Building Civic Capacity: How Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates Are Mobilizing Lake Associations for Public Policy and Environmental Action”MLR, Key Lake Association Leaders and Political Allies working to build “civic infrastructure” to protect our lakes and rivers. During the 2022 election cycle, for the first time, Minnesota Lakes and Rivers applied the Civic Organizing framework… Read more »
The MPCA reports that 56% of the lakes and rivers in Minnesota are impaired. The sources and reasons for water degradation are both plentiful and complex, but degraded shoreline is a contributor. The simple fact is that if we want to improve water, we must improve land management. Unfortunately, the trends are towards more development… Read more »
by Sheila Johnston The Common Loon is Minnesota’s state bird and it is beloved for its haunting calls and dramatic beauty. Minnesota is home to an estimated 12,000 loons! Alaska is the only state with more loons. With 12,000 loons in the state, it is no surprise that some of them succumb to illness andRead More
Sen Carrie Ruud Named 2022 Lake Advocate On Sept. 24th, at a meeting of over 20 lake association leaders from across the state,Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates Executive Director Jeff Forester awarded Sen. CarrieRuud the 2022 Lake Advocate of the year award. In presenting the award, Jeff Forester said, “There is no legislator more focused… Read more »
Our Lake and River Shorelines are at a Turning Point Our lakes are in trouble and the situation is urgent. If we want to manage water, we must manage land. As lake shore property owners we have both a significant opportunity and exposure to negative impacts from water quality decline. According to shoreline specialists at… Read more »
Guest blog by Dr. John Richard Saylor – Author of “Lakes: Their Birth, Life, and Death,” (https://johnrichardsaylor.com/index.html). The environmental segment of a typical popular science magazine or news show can be prettygloomy. Stories on global warming, as just one example, point toward a future of rising sealevels, torrential floods, and searing droughts. While these stories… Read more »
By Jeff Forester The most cost effective strategy to deal with AIS is to prevent them from spreading. This is the only solution that is 100% effective. But while prevention strategies are being deployed, lake associations benefit both in terms of cost savings and good outcomes if they also focus on early detection and makingRead More
These hot and muggy dog days are perfect lake weather, perfect for swimming in the lake, waterskiing and other water sports. Unfortunately, it is also becoming primetime for the algae blooms that can spread across the lakes we love and make swimming, skiing and watersports impossible. There are many different types of algae, from the… Read more »
Water management is highly political, but MLR has always been completely non-partisan. What I mean by highly political is that protecting water is the work of citizens. The alphabet soup of agencies, MN DNR, SWCDs, WDs are simply not equipped nor do they have the budget to take the actions required to protect pristine waters… Read more »
You have no doubt seen not only the increase in boat traffic on Minnesota’s lakes, but the increase in the size, power and speed of the new boats on our lakes. You may have also seen a decline in boating safety. A decline in common curtesy on the lakes. A decline in water quality. But… Read more »