiding the association through its formative stages and beyond.

"Wayne Wunderlich’s unwavering dedication is the bedrock upon which the Lake Leelanau Lake Association stands today," said Nancy Popa, LLLA’s current president. "His singular effort to unite our community for a common cause exemplifies true leadership and makes him a living legend in every sense of the word. We are immensely grateful for his vision and tireless work."

Today, LLLA has nearly 600 members and is open to riparian and non-riparians alike as well as to business sponsors. LLLA protection and preservation activities include water quality, shoreline restoration, boating safety, fishing, and swimmer’s itch education. Currently, the association’s single biggest expense and primary focus is controlling the existential threat posed to the lake by Eurasian watermilfoil, the most invasive aquatic plant in North America.