TO:                   MLA Members and Friends of MLA

FROM:              Molly Z. Zins, Lake Stewardship Coordinator   218-824-5565

Welcome to MLA’s monthly Lake Bulletin, providing you with timely information in addition to our quarterly Reporter newsletter. To have material included for announcement or to request removal of your name from this mailing list, please send information to lakes@mnlakes.org. Do not reply to the listserv from which you received this message.

MLA NEWS

MLA and RCM Citizen Volunteer Monitoring Plan Trainings

The Minnesota Lakes Association and the Rivers Council of Minnesota are pleased to announce the second round of Citizen Volunteer Monitoring Plan Training. Our research shows that many citizen-monitoring programs collect data, but often stumble when it comes to using the information. Therefore, this program is designed to help you focus your goals and create a plan that makes your monitoring program more efficient and effective.

The Monitoring Plan Trainings will guide you through the process of developing a monitoring plan during two sessions with individual assistance between and after training dates. At the end of the Training you will have a completed written plan that meets your needs and the capabilities of your group, as well as a stipend to implement the plan. Anyone who organizes or carries out a citizen-monitoring program for a stream, lake or watershed is invited to apply. We are offering two Trainings to choose from:

Training 1: January 13, 14 & 27, 2006

Training 2: September 22, 23 & October 6, 2006. 

Applications must be postmarked by November 9, 2005.  Electronic copies of the application form and a brochure explaining the training can be found at: www.riversmn.org/resources_citmon.html. For the application, questions, or further assistance please contact: Sandy Holm at sandy@mnlakes.org or call 218-765-8329.

"Funding for this project was recommended by the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund."

Teachers Invited to Attend Minnesota Lake Ecology Study Unit Training

Teachers around the Sauk River Watershed District (SRWD) and Central Minnesota are invited to attend the Minnesota Lake Ecology teacher training workshop to be held November 17, 9am – 3pm at the Melrose City Hall.  This program is targeted to 5th and 6th grade teachers. Those who attend will learn about Minnesota’s natural lake resources, watersheds, pollution and water monitoring. The afternoon will include learning hands-on exercises and experiments to bring back to the classroom, providing for science and social studies exploration in the classroom that can be linked to local resources. 

Pre-registration is required and limited to 40 teachers. The workshop is open to all public, private and home school teachers. Due to special grant funding, the cost for teachers in the SRWD is only $15. The SRWD will also help cover substitute teacher and mileage expenses, as well as provide both teacher and student workbooks.  Teachers that are not in the SRWD may attend for a fee of $40 and no expenses will be reimbursed. All teachers who attend will receive meals and resource materials. If you are interested in this training opportunity, please contact the SRWD at 320-352-2231 or visit www.srwdmn.org to print a brochure with registration information.

2005 Brainerd Area Lake-Friendly Development Awards

Come help us celebrate the third annual Lake-Friendly Development Awards on October 27, 7 pm at the Northland Arboretum in Brainerd/Baxter. It’s a chance to congratulate the Lake-Friendly Development winners and see how they are protecting the health of their lakes by developing or redeveloping their lakeshore properties using ecologically sustainable and sensitive principles. There will also be a presentation by DNR Fisheries researcher Paul Radomski. 

Several Brainerd Lakes Area and statewide environmental organizations along with several divisions of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are combining their efforts to publicly recognize homeowners and contractors who have chosen to develop or redevelop their lakeshore or riverfront properties in full compliance with shore-land zoning ordinances and ecologically sustainable and sensitive principles. The hope is that through these awards, ecologically sensitive development along lakeshore and river shore will become the fashionable trend. The future health of the region’s lakes and rivers depends on it. Contact the MLA office for directions to the Brainerd Arboretum or to learn about how you might start a similar award initiative in your area.     

Public Television Program: “Minnesota’s Lakes at Risk”

On October 30, at 6:30 p.m. the program “Minnesota’s Lakes at Risk” will debut on the PBS Minnesota Channel 17. MLA was awarded in-kind grant monies from Twin Cities Public Television, added to a federal 319 Non-Point Source Pollution Grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, for the production and broadcast of the program “Minnesota’s Lakes at Risk” to improve the understanding among citizens, who live on and use Minnesota’s water resources, about properly managed growth and development, land use impacts on water quality and sound conservation principles regarding valuable water resources. 

While Minnesotans love their lakes, they are being overused, overdeveloped, invaded by non native species, and general water quality is being compromised to the point where Minnesota is in danger of loving its lakes to death. Lakes are Minnesota’s greatest natural resources and part of Minnesota’s heritage, yet they are fragile ecosystems that need to be handled with care today if they are to survive and thrive in the future. Tune in to the broadcast on October 30, invite your neighbors or lake association to join you, and learn what we can all do today to sustain healthy lake systems for tomorrow. In early 2006, MLA will be widely distributing a DVD of the program, including a copy to member lake associations and COLAs and local governments throughout Minnesota.

HOT TOPICS

County Denies Proposed Shoreland Development that Meets Standards, But Poses Water Quality Concerns

On a small environmental lake in Stearns County the Pirz Lake Association put their concerns over the proposal for a large lakeshore development into action when they hired a retired biology professor, specializing in lake research, to investigate the potential environmental impacts of the development. The professor’s findings indicate the proposed development would result in a tremendous increase in runoff and nutrient loading, while DNR area hydrologist Dan Lais explains, “Natural environment lakes can't dilute out the nutrients as easily as their larger counterparts, in part because of their shallowness and thick aquatic vegetation.” And although the proposed development officially met all the conditions of the Stearns County zoning ordinance the County Board voted to deny its approval, based on concerns for water quality. 

As natural environment lakes across the state experience ever increasing development pressure science tells us these tremendously fragile systems won’t sustain the development already present on much of the state’s recreational lakes. According to the MLA’s Executive Director, Paula West, the state’s shoreland standards, drafted three decades ago, aren’t protective enough for natural environment lakes. Yet one solution will hopefully stem from the drafting of new shoreland standards, proposed for the five county central lakes area, which would better assist both local officials and developers with updated tools, adequately addressing the most sensitive lakes and riparian habitats in the state. Click here to read the article “Development Threatens Pirz Lake Environment.”   

Bring Back the Clean Air Act

Excerpted from the Bemidji Pioneer

According to the US Public Interest Research Group’s (PIRG) report “Fishing for Trouble,” released Oct. 14, 2004, 100 percent of Minnesota’s nearly 3.3 million lake acres were under mercury advisory in 2003, and the state was first in the nation for a number of fish consumption advisories. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed in its regulatory role by issuing new rules last March that answer the industry’s concerns, but does not account for the health of people. Under a so-called cap-and-trade system, the rules allow flexibility to power plants to continue to pollute at high levels, as long as another plant elsewhere is below the standard. The rules place a nationwide cap on mercury emissions and a ceiling on allowable pollution for each state. But individual plants can avoid cleanups by buying pollution credits from plants that are under allowable levels. 

The US Senate failed Tuesday in its effort to repeal those ill-advised rules and replace them with revisions more in line with the Clean Air Act, which requires “the best available technology” to reduce mercury emissions. Instead of starting reductions in 2008, and reaching 90 percent reductions in mercury sooner under the Clean Air Act standards, the EPA rules won’t start reductions until 2018 and reach only 70 percent reductions by 2030. Granted, the Clean Air Act standards would cost money, but can one put a price on health?

Minnesota's Waters Becoming More Polluted

Excerpted from an article by Dan Gunderson, Minnesota Public Radio

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is preparing to release an updated list of polluted streams, rivers, and lakes, known officially as "impaired waters." It's expected several hundred impaired waters will be added to the list. It's estimated up to 40 percent of Minnesota lakes and rivers are polluted. Federal law requires the state to monitor polluted waters and develop a cleanup plan for those that don't meet standards. But there's not enough money to test or clean up the water. The federal Clean Water Act requires the state to test lakes and rivers to see if they're clean enough for drinking, swimming and fishing. It's a daunting task. Minnesota has a lot of water. For example, there are some 92,000 miles of rivers and streams in Minnesota. Based on estimates that 40 percent are impaired, that's about 37,000 miles of polluted rivers and streams. So far, less than 10 percent of Minnesota waterways have been given a pollution checkup.

The first step in identifying polluted waters is documenting the pollution. If the water consistently fails to meet state standards for things like turbidity, phosphorus, low oxygen levels, or other pollutants, it's added to the impaired waters list. But collecting all this data is time-consuming and expensive. The MPCA says it doesn't have nearly enough staff to monitor 92,000 miles of rivers and 14,000 lakes, so the agency is more often relying on volunteers to test lakes and streams. The MPCA is expanding its use of water quality data collected by volunteers. Officials say it’s the only way to effectively monitor Minnesota rivers and lakes.

Thank Development and Accompanying Pressures for Loss of Ducks in Minnesota

Excerpted from an article by Paul Radomski and Russ Schultz, Brainerd Dispatch

Hunters and bird watchers are wondering what is happening to duck populations. There appears to be fewer ducks nesting in the local area and fewer migrating ducks stopping over. This year, Minnesota's breeding duck population was the lowest since the drought years of the 1980s, according to annual aerial survey data. The duck hunting harvest was down 23 percent last year.

Why are there fewer ducks? Loss of habitat and reduced quality of remaining habitat are probably large factors. Migrating ducks, in recent years, have seemed to find Minnesota waters less hospitable than in the past. This may be, at least in part, because today's waters have more disturbances from motorized watercraft, less aquatic vegetation and fewer invertebrates for ducks to eat.  Nesting ducks need quality places to raise their young. Minnesota once had vast areas of high quality wetland/grassland duck nesting habitat. Development has reduced those quality duck rearing areas.

State of Vermont Wants Landowner to Pay $170,000 for Shoreline Damage

Excerpted from article in the Times Argus

The Vermont Supreme Court will consider whether a Florida man must pay more than $170,000 for clear-cutting trees on the shores of the Green River Reservoir in Hyde Park.  Barrett Singer pleaded no contest in 2000 to misdemeanor criminal charges after he cut down nearly 100 trees on state land between his property and the water. As part of a settlement, Singer replanted the trees at a cost of $54,000. But state officials believe replacing a mature stand of trees with young saplings is not punishment enough and want Singer to pay a fine to compensate for the crime. "There is a stand of trees that is gone and cannot be replaced," said Michael Duane, an assistant attorney general. "There were 30-to-40-foot trees there. Now there are 5-foot trees. It will take 40 years for the trees that were planted to put the woods back in the condition it was before the cutting."

Singer wants the high court to dismiss the state's claim. The court is expected to rule sometime next year. According to court documents, Singer clear-cut the trees in the spring of 1999 and bulldozed a road from his property across state land after both the state and the town of Hyde Park denied him permission to build a boathouse and establish a special access to the water. A month later, the state brought civil action against Singer.

Urban Runoff a Toxic Brew

Excerpted from an article by Dan Olson, Minnesota Public Radio

Rainfall supplies water for life, but it can create a nasty brew. Twin Cities stormwater runoff carries away anything spilled onto the region's roadways and parking lots. Most of it goes untreated into Twin Cities lakes and rivers.  Just a half-inch rainfall across the seven-county area creates four billion gallons of stormwater. That's enough water to fill the Metrodome nine times.  Stormwater is separate from what we send down our kitchen drains and toilets. Sewer or wastewater goes off to treatment plants. Not stormwater. In newer suburbs, some is diverted to ponds.  Some of the foulest stormwater is found in the hundreds of ponds near suburban Twin Cities' office and shopping centers. A pond near the newly rebuilt Apache Plaza in St. Anthony Village is a pit the size of an Olympic swimming pool. It's surrounded by a fence to prevent people from falling in.  Water from the nearby parking lot has washed a collection of plastic bottles, wrappers and newspapers into it. The color of the water on a bright sunny day is black.

Dan Huff is a watershed specialist for the Friends of the Mississippi River, a St. Paul-based advocacy group. He says ponds of this type were considered state-of-the-art for stormwater collection 20 years ago, but they're relics now.  A cheaper and more effective approach, Huff says, is to dot big impervious areas like parking lots with smaller sunken rain gardens and grassy collection basins. They keep stormwater closer to where it originates, and do a better cleaning job.  Virtually unchecked development in the fast-growing Twin Cities area is adding acres of impervious surfaces every year. Officials say the challenge is to accommodate growth, while cleaning up the pollution already fouling the region's lakes and streams.

RCM RiverNight ’05 Highlights

Kicking off RiverNight '05 aboard the Centennial Showboat docked at Harriet Island, Governor Tim Pawlenty celebrated the wealth of Minnesota's water resources. "Minnesota is the land of lakes and the region of rivers. Clean water is an important part of our quality of life," noted Governor Pawlenty. To read more about the RiverNight Highlights Click here.

LAKE ASSOCIATION NEWS

The Norway/Games Lake Association, of Kandiyohi County in west central Minnesota, were among the first groups chosen to participate in the MLA and RCM Citizen Water Monitoring Training in 2003 and have been diligently putting their monitoring skills to practice ever since.  With the leadership of dedicated volunteers, such as Sandy and Marvin Packer, the Association has engaged in a variety efforts to improve water quality, not only on the Norway/Games lakes, but throughout the Shakopee Creek watershed.  Partnering with the Shakopee Creek Headwaters Project Coordinator, the Association has assisted with initiatives for shoreline revegetation, wetland restoration and developing buffer strips along ditches or tributaries emptying polluted stormwater into the area’s lakes.  In addition, the Association assisted with the effort to encourage over 30 Norway/Games homeowners to utilize the Headwaters Project low interest grant in order to upgrade their septic systems.

As an active volunteer since 1998 Sally Packer has been closely involved with many of the Association’s recent projects to inform and encourage lakeshore owners to use Best Management Practices to help improves the lakes’ water quality.  Fortunately the message seems to be resonating.  According to readings from the Headwaters Project, water clarity in Norway Lake this summer was the best ever recorded in recent years, which also rang true in many of the area’s other lakes.  The Headwaters Project Coordinator explains this year’s excellent water clarity is a result of both meteorological conditions and efforts such as those initiated by the Norway/Games Lake Association.  And the trends are likely to continue with the commitment of volunteers like Sally, who explains, “I think we’re on earth to do a small part.  And this is my small part.”

Please let us know about your lake association’s latest achievements and updates!  Email: lakes@mnlakes.org

PUBLICATIONS/REPORTS/RESOURCES

The Governor’s Clean Water Cabinet

The Clean Water Cabinet has just completed its website with links to the Governor’s pilot projects.  As more information becomes available it will be updated: http://cwc.state.mn.us/

U of M Extension and Sea Grant From Shore to Shore Newsletter

The September-October 2005 issue of the "From Shore to Shore" newsletter is now posted on the website for you to view and/or download.  To access it, please go to: http://www.shorelandmanagement.org/shore_shore/index.html

MPCA 2005 Mercury Reduction Progress Report to the Minnesota Legislature

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/reports/lrp-mercury2005.pdf

Fish and Habitat Studies Show Docks and Other Human Impacts can Negatively Affect Lakes

Research in Wisconsin and elsewhere shows that piers can shade out important aquatic plants that provide critical habitat where fish spawn, grow up, find insects and other food, and seek shelter from predators. In addition, boats associated with piers enlarge the area where the shading occurs and also scour the lake and river beds beneath, hampering spawning substrate and chopping up aquatic plants.

Protect Water Quality

This fall, the MPCA reminds us to not sweep leaves and grass clippings into the street. From the street, leaves and grass clippings wash into storm sewer drains, reducing the quality of nearby lakes and rivers. Fish populations suffer when algae, feeding on leaves and nitrogen-rich grass clippings, consume the oxygen they need to survive. Grass also carries pesticides which harm fish. So instead of raking into the street this fall, take some simple steps to create a household compost bin that will turn yard waste into natural fertilizer and rich potting soil. Click here for Fall Home Tips that Help Protect the Environment.

Minnesota Stormwater Manual

A draft of the Minnesota Stormwater Manual is now available for review at: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/stormwater/steeringcommittee/sc-manual.html. The MPCA expects to roll out the finished document with public training sessions early in 2006. It’s a comprehensive source for stormwater management that's geared towards Minnesota's climate and can serve as a valuable resource in your stormwater research.

CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS/MEETINGS 

Aquatic Invasive Species Regional Cooperation and Collaboration Conference

October 19-20, Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin

The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission is hosting a working conference to enhance regional cooperation and collaboration on Aquatic Invasive Species management efforts. The conference will bring together staff from Federal, State, Tribal, and County governments as well as Lake Association leaders, volunteer coordinators, and other non-government entities involved in the fight to protect regional waters from invasive species. For more information, contact Miles Falck miles@glifwc.org or 715-682-6619 ext.124  Click here to visit the Conference Website.

Wetland Restoration and Stormwater Management: A Restorative Redevelopment Strategy

October 24, 9:00am - 12:30pm, Minneapolis

This seminar from the University of Minnesota College of Architecture & Landscape Architecture introduces the concept of "industrial watersheds," a template upon which to plan and implement restorative redevelopment. The class includes introduction of concepts key in redeveloping urban landscapes, such as natural stream channel design, decentralized stormwater management, and low-impact development planning. Cost is $90 - $100. Details at: http://www.cala.umn.edu/cps/fall2005/courses.html

Building Green: Water Reuse in Site Design

October 24, 1:30 - 5:00 pm, Minneapolis

This class from the University of Minnesota College of Architecture & Landscape Architecture  assists participants in understanding the basic technical requirements for constructing stormwater, wash water, and wastewater reuse systems for a variety of different development scenarios. Learn about innovative approaches utilized for water harvesting and wastewater treatment. Topics presented include: subsurface flow constructed wetlands, solar aquatics treatment facilities, composting and urine-diverting toilets, green walls, wastewater and wash water gardens, and artificial aquifers. Cost is $90 - $100 ($160 - $180 if taken with previous event). Details at http://www.cala.umn.edu/cps/fall2005/courses.html

Minnesota Water 2005 and Annual Water Resources Joint Conference

October 25-26, Earle Brown Heritage Center, 6155 Earle Brown Drive, Brooklyn Center

The annual Water Resources Conference, now in its 38th year, presents emerging and implemented water resource management techniques for water resource professionals, including consultants, city, county, and state practicing engineers. For the past 14 years, the University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center has held the Minnesota Water conference on a biennial basis. It serves to highlight the current issues and research regarding Minnesota’s wealth of water resources, and facilitate interactions among resource managers, researchers, and other water professionals.  The time is right to offer these conferences under a joint sponsorship to allow for the natural synergy and interactions between the audiences. The objectives of the two conferences are complimentary, and the joint conference brings together these unique events to create a program with a broader and more inclusive appeal. Learn more or register online at: http://wrc.coafes.umn.edu/waterconf

Grant Writing Workshops in Walker and Little Falls

October 26, Initiative Foundation Conference Room, Little Falls, 9 am—noon

October 26, Initiative Foundation Conference Room, Little Falls, 1—4pm

This is a valuable opportunity to hear professional writers and reviewers present techniques for researching funders and creating effective grant proposals. The workshop is developed for those who have little or no grant writing experience and wish to develop practical skills related to funder research and proposal writing and those who want to refresh their grant writing skills. Workshop topics include: Reviewing Your Expectations; Types of Funding; Funders & Funding Research; Developing the Grant Proposal; Goals, Objectives and Evaluation; The Budget; Sustainability; Submitting the Proposal. Prepaid registrations are required. The $40 program fee includes refreshments and program materials. Confirmations will be sent by email, and checks will be returned for sold-out (filled) workshops as space is limited. For more information or to register contact Jolene Howard, jhoward@ifound.org, 320-632-9258.

Rain garden Workshop

November 9, 7:00-9:00 pm, Lakeville

The natural beauty and practical benefit of a rain garden make it a popular choice for home landscapers who want to do their part to improve water quality. Led by Landscape Ecologist Rusty Schmidt, this program will describe what a rainwater garden is, how to build one and why they can be important for our lakes, rivers and wetlands. The workshop will feature a "how to" approach, giving participants information about where a rainwater garden should be placed, design options, plant selection and other nuances of rainwater garden construction. Space is limited, so please sign up in advance with Friends of the Mississippi River, 651-222-2193 ext 14 or kgallowa@fmr.org.

NALMS Conference—Lake Effects: Exploring the Relationship between People and Water

25 Years of the North American Lake Management Society 

November 9-11 in Madison, Wisconsin – the birthplace of limnology in North America – is the venue for the 25th Annual International Symposium of the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS). The symposium explores the relationship between people and lakes and their watersheds, recognizing that each affects, and has an effect on, the other. The symposium will include a Citizen Day track on Friday, November 11. For more information on the conference Click here.

FUNDING RESOURCES

Boat U.S. Foundation Boating Safety Grants

The Boat U.S. Foundation, established by the Boat Owners Association of the U.S., is dedicated to promoting safe and environmentally sensitive boating. The Boating Safety Grants Program provides grants of up to $4,000 for the promotion of boating safety education. The deadline is November 1. The program provides grants to small, local, volunteer-based nonprofit organizations such as volunteer boating groups, clubs, and associations, as well as local chapters of national organizations. Visit Boat U.S. Foundation for more information.

Bring Back the Natives: A Public-Private Partnership for Restoring Populations of Native Aquatic Species

The Bring Back the Natives initiative (BBN) funds on-the-ground efforts to restore native aquatic species to their historic range. Projects should involve partnerships between communities, agencies, private landowners, and organizations that seek to rehabilitate streamside and watershed habitats. Projects should focus on habitat needs of species such as fish, invertebrates, and amphibians that originally inhabited the waterways across the country. Preference will be given to support projects that will keep sensitive or declining species off of the Endangered Species List, or for listed species that have a chance for recovery and de-listing within five to ten years. Pre-proposals should be submitted electronically through the online application form available on the NFWF website by December 2, 2005. For more information or questions about the application process, please contact: Corey Grace, NFWF Southwest Office, 28 Second Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, Phone: 415-778-0999, corey.grace@nfwf.org

Small Grants Program for Wetlands Conservation

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (NAWCA) are accepting proposals for acquisition, enhancement, and restoration of wetlands and wetlands-associated uplands habitat, with a focus on nongame and other migratory birds. NAWCA and matching funds may only be used for wetlands acquisition, creation, enhancement, and/or restoration; they may not be used for signage, displays or other educational materials, programs, or equipment, even though the goal of the project may ultimately be to support wetland conservation education curricula. Proposals are due December 2, 2005. Click Here to learn more.

Receiving the Lake Bulletin, but not a member of MLA?

We hope you have found the Lake Bulletin interesting and helpful. If so, we need your membership support to continue producing the Lake Bulletin, along with our quarterly 12-page, four-color Reporter newsletter and other reports, fact sheets, and youth stewardship materials. Your membership support also helps MLA represent the voice of lakeshore interests at the state Capitol and on state agency committees to set policies to protect our lake resources, and it helps provide resources and support to lake associations across the state to enhance their ability to be effective local water managers. Please join today online at www.mnlakes.org or by requesting a membership brochure from lakes@mnlakes.org.  

The mission of the Minnesota Lakes Association is to promote citizen stewardship of Minnesota’s waters and to influence and support public policy for water resource management. Click here to join or for more information.