The Confluence is the monthly electronic newsletter of Minnesota Waters, a confluence of the recently merged Minnesota Lakes Association (MLA) and the Rivers Council of Minnesota (RCM). It will provide you with the same up-to-date information and resources on Minnesota’s lakes and rivers you were accustomed to through MLA’s Lake Bulletin and RCM’s Thalweg.  If you haven't received this newsletter before, please go to the end of this message for more information.

*Please note this will be the last Confluence email from mla@brainerd.net. You can expect to see next month's edition coming from info@minnesotawaters.org. 

“All of life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied to a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
            - Martin Luther King Jr.

In this issue:

Minnesota Waters News

~ Celebration of Minnesota Waters!

~ "Design Your Monitoring Plan" Training Completed by Six Lake/River Groups

~ Great Turnout for Protect Our Water Legislative Meeting

~ 2006 Lakes and Rivers Conference

Hot Off the Press

~ Protect Our Water 2006 Legislative Agenda

~ First Minnesota Wetlands Protection Report Released

~ What do the Alternative Shoreland Standards Mean for Shoreland Property Owners and Minnesota’s Rivers and Lakes?

~ Put the Trust Back in Environmental Trust Fund

~ McLeod County Aims to Protect Natural Environment Lakes with 1,000 Foot Setback

Resources for Lake and Stream Stewardship

Conferences, Confabs and Conglomerations

The Bucks Start Here

~ Minnesota Waters News ~

Celebration of Minnesota Waters!

On January 31 Minnesota Waters members and supporters gathered in St. Paul to celebrate our newly formed organization and to honor retiring Board members and founders.  Minnesota Waters staff and Board Chair provided a presentation on the organization programming and milestones.  Guest speaker, Mike Harley, executive director of the Minnesota Environmental Initiative, spoke about the role of conservation organizations in Minnesota and the need for innovative lake and river protection initiatives.  Thank you to everyone who attended for making it a great celebration of successes and opportunities!

"Design Your Monitoring Plan" Training Completed by Six Lake/River Groups

For three days this January, 24 leaders of six lake and river groups traveled to central Minnesota to begin the innovative process of developing a written plan for their citizen volunteer monitoring program.  Over 30 groups applied for this monitoring plan training, developed by Minnesota Waters and the River Network.  The selected groups shared a recognized need for citizen involvement in management of our water resources, and a desire to ensure data collected by citizen volunteer groups is fully used for its intended purpose.  Groups participating in this round included: Crow River Organization of Water (CROW), Granite Lake Watershed Association, Koronis Lake Association, Nokasippi River Watershed Team, Scott County Partners (Water Mgt Org, SWCD, and Friends of Minnesota Valley), and Winona County (Planning and Zoning and University)

This innovative training programming is designed to enhance and expand the ability of citizen volunteer monitoring programs to gather water quality data and information that will be useful for lake and stream assessments and management.   Participants begin by gathering background information about their watershed, identifying issues and goals, determining potential users of the monitoring data and choosing the technical pieces for their monitoring program that meet the goals and capacity of their group.  With completion of this most recent workshop, 19 groups across Minnesota have now been trained!  The six current groups are now writing their plans. They will be eligible to receive up to $1500 to help implement their monitoring plan, upon its completion.  For more information about Minnesota Waters' citizen monitoring programs, please visit http://www.riversmn.org/resources_citmon.html.  Under “Resources for Lake and Stream Stewardship” see more information on the training materials.  Funding for this training was recommended by the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.  

Great Turnout for Protect Our Water Legislative Meeting

On February 3, over 60 lake and river advocates turned out at the Minnesota Waters and Minnesota Environmental Partnership sponsored Protect Our Water legislative meeting in Breezy Point.  The District 4 constituents were briefed on the legislative agenda and shared their concerns and priorities for the regions water resources with their legislators.  Residents expressed local needs for clean water legacy funding, responsible off highway vehicle legislation, aquatic invasive species prevention and management funds for local implementation, reform for the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR), and the need for community rights to create stronger local standards when necessary.  Thanks to all those who showed up and spoke up for Minnesota’s lakes and rivers!  Learn more about upcoming Protect Our Water events and opportunities under “Hot Off the Press.” 

