|
|
|
Citizen Leaders Present to State
Legislators
With Concerns and
Solutions |
|
On January 21 citizen leaders from
Minnesota's north central region presented the
Minnesota Senate Environment and Natural Resources
Committee with information on the integral role of
lake and stream associations in long term water
resource protection. An impressive turnout
of 14 Senators and 51 audience members heard
presentations by Ken Grob (Hubbard COLA), Phil
Hunsicker (Crow Wing LARA), Dann Siems (Beltrami
BCLARA and SWCD), and Darrell Swanson (Pine River
Watershed Alliance.) They spoke about the
challenges facing their citizen-led organizations,
the successes realized through locally-led
conservation and the dire need for statewide
leadership and support. Minnesota Waters'
Executive Director, Marian Bender, introduced the
presentation focus explaining that statewide
leadership, partnership and support is needed to
further and enhance this effective model of
citizen-led water resource protection.
"This forum was an ideal opportunity for
legislators to hear from citizens about how water
quality issues are being managed on the ground,"
said Bender. "We're grateful to Senator Mary Olson
for suggesting this year's forum, and plan to
facilitate a similar forum every year, or even
more frequently."
For more information on the January 21
presentation, watch for the coming article in
Minnesota Waters' February newsletter.
|
|
Gearing Up for Water Quality
Monitoring |
|
|
Time to Think Spring!  (Yes, really!)
Even as most Minnesotans are snuggling under warm
blankets in front of a toasty fire, the staff at
Minnesota Waters are gearing up for water quality
monitoring.
Believe it or not this is the time of the
year that state and local groups across our state
start planning how they will monitor their lakes
and rivers. If you are interested in becoming a
water quality monitoring volunteer there are some
simple ways to become involved.
First talk to your local Soil and Water
Conservation District, watershed district, or
lake/ river group. These groups are often looking
for volunteers to help them achieve their
monitoring goals. Minnesota Waters will be
partnering with different groups to train
volunteers how to sample their lakes and streams.
If you would like to be on our Citizen
Monitoring Mailing list please send an email to Courtneyk@minnesotawaters.org.
Minnesota Waters will be sending out up to date
information on monitoring workshops that we will
be offering through out the year. The Minnesota
Waters website www.minnesotawaters.org also has
the most up to date monitoring information. So
think spring and we hope to see you on the
water! |
|
Notice of Proposed EQB
Rulemaking
Affecting Shoreland
Development |
|
|
To Persons Interested in Shoreland
Management:
The Environmental Quality Board is
proposing to amend the Environmental Review
program rules to include new mandatory EAW,
mandatory EIS, and Exemption Categories applying
to certain types of projects located in shoreland
areas.
|
|
New Watchdog Website
for Constitutional Amendment
Funds
|
|
To draw public attention to the need to watch
over more than $250 million in new annual
conservation funding approved by voters last
November, the nonprofit organization Conservation
Minnesota is advertising its new watchdog website,
http://www.theamendment.org. Read
More |
|
"Milfoil-Free Minnetonka"
Vision
and Plan Release
|
|
|
The Lake Minnetonka Association (LMA) has
released its Plan and Vision to keep Lake
Minnetonka free of aquatic invasive species (AIS)
such as Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels.
The plan, titled "Milfoil-Free Minnetonka,"
provides a framework and recommendations for local
investments in the protection of Lake Minnetonka
from AIS - those now in the lake as well as
those not yet in the lake.
"Milfoil-Free Minnetonka is an aggressive, no
nonsense vision and plan," says Dick Osgood, LMA's
Executive Director. Lacking such a plan will mean
Lake Minnetonka will suffer the fate of many other
Minnesota lakes. Osgood says, "That is not
acceptable to the LMA." Read Full
Article
|
|
Text Version
Available |
|
|
A text version of The Confluence can
be found on the
Contact Minnesota Waters at:
800-515-5253
| |
| |
