By Sami Selter Assoc. Exec. Director, MN Lakes & Rivers Curbs are the shorelines of the city. This past summer, Minnesota Lakes & Rivers, with funding from the Minneapolis Foundation, piloted the Minneapolis Lake Steward program. The initiative encouraged both homeowners and renters to take simple, positive steps to protect our lakes—planting native gardens, picking… Read more »
Who will care for the cabin after you? Passing on a family cabin or lake home can be one of the greatest gifts—and also one of the biggest challenges. Join Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates for this special webinar with guest host George Byron Griffiths Law PLLC. You’ll learn how to: Since 2016, George Byron Griffiths Law,… Read more »
SEPT 2025 The Department of Natural Resources has released their annual snapshot of AIS Prevention Aid from 2024. The results show an increase in partnerships and dollars leveraged between 2023-2024 with 30 counties reporting over $2 million dollars awarded to 232 local organizations in grants (up from $1.5 million to 150 organizations in 2023). Over… 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 »
Join us for an engaging evening with Minnesota’s Lake Stewards to explore what natural, sustainable shorelines look like—and why they matter. You’ll learn how shoreline vegetation, buffers, and thoughtful land use can significantly improve water quality, reduce erosion, and provide critical habitat for fish, birds, and pollinators. At this free one-hour webinar, hosted by Minnesota… Read more »
Guest Blog A Cleaner, Healthier Future for Our Lakes & Ponds Starts Now! Hello neighbors, If you’ve noticed murky water, algae blooms, or fewer fish in your lake or pond, you’re not alone. These issues are often caused by fertilizer runoff and low oxygen levels—but the good news is, we now have a natural, effective… Read more »
By Sami Selter, Associate Executive Director What Minnesota’s Lakeshore Communities Need to Know About Enhanced Wakes. The Healthy Waters Initiative In 2020, as the pandemic drew more people to Minnesota’s lakes, communities raised urgent concerns about the rise of wake-surfing boats and their impact on our waters. With most existing research either limited or industry-funded,… Read more »
Sami Selter, MN Lakes and Rivers Associate Director In recent years, MLR has been at the forefront of one of the most visible—and divisive—changes on Minnesota’s lakes: the rise of enhanced wake boats and the growing popularity of wake surfing. On a summer afternoon, it’s easy to see the appeal. Watching a surfer carve across… Read more »
If you’ve ever spent a quiet morning on a Minnesota lake, you may have heard the eerie, beautiful call of the common loon echoing across the water, anchoring us to the wildness of this place. Loons are more than a symbol of our northern heritage, they are a vital sign of lake health, an indicator… Read more »
It’s SHORE important For many Minnesotans, owning a lake home is a dream fulfilled—a place for family, reflection, and connection to nature. But the strip of land between home and water plays a vital role in protecting the lake itself. Common landscaping choices like lawns to the water’s edge and riprap, often promoted as the… Read more »