Lakes and Rivers Conference 2006—mark your calendars today!

Minnesota Waters is planning for the 2006 Lakes and Rivers Conference, September 7-9 at the Duluth Convention Center and we need your input.  Please consider which session topics will be most helpful for your organization, river sentinel or lake stewardship initiatives. The conference will also offer an exhibit area for businesses in the field of water resource protection.  To offer a suggestion for a topic or to inquire about exhibit space for your company, please contact Keri at the Minnesota Waters, Brainerd office: 800-515-5253 or keri@mnlakes.org.

~ Hot Off the Press ~

Protect Our Water 2006 Legislative Agenda

The 2006 “Protect Our Water” legislative campaign is underway. The Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP) and MEP member organizations, including Minnesota Waters, are committed to achieving this legislative agenda, but we can’t do it alone—“Protect Our Water” needs citizen support.  To learn more about the agenda, click here.  Or to support the agenda, use your voice and protect our water, consider participating in one of the following events:

Protect Our Water In-district Legislative Meetings

If you live in a district where a meeting is being held, please contact the meeting coordinator for more information and to RSVP.

District 9, Sen. Keith Langseth and Rep. Morrie Laning

February 18, Noon (11 a.m. pre-meeting) Moorhead Library Meeting Room

Contact Henry VanOffelen, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy mcea@lakesnet.net or 218-847-1817

District 37, Sen. Chris Gerlach and Rep. Dennis Ozment

February 23, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Contact Katie Galloway, Friends of the Mississippi River: kgallowa@fmr.org or 651-222-2193.

District 28B, Rep. Steve Sviggum

February 27, 7-8 p.m. (6:30 pre-meeting)

Contact Hilary Ziols, Cannon River Watershed Partnership: hilary@crwp.net or 507-646-8400

Minnesota Environmental Partnership 10^th Annual Legislative Forum

March 1, 5 – 8 p.m., Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul

Spend a couple of hours with Minnesota’s environmental and conservation community. Learn about the collaborative “Protect Our Water” package and other important environmental issues that are expected to arise in the 2006 legislative session from some of the state’s top policy-makers.  $20 in advance or $25 at the door.  Register online today at www.ProtectOurWater.info or by calling Janelle Sorensen at 612-722-5355.

Protect Our Water Citizens Day at the Capitol

March 14, 8 am—4pm, Carpenters and Joiners Union Hall, 700 Olive Street, St. Paul

Meet with your legislators to discuss this year’s Protect Our Water agenda and your local priorties for water protection.  RALLY with citizens from across the state to celebrate the Protect Our Water agenda in the State Capitol Rotunda at noon, and learn how together, we can make a difference.  REGISTER TODAY at www.ProtectOurWater.info or for more information, call Patience Caso at 612-623-3666.

FREE Buses to Protect Our Water Citizens Day at the Capitol

Minnesota Waters is coordinating a FREE bus from the St. Cloud area, and possibly from the Brainerd and Alexandria areas, for those who would like to attend the Citizens Day at the Capitol.  To learn more about the bus routes and to sign up, please contact Keri at Minnesota Waters: 218-824-5565 or keri@mnlakes.org.

First Minnesota Wetlands Protection Report Released

Despite wetland protection laws at the state and federal levels and a broad, shared concern from Minnesota citizens, conservation and recreation groups, Minnesota continues to see significant loss of wetlands both in terms of quantity and quality, according to a new report released by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA). The first Annual Minnesota Wetlands Protection Report identifies some of the regulatory failures that have caused wetland loss and calls for action from legislators, policymakers and citizens who care about the state’s wetlands and natural heritage. The report features nine on-the-ground case studies that illustrate how current laws and enforcement issues can contribute to wetland destruction and loss. To view the executive summary and full report, see: http://www.mncenter.org

What do the Alternative Shoreland Standards Mean for Shoreland Property Owners and Minnesota’s Rivers and Lakes?

“The alternative shoreland standards developed by the Shoreland Advisory Committee to address increasing shoreland development in North Central Minnesota are not new rules but alternative standards for shoreland development that local governments can consider including in their existing ordinances,” said Russ Schultz, DNR Lake Management Supervisor. “For example, if a county chooses to adopt all or parts of these alternative standards, it’s still required to conduct a public review and comment period for any proposed ordinance changes. These standards primarily focus on new development and construction along lake front property. Existing property owners who wish to renovate their cabins or make improvements to their shorelines may not be affected by these alternative standards.”

The alternative standards provide additional tools for local governments to address increasing growth and development that can negatively impact water quality and habitat. The Shoreland Advisory Committee, on which Minnesota Waters staff and member groups participated along with local elected officials and representatives from the resort, development, real estate, and nonprofit community, believes shoreland development is possible without jeopardizing the quality of our natural resources, but good protections need to be in place to find this balance. To review the alternative shoreland standards recommended by the Committee, click here.

Put the Trust Back in Environmental Trust Fund

In 2005, the Legislature mandated a Task Force to recommend reforms for the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR) that currently controls the tens of millions of dollars in Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for future natural resources projects.  The Trust Fund receives 40 percent of the Minnesota lottery net proceeds. The Task Force, containing a mix of legislators, former legislators, and citizens released their recommendations this week, calling for compromise that falls between Governor Tim Pawlenty’s sweeping proposal in 2004 to replace the entire LCMR with a citizen’s board, and lawmakers’ insistence that they retain control of the purse strings.

The recommendations would transform the LCMR from a 20-member legislative body to a 17-member body that contains seven citizens, streamlining how decisions are made, recommending projects for funding every year, instead of every other year, with project approval requiring a “super majority” of 12 votes instead of a simple majority. The recommendations will be discussed and must be approved by the Legislature set to convene March 3.  For the entire article by Dennis Lien from the St. Paul Pioneer Press, click here.

McLeod County Aims to Protect Natural Environment Lakes with 1,000 Foot Setback

McLeod County proved they are serious about protecting their county’s 53 natural environment lakes by passing a new ordinance that creates a 1,000 foot setback from these lakes where no subdivisions for building sites or rezoning are allowed. The development-free buffers are intended to preserve the quality of these environmentally sensitive lakes that also act as a major recharge for the groundwater in the county. County Zoning Administrator Larry Gasow said while the ordinance is stricter than state rules, it is still not as restrictive as the original version of the ordinance that proposed restricting development within an approximate 40-acre radius of a natural environment lake’s shoreline. For more on this story from the Hutchinson Leader, click here.

~ Resources for Lake and Stream Stewardship ~

"Design Your Monitoring Plan" Materials Available

Minnesota Waters is pleased to announce our "Design Your Monitoring Plan" Manual and worksheets are now available on-line!  This innovative program will walk you through the steps of creating a monitoring plan for your citizen monitoring program.  Only 10% of Minnesota’s rivers and 16% of her lakes have been assessed for meeting water quality standards.  Citizens are in important part of the solution!  Our research shows that many citizen monitoring programs collect data, but often stumble when it comes to using data. This program helps you focus your goals and create a plan that makes your monitoring program more efficient and effective!

What is a Monitoring Plan?    A monitoring plan is a document and a process which is made up of a logical series of choices about the why, what, where, when, who and how of your water quality monitoring program.  A plan documents what your monitoring program is trying to accomplish; prevents wasting time and money on efforts that don’t help you reach your goals; and helps you makes sense of your data, turning it into information that can be used!  19 groups across Minnesota have participated in "