GWYNETH MURRAY
I grew up on Higgins Lake, a beautiful hidden treasure in Northern Michigan, that shaped a lot of my childhood. This natural resource is known for it's clear waters, but over the years has faced damages due to invasive species, pollution, and fertilizing.
For this project I wanted to engage with members of the community to remind them of the nostalgia and memories they have regarding Higgins, and hoped that love as a motivator would inspire change and awareness.
I sent out posts on Facebook and Instagram and was greeted with pictures and tales that confirmed how adored this beautiful lake was.
I used these interactions to create gifs that addressed some of the major threats to Higgins Lake.
Because Higgins lake is a tourist destination, large groups of people gather and leave behind trash that remains years after. There has also been an increase in weed and algae growth due to the use of fertilizers on beach properties.
Milfoil is an invasive species that has had a negative impact on the lakes ecosystem as well as those who use the water. Another common invasive species is the zebra mussel.