Update: SAFL Phase Three Wake Study (and other AIS research on Minnetonka) Longtime MLR member, partner, champion Gabriel Jabbour is a Lake Guardian. His efforts at protecting our resources are so focused and productive that he has printed cards with Lake Guardian printed on them. He handed me one recently, saying, “If you tell people… Read more »
In The News
2024 Lake Steward Webinar
Join Minnesota Lakes and Rivers (MLR) for an engaging and informative webinar dedicated to celebrating the exceptional contributions of Lake Stewards. In this session, we’ll explore the impactful work being done across our lakes and demonstrate how you can play a vital role in this essential initiative. Gain valuable insights into the various aspects of… Read more »
MPR – Trouble by the Water Series
“The (Lake Steward) program has spread to dozens more lakes across Minnesota. Supporters view it as part of a strategy to help change societal norms and expectations around lakeshore development, and help slow the loss of natural shoreline that protects lakes from pollution.” – Kirsti Marohn, MPR Minnesota’s lakeshores are disappearing at an alarming rate—over… Read more »
Lakeshore residents’ perspectives about aquatic invasive species management
Minnesota’s lakeshore communities are acutely aware of the threat aquatic invasive species (AIS) pose to the native ecology and the cultural enjoyment of our lakes and rivers. AIS is a recurring topic at lake association meetings, where members are actively managing infested waters, mobilizing volunteers, and sharing practical prevention strategies to protect their waters from… Read more »
MLR Intern Leads Summer Swim and Conservation Camp
by Judi Lee At the swim camp for nine kids recently housed at the Lakes Crisis and Resource Center, our focus was not only on the improvement of their swimming skills but also on the development of an environmentally conscious mindset. Those three weeks were jam-packed with art projects, field trips, and outdoor adventures, many… Read more »
A Field Study of Maximum Wave Height, Total Wave Energy, and Maximum Wave Power Produced by Four Recreational Boats on a Freshwater Lake
With the increase in the popularity of boating recreation, towed watersports and wake surfing, the need to better understand the impacts of wakes and prop thrust on lake ecology. This is phase one of a three phase study into the issue.
MLR and County Partners Launch Statewide Aquatic Invasive Species PAS Series
Counties across Minnesota and Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates have come together to produce a unique ‘How Well Do You Know Minnesota?’ series that provides MN fun facts and information about aquatic invasive species. The series launched May 1st and will run through September 30th with a different video showcased each month. This video series… Read more »
Minnesota Lakes and Rivers 2024 Legislative Update
The 2024 session was extremely short, mid-February to mid-May. This meant that there was very little time for complex or controversial legislation to work its way through the process. MLR set a more modest legislative agenda this year, focusing on issues on which we had been able to initiate in previous years. The most important of… Read more »
MLR Water Connects Us All Conference
On May 17th, over 100 of the lake leaders from across Minnesota gathered at the Saint Anthony Falls Lab to see some of the latest science on zaqwuatic invas9ve species, algae blooms, shoreline ecology and wake and prop thrust impacts. They also had a chance to connect with eachother, share information and efforts, and build… Read more »
MLR Pursues Long Term Strategy to Address Wake Surfing Impacts
The Problem Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates (MLR) received the first email from a member regarding the impacts of wake surfing in 2019. By the summer of 2020 more members were telling us the large, powerful wakes generated by wake surfing boats were eroding shorelines, knocking people from pontoon or fishing boats, swamping canoes, kayaks… Read more »