By Jeff Forester, MN Lakes and Rivers Advocates Executive Director
What a summer! MLR staff and I have attended dozens of lake association meetings and lake events across the state. It has been a real pleasure to get to meet with you, attend your lake association meeting, learn first hand the challenges you face on your lake, and the many great programs and actions your lake association is taking to protect the lake you love.
Often the instinct is to put our surveys to try to understand the work and issues lake associations do. When I was a Boy Scout, my scoutmaster told me that the first rule of effective leadership is to show up. So MLR has been showing up. We listen and learn. Thank you for your many kindnesses, your great work, your support.
One of the things we have learned is that lake associations are the indispensable partner protecting lakes, public safety on lakes, and the communities adjacent to lakes.
We also have learned about the gaps, the struggles with which lake associations must contend. At meeting after meeting we have heard lake associations struggle to engage younger people. They know how important their work is, and as current members ago, they want to ensure the sustainability of this effort.
MLR is working to engage younger people in lake association efforts with a variety of programs like Project WET and Lake Steward. The County AIS Prevention Aid program, which MLR pushed in 2014, has resulted in thousands of young people working summers as AIS inspectors at boat ramps. In 2025 MLR successfully lobbied the MN Legislature to pass a boater’s education and certification program. Our goals were to improve boater safety, reduce user conflicts, and provide Best Practices for wake and prop thrust to minimize ecological impacts of boating, particularly from wake surfing watercraft.
On July 1, 2025 the Boater Certification requirement went live. It has already resulted in a decline in boating related fatalities.
The Minnesota Watercraft Operator’s Permit requirement expands yearly to cover more operators:
- July 1, 2026: Required for operators born on or after July 1, 2000 (ages 26 and younger).
- July 1, 2027: Required for operators born on or after July 1, 1996 (ages 31 and younger).
- July 1, 2028: Required for operators born on or after July 1, 1987 (ages 41 and younger).
Phil Rollins, a former board member on the Bay Lake Improvement Association, BLIA, saw this new requirement as a way to serve the community. The online option can take up to five hours to complete, and Phil thought an in person course might be more useful. He reached out to the County Sheriff and they readily agreed.
On Friday, July 2nd, five deputies arrived to work with young people to take as written form of the test. A box lunch was served at 11:30 with the program beginning at noon. They took the test at 3:00, and then they had the opportunity to drive the Sherriff’s boat. Over twenty young people showed up. Phil expects attendance to increase in future years as the certification requirement phases in. The cost was $40 per attendee with the BLIA paying half the amount and attendees paying the other half.
“We thought it would be helpful for those families that needed to get their children certified,” said Phil. He also noted that, “Maybe it was the first experience they had with the Bay Lake Improvement Association.”
This is a great case study of not only the role lake associations can play in protecting water quality and improving water safety, but connecting with the next generation of lake and rivers advocates in a positive and fun way.