The Legacy of the Lakes Museum documents decades of this shared heritage and displays it for young and old; year-round resident or snow bird; environmentalists, fishers, or boaters. MLR staff had the pleasure of visiting the Museum in Alexandria this October. There are a lot of boats at this museum, but it is far more… 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 »
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 solution that starts right at our shorelines. Let’s dive into the plan to… Read more »
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 wake boats and the growing popularity of wake surfing. As boating activity increased during the pandemic in 2020, MLR began hearing from members concerned about shoreline erosion, watercraft safety, water quality, and how… 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 Lily Carr, Lake Steward Coordinator Welcome to January in the land of 10,000 lakes! In my corner of Minnesota, pond hockey season is in full swing. A brave few take the plunge into the icy waters of Cedar Lake through a hole cut in the ice. Others huddle in cozy ice fishing huts, hopeful… 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 »
By Lily Carr, Civic Leader and Program Coordinator, MLR In the midst of ever complex and contentious mining debates, the Emily Mine Information Group (EMIG) is making a case for the effectiveness of Civic Organizing as a method by which to inform and organize community members in a completely new way- not against mining, but… Read more »