Have you ever wanted to try surfing? As a kid I wanted nothing more. I spent days at school plotting my move to California or Hawaii and imagining the laid-back, beach-dwelling lifestyle of the surfers I saw on TV. However, like most childhood dreams, it didn’t pan out. Instead, I’m enjoying a heat wave in… Read more »
By Noah Baumann – Lake Shield LLC The waters of our beautiful state and beyond our borders, belong to everyone. What that means is we are all responsible for creating healthy user habits when it comes to recreating. As with all accesses, there are numerous signs and informational posts regarding fish limits, “No Power Loading,”… Read more »
Have you ever been inspired to give to an organization because they were offering a 1:1 or 2:1 match for your gift? It’s a great feeling. Now MLR donors can do that every day with a service called Double the Donation. I wanted to take a moment to explain this new employer matching software MLR… Read more »
In 2019 MLR began receiving reports that large wakes were creating conflicts among different lake users, eroding shoreline, and creating other problems. During the pandemic lake based recreation increased dramatically as did the sale of watercraft. Industry data shows that consumers gravitated to the ends of the boat spectrum. Sales of large, powerful watercraft like… Read more »
Most citizens believe that the MN DNR has the responsibility to protect and manage our public waters, and they would be right. But what most do not understand is that while the MN DNR has the authority and responsibility, lake associations do most of the planning and actual work, and pay the majority of the… Read more »
Water Connects Us All – MLR’s 28th Yearly Update The 2021 Minnesota Lakes and Rivers “Water Connects Us All™” Annual Meeting was held virtual December 1st, 2021. Executive Director Jeff Forester gave a detailed report on our accomplishments together over the last year, including millions of dollars in funding for AIS research, Stop Starry efforts,… Read more »
Lake Steward sign goes up on Lawrence Lake Lloyd Thyen’s grandparents originally purchased 100’ of lakeshore on Lawrence Lake in Cass County in the 1940’s with a vertical log cabin on site. Some believe it to have been the oldest structure on Lawrence Lake. Eventually the cabin had to be torn down and the family… Read more »
City of East Gull Lake Takes Big Steps to Protect Water Quality in Permitting Process Connecting with new shoreline owners as they are starting to make decisions about how to develop their lots is critical to protecting water quality. Including Lake Steward in the Land Use Permit Application, as the City of East Gull Lake… Read more »
A program to take water education to the next level As lake leaders you know that the threats to our lakes, and MN’s lake heritage, are mounting. In 2020 the MPCA, after extensive testing, listed 56% of Minnesota’s lakes as impaired. This year they added another 305 water bodies to the list. Agricultural runoff, industrial… Read more »
MLR members convene for 2021 policy discussion Jeff Forester, Executive Director of MN Lakes and Rivers Advocates welcomed about 75 Lake Association leaders to the virtual meeting. His opening presentation focused on a Civic based strategy to vertically integrate lake and river advocacy in MN. Lake and rivers are a key resource for local communities,… Read more »