Water Connect Us All is the Minnesota Lakes & Rivers newsletter, sharing updates on statewide water protection efforts, legislative advocacy, aquatic invasive species prevention, natural shoreline stewardship, and lake association leadership. Explore the latest news, program updates, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved in protecting Minnesota’s lakes and rivers.
For the last ten years, Minnesota has led the nation in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS), supported through a state funding funding mechanism called County AIS Prevention Aid. Established in 2014 with the support of Minnesota Lakes & Rivers Advocates, this program allocates $10 million annually for local governments to implement targeted,… Read more »
Everyone who enjoys Minnesota’s lakes and rivers has a role to play in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). It’s not hard to understand why aquatic invaders like zebra mussels, spiny water flea, and curlyleaf pondweed are harmful to our waters. If you live on or recreate on an infested waterbody, you may… Read more »
This past summer, with funding from the Minneapolis Foundation, MLR piloted an urban version of the Lake Steward program, reimagining city curbs as shorelines and exploring how residents can help protect urban waterways through everyday actions. The initiative encouraged both homeowners and renters to take simple, positive steps to protect our lakes—planting native gardens, picking… Read more »
MN Lakes and Rivers is thrilled to partner with Broken Clock Brewing, Curiouso Coffee, Queermunity, Marcy Bikes, and local musicians Daisy Forester and Emma Jeanne for Tunes, Tunes & Loons — a lively, all-ages community bike ride across Minneapolis. The ride ends in celebration with live music, bike tune-ups, coffee, beer, and a spotlight on… Read more »
If you’ve ever spent a quiet spring morning beside a Minnesota lake, you may have heard the eerie, beautiful call of the common loon echoing across the water. Loons are more than a symbol of our northern heritage as the Minnesota state bird. They are also an indicator of lake health, reflecting the condition of… Read more »
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ annual Roundtable is where leaders get an update on progress and discuss priorities for the year ahead. This year, I had my first opportunity to attend, as well as present as a panelist at Roundtable—an event that Minnesota Lakes and Rivers has been participating in since 2011. The event’s… Read more »
By Sami Selter, Associate Executive Director This November, I had the exciting opportunity to both present and learn at the Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference (UMISC) in Duluth, MN—the largest gathering of its kind in the world. I shared the success of the collaborative Stop Starry Program, where MLR has worked hand-in-hand with local and… Read more »