The Confluence is the monthly electronic newsletter of Minnesota Waters. This newsletter will provide you with up-to-date information and resources on Minnesota’s lakes and rivers.  If you haven't received this newsletter before, please go to the end of this message for more information.

 

"The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard." –

Gaylord Nelson, Former Governor of Wisconsin and Founder of Earth Day

 

In this issue:

 

Minnesota Waters News

~ Minnesota Waters Launches New Conservation Partners Grant Program

~ RiverNight 2006: A Minnesota Waters Celebration

~ Still Time to Register for Lakes & Rivers Conference, September 7-9, 2006

~ Lake Associations and Rivers Groups—Call for Posters at the Conference

 

Hot Off the Press

~ Public Comments Requested—New Shoreland Environmental Review Thresholds

~ Spiny Waterfleas Found in Rainy Lake

~ Brainerd and Baxter Deal With the Ups and Downs of Growth In Lake Country

~ Volunteers Scour the Sauk River

 

Resources for Lake and Stream Stewardship

Conferences, Confabs and Conglomerations

The Bucks Start Here- Funding Resources

 

~ Minnesota Waters News ~

 

Minnesota Waters Launches New Grant Program—Application deadline Sept 28

Minnesota Waters is pleased to announce the launch of a new pass-through grant program, the Lake and Stream Conservation Partnership, made possible with funding to Minnesota Waters from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Anheuser-Busch. The grant program will provide funding assistance for innovative lake and river groups across the state carrying out shoreland habitat improvement and restoration projects, aquatic invasive species management, and/or lake and river inventorying and assessment projects to guide water resource improvement, restoration and management.  The Lake and Stream Conservation Partnership Program aims to further opportunities for Minnesota’s most effective local water resource mangers—citizens working together to protect Minnesota’s lakes and streams.

 

The grants are open to all Minnesota Waters members and affiliates.  A minimum 1:1 match with cash or in-kind services is required.  Initial projects will be short-term (12 months) in duration to demonstrate quick, tangible results and there will also be a $5,000 limit in the first year.  To learn more about the Lake and Stream Conservation Partnership grant program guidelines and to download an application go to: www.minnesotawaters.org.  The application deadline is September 28, 2006.

 

RiverNight 2006: A Minnesota Waters Celebration

RiverNight 2006 marked the first major event for Minnesota Waters. It was a picture-perfect evening with pleasant summer weather setting the stage for a beautiful sunset on the Mississippi River.  Many folks commented on how enjoyable the evening was.  Thanks to all the guests of honor, host committee members, sponsors, individuals and volunteers who helped make RiverNight 2006 a great success!   This year we raised nearly $30,000 towards our mission to promote responsible stewardship of our water resources by engaging citizens, state and local policy makers and other like-minded partners in the protection and restoration of our lakes and rivers we all love.  To view highlights and photos from RiverNight, check out: http://www.minnesotawaters.org/rivernight.html. 

 

Lakes and Rivers Conference, September 7-9, 2006, Duluth

Still Time to Register—Workshops Filling Fast

There is still time to register for the 2006 Lakes and Rivers Conference, now only three weeks away. Join the 400+ already registered participants for the conference, which will include 48 sessions, 8 workshops and three field trips during the three days, with special sessions of interest to local water planners and local government officials as well as special sessions for lakes and river groups on creating healthy and effective organizations. Experts in the state of our waters, climate change, Minnesota demographics, and rural sociology will address the “Changing Landscapes of Minnesota’s Waters” during Friday’s plenary session.  Over 50 exhibitors will be on display in the Convention Center Exhibit Hall—the networking hub of the conference—and a fun time awaits all at the Minnesota Waters Celebration on Friday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. featuring Tim Palmer, an award-winning author and photographer of rivers. Click here for all the conference details, including agenda, complete session descriptions, online registration, and hotel information. Special conference hotel discount rates apply through the weekend—make the conference and Duluth a fall destination. To request a registration brochure mailed or faxed to you, call the office at 800-515-5253.  See you in Duluth!

 

Lake Associations and Rivers Groups—Call for Posters at the Conference

Bring your project posters from participation in the Healthy Lakes & Rivers Program

A limited amount of space in the conference exhibit hall is being reserved to showcase successful and innovative lake and river management projects. Develop a poster on your project(s), or bring your posters from participation in the Healthy Lakes & Rivers Program, to showcase your successes to other groups around the state. To reserve a spot, contact Anna at anna@minnesotawaters.org or call 800-515-5253. 

 

~ Hot Off the Press ~

 

Public Comments Requested—New Shoreland Environmental Review Thresholds

The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) is requesting public comments on amendments to the Environmental Review Program rules, including proposed new mandatory EAW and EIS categories for projects in shorelands. The rule amendments are being recommended by the DNR as a result of working with an advisory board of DNR staff, local government officials, environmental groups, including Minnesota Waters, and varied interested citizens. A complete description of the proposed shoreland amendments is available online at http://www.eqb.state.mn.us/documents/18655/Phase2revisions.pdf; Appendix A. The EQB must receive comments by 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16. Comments should identify the portion of the proposed rule amendment that is being addressed, the reason for the comment and any proposed change to the amendment. Interested individuals or groups can submit written or oral comments, questions and requests for additional information to Gregg Downing by e-mail at gregg.downing@state.mn.us, by phone at 651/201-2476, or in writing at 300 Centennial Building, 658 Cedar Street, St. Paul, MN 55155.  Minnesota Waters will be commenting on the proposed shoreland thesholds for environmental review. Those interested in providing comments directly to Minnesota Waters, or who would like to discuss the thresholds, should contact Paula West at 800-515-5253 or paulaw@minnesotawaters.org

 

Spiny Waterfleas Found in Rainy Lake

Minnesota Sea Grant announced that in late July, a Duluth teenager, whose father is an invasive species researcher for the University of Minnesota Sea Grant Program, discovered spiny waterfleas on his fishing line while vacationing on Rainy Lake. Since the initial report, spiny waterfleas, an aquatic invasive species, have been confirmed in seven different sites throughout the U.S. side of Rainy Lake. This discovery now opens the potential for the fleas to spread downstream to Lake of the Woods (Minnesota’s largest lake) or upstream to Kabetogame, Namakan, Sand Point, and Crane Lakes, and has international implications as more than 75 percent of Rainy Lake is in Ontario, Canada.

 

Experts believe spiny waterfleas originally arrived in the U.S. from Eurasia in the ballast water of cargo ships when they were found in Lake Ontario in 1982 and Lake Superior in 1987. Boaters and anglers have most likely spread them to inland waters since then. Waterfleas collect in masses on fishing lines and downrigger cables. The masses can resemble gelatin or cotton batting with tiny black spots, which are the creatures' eyes. Individual animals are difficult to distinguish without magnification because they are only 1/4 to 5/8 inch long. “Spiny waterfleas can spread when boats and fishing gear become contaminated with egg-laden females," said Doug Jensen, coordinator of the Minnesota Sea Grant's aquatic invasive species program. Spiny waterfleas can foul angling gear, causing anglers to lose hooked fish. Several other traits make this species of zooplankton particularly vexing: they compete with small fish for the same zooplankton; small fish generally do not eat them due to their long spiny tails; and they can shift the natural balance of a lake's plankton community, disrupting food web dynamics.

 

As with all aquatic invasive species, to prevent the spread when in infested waters, boats and anglers should:  Inspect and remove aquatic plants and animals, including gelatinous or cotton-batting-like material from fishing lines, downrigger cables, or anchor ropes;  Drain water from livewells, bait containers, and bilge; Dispose of unwanted live bait in the trash; and Spray with high pressure or hot tap water (above 104 degrees F or 40 degrees C). The Minnesota DNR is working to designate Rainy Lake as an infested water. The designation means it will be illegal to transport water or harvest bait from the lake, similar to zebra mussel-infested waters.

 

Brainerd and Baxter Deal With the Ups and Downs of Growth In Lake Country
The area is surrounded by lakes made legendary by generations of vacationers. But in recent years baby boomers, many from the Twin Cities, have converted their lake cabins into permanent lake homes. A lakeside land rush has pretty much eaten up the area's water front property, and now retirees and young families are spreading out in suburban style developments across the region. According to Minnesota State Demographer Tom Gillaspy, the Brainerd/Baxter area is one of the fastest growing non-metro communities in the nation.  "It doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon. We're not seeing any indication of the growth slowing down. It looks like the growth is going to continue to be fairly solid," Gillaspy said.  According to Census Bureau estimates, the population of Crow Wing County is expected to grow 60 percent in the next 20 years, from about 60,000 now to 90,000 in 2030.  Many in Brainerd and Baxter welcome the growth, and say it's better than living in a dying town. But some say the growth is coming too fast.  To read the MPR article in its entirety, click here.

 

Gull Lakeshores Awash in Dead Fish; Warm Water Sited

Last week the east shores of Gull Lake in Crow Wing County were awash with dead tullibees, apparently a victim of the warm water caused by higher than normal summer temperatures. Tim Brastrup, DNR fisheries area supervisor in Brainerd, said this has been occurring not only on lakes in the Brainerd lakes area, such as Gull Lake and the Whitefish Chain, but in the entire state. Brastrup said the reason the tullibees are dying off is because of the warm weather. Brastrup said tullibees, which are members of the salmon, trout and whitefish families, require cold weather and oxygen and with the state's high temperatures this summer they have not received what they need to survive. Click here for the story.

 

Volunteers Scour the Sauk River

Volunteers from the Crossroads Church picked up trash, including tires, planters, lawn chairs, cans and other tossed treasures, along a stretch of the lower Sauk River, from Cold Springs to Rockville.  The clean-up was done through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Adopt-A-River Program, which is seeking to change how the state’s waterways are viewed through such annual cleanups.  “We hope to trigger a shift in attitude about streams, which tend to be viewed as a way to get rid of a problem—it all goes downstream,” said Paul Nordell, the program’s coordinator.  “Clean-ups get people involved with the river.”

Click here for more on the story.

 

We’re Getting Off Easy In Minnesota With Fines for Shoreland Violations

Boston.Com reported a shoreland property owner in New Hampshire has been fined a $40,000 penalty by the state attorney general for clearing too many trees from his shoreline. The state alleged the homeowner cut more trees than the state shoreland law allowed and built stairs into the bank without a permit. In addition to paying the fine, the property has been restored.  This kind of fine in Minnesota might be just the incentive needed to follow the shoreland rules.

 

Endangered River Nominations Now Open. 

Does a river you love face an uncertain future?  Will its fate be determined by action in the coming year?  If your river is facing sprawl, pollution, mining, diversion or other imminent threat, consider nominating it for the 2007 America’s Most Endangered Rivers report. Each year, this much-anticipated report shines a national spotlight on rivers around the country that face uncertain futures.  The deadline for nominations is October 1, 2006. Get the nomination form here.  Contact outreach@AmericanRivers.org or call Rob Perks at 202-347-7550.

 

~ Resources for Lake and Stream Stewardship ~

 

DVD "Minnesota's Lakes at Risk" Now Available
Minnesota Waters’ new DVD, "Minnesota's Lakes at Risk" is now available for $5 plus $2 shipping & handling.  The DVD, produced in collaboration with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and Twin Cities Public Television, explores changes to Minnesota's lakes and the impacts of increasing development on shoreline habitat, water quality, and the enjoyment of lakes for generations to come.  Lake associations that are members of Minnesota Waters will be mailed a copy of the DVD and local governments with shoreland ordinances will be encouraged to use the DVD as a local official training tool on the water quality impacts of land use decisions on our shorelands. To order a copy, contact annan@minnesotawaters.org or call 800-515-5253.

 

Guide to Lake Protection

The Guide to Lake Protection and Management is a second edition of the Citizen's Guide to Lake Protection. This document contains updated and new material on the following topics: chemistry of lakes, watershed information, exotic species, altering runoff and lake use practices, development of a lake management plan, and nonstructural best management practices.

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/lakeprotection.html

 

Using Local Watershed Plans to Protect Wetlands

This second article in the Center for Watershed Protection’s “Wetlands and Watersheds” series briefly describes a proposed framework for integrating wetland management in the context of local watershed planning efforts. It outlines a rationale for managing wetlands at the watershed scale, the basics of the watershed planning process, and 11 recommended watershed planning elements that relate to wetlands.  Article 1 “Wetland Impacts, Watershed Woes” reviews the direct and indirect impacts of urbanization on wetlands, and describes how impacts to wetlands affect watershed health.  For both articles, see: http://www.cwp.org/wetlands/articles.htm

 

~ Conferences, Confabs and Conglomerations ~

 

Minnesota State Fair Eco Experience – St. Paul, MN, Aug 24 through Sept 4, 2006

New this year, the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency are pleased to announce the grand opening of the Eco Experience at the 2006 Great Minnesota Get-Together, Aug. 24 through Sept. 4.   The Eco Experience includes eight areas featuring green exhibitors and educational programs, stage acts and samples of healthy organic food. Guests will also have the chance to explore Minnesota's Water.  EcoFact: Although we've made progress in evaluating our state's waters, more than 2,200 of Minnesota's lakes and rivers tested so far don't meet water quality standards. The Eco Experience is located in the Progress Center building at the corner of Cosgrove Street and Randall Avenue on the State Fairgrounds.  Visit http://www.pca.state.mn.us/ecoexperience/ for more information about the Eco Experience.

 

The Rules of the Game: Election Rules for Nonprofits--August 29 (Online)

This one-hour, on-line training from 1-2 p.m. (CST) on August 29 sponsored by the Alliance For Justice will cover the rules for election-related activity including candidate elections, voter guides, voting records and candidate debates and forums. Click here to register. *In order to take part in these workshops, you will need a high speed internet connection and working speakers attached to your computer. Each workshop is $30.

 

Envision Minnesota Gubernatorial Debate and Citizen’s Conference-Sept 16, 2006, St. Cloud State University

The Envision Minnesota Project, a non-partisan effort by key leaders around the state to identify significant environmental priorities facing the state of Minnesota and strategies to address them, will host a gubernatorial debate on these issues followed by a Citizen Conference on September 16, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at St. Cloud  State University.  Cost is $20 before 8/31; $30 after. For key Envision Minnesota recommendations and conference registration, see the Envision Minnesota website at:  http://www.envisionminnesota.org/index.cfm

 

Living Lightly on the Lakes Tour-September 11, Brainerd Lakes Area

Interested in learning what you can do to lessen the land use impacts on our lakeshores and ultimately our water quality? Then you may want to hop on this tour intended for lake residents, developers and all interested individuals sponsored by BAELN (Brainerd Area Environmental Learning Network).  Traveling to Lake Hardy, Rush Lake, Round Lake and North Long Lake you’ll see examples of lake friendly home development, native landscaping, trails and lake access design, a rain garden, preserving the environmental integrity of a site and more. You’ll visit a resort, two private residences and a planned unit development to hear first-hand their experiences and motivations and speak with representatives on hand to answer your questions. Three of these four sites have been Lake Friendly Development Award winners. Pre-registration required; cost is $15 per person. Tour is from 1:00-5:00 p.m. To register or for questions, call Phil Hunnsicker at 218-824-5095 or email him at phunsicker@1000fom.org.

 

Make a Splash Project WET Water Festival – Sept 22, 2006

Friday, September 22, 2006 will mark the seventh annual Make A Splash (MAS) with Project WET Water Festival. On this day, more than 60,000 K-12 schoolchildren will gather at sites across the country, to draw attention to the importance of water in our daily lives. MAS festivals are the largest single-day water education events in the nation and allow students to learn more about and celebrate our water resources.  In Minnesota, MAS is offered as a seed grant to encourage citizens to plan water festivals in their communities. Because of this, MAS moves to a new location every year, engaging different communities throughout the state.  For more information, contact: April Rust, MN Project WET Coordinator Phone: 651-259-5706 or 888-646-6367 (toll-free)  Email: april.rust@dnr.state.mn.us

 

14th National Non-point Source Monitoring Workshop –Sept 24-28, 2006, Minneapolis

The 14th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop: Measuring Project and Program Effectiveness will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 24-28, 2006.  This workshop will bring together land managers and water quality specialists to share information on the effectiveness of best management practices in improving water quality; effective monitoring techniques; and statistical analysis of watershed data.  For more information, go to www.conservationinformation.org

 

“Forestry in the Headwaters” Conference – September 27-30, 2006, Vilas County, Wisconsin

Water has been called the "forgotten forest product," since nearly every aspect of forest stewardship affects our water resources. While sustainable forestry seeks to protect all parts of the forest ecosystem, including water resources, forestry and logging practices that fail to consider aquatic resources create a chain of negative effects, potentially impacting many miles downstream.  The unique conference event will bring foresters, forest ecologists and forest policy advocates together with scientists and researchers to explore the connections between our forests and the pools, ponds, streams, rivers and lakes that comprise our freshwater resources. The meeting will take place at Camp Manito-wish in Vilas County, Wisconsin, in the heart of the northern Great Lakes forest, from September 27 - 30.  The conference is open to the public, and will include field trips to working forests in Wisconsin and the nearby Sylvania Wilderness in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. More information for the conference is available at www.forestguild.org. or contact Fred Clark, Forest Guild Membership Coordinator, at fred@forestguild.org, or at (608) 356-2801.

 

Metro Children’s Water Festival –Sept 27, 2006, Twin Cities

The 9th Annual Metro Children's Water Festival (CWF) September 27th at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds!  Welcome over 1,300 5th graders as they come engage in interactive education about our water resources.  Visit the CWF website for more information and to take a photo tour of the past Festivals.  The CWF website can be found at http://www.metrocwf.org/

 

Leading From Within-Oct 19-22, 2006 and Feb. 21-24, 2007, Maumee Bay Conference Center in Oregon, OH

The Institute for Conservation Leadership (ICL) is pleased to announce another edition of its Leading From Within Program.  This five-month professional development opportunity includes two 3-day workshops as well as coaching support.  Leading from Within is for executive directors, board members, and lead staff of environmental and conservation organizations who are passionate about their work, energized by a creative peer learning environment, and are eager to further develop their leadership potential.  Leading From Within includes a 360 degree leadership assessment tool, group experiential exercises, peer exchange, and learning activities that you will find both challenging and rejuvenating!  Please contact Peter Lane at 301-270-2900 ext. 5 or visit the ICL website for more information and an application: LEADING FROM WITHIN 

 

~ The Bucks Start Here ~ Funding Resources

 

Minnesota Waters Lake and Stream Conservation Partnership Grants 

See lead story above.  Application deadline Sept 28. 

 

$1.4 Million in Non-Point Protection Grants Available Through Clean Water Legacy Funding

To jump start the Clean Water Legacy (CWL) Policy Act passed by the 2006 legislature, approximately $25 million for one year was appropriated through a combination of state general fund, general obligation bonding, and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. These appropriations will leverage other federal, local and private funding, as well as increase participation of citizen volunteers. While most of the funds are targeted at identifying impaired waters and restoration of previously identified impaired waters, $1.4 million was apportioned to non-point protection activities targeted to priority surface water protection strategies identified in regional, watershed or local comprehensive water management plans. Protection strategies are defined by the CWL Act as “implementation of measures to prevent waters from becoming impaired” and to improve waters that are listed as impaired but have no approved TMDL addressing the impairment.” A pre-proposal process will be used by the state agencies to collect preliminary requests for funding from eligible local applicants. For those organizations participating in organized watershed/area-wide efforts, a joint pre-proposal with a local unit of government is encouraged.  Contact your local water planner, SWCD, environmental services department, watershed district, or joint-powers watershed organization immediately to discuss pre-proposals, which will be accepted through August 30. Funding decisions will be made in October.  

 

Initiative to Promote Collaborative Process in Environmental Decision Making 

The Laura Jane Musser Fund proposes to assist public or not-for-profit entities to initiate or implement projects in rural areas to undertake consensus-based activities in environmental stewardship or dispute resolution. This program will cover programs in their first three years and projects in the planning phase or implementation phase. It will not fund capital expenses, general operating support for organizations or ongoing program support. Any of the following may apply for funding: 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations, organizations that are forming if sponsored by a 501 (c)(3) organization, any unit of local government or organizations that are located in, and serve a population of the United States. Grants of up to $35,000 may be made for projects in this area. The Musser Fund is likely to make a total of 4 to 6 grants in the Environmental Initiative this year. The deadline for a full proposal is September 5, 2006. A letter of intent is not required. Please visit http://www.musserfund.org/ to receive more information on submitting a full proposal.

 

DNR Funding Available for Shoreland Vegetation Projects

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is making more than $300,000 available for grant proposals for restoring native shoreline vegetation across the state.  Grants recipients will be reimbursed for up to 75 percent of the total project costs. Applicants must be able to fund at least 25 percent of the total project costs from non-state sources. Matching funds may be cash, volunteer labor, and in-kind contributions of materials, equipment and services.  Applications for grants, are available on the Minnesota DNR Web site at: www.dnr.state.mn.us or by calling the DNR at (651) 296-6157 or toll free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367). Applications are due Sept. 18.

 

Project and Technical Assistance Grants Programs

The Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat and Network Fund announced two grant opportunities. The Project Grants Program provides grant awards ranging from $500 to $3,500 to be used for specific project expenses for river, lake and wetland protection. The Technical Assistance Grants Program provides grant awards ranging from $500 to $3,500 to be used to hire a qualified expert to provide strategy assistance such as organizational development or campaign development. Organizations may apply for both programs in one application. To view the Request for Proposals and application format, click here. Deadline September 30, 2006.

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Minnesota is truly on top of the “water world” in North America.  We are at the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi draining to the Gulf of Mexico, the St. Louis River draining to the Great Lakes and the Red & Rainy Rivers draining to Hudson Bay.  The “land of 10,000 lakes” and 92,000 miles of river is blessed not only with an abundance of water resources, Minnesota is also home to countless citizens poised to protect and preserve these resources for generations to come.  Minnesota Waters celebrates the coming together of Minnesota’s lakes and rivers, the partnerships of engaged citizens and stewardship-minded leaders, and the inseparable bond connecting Minnesotans with its water.  In this light, The Confluence delivers timely news and information on the state of Minnesota’s lakes and rivers, and what citizens, policy makers and organizations can do to protect Minnesota’s priceless water resources, today and tomorrow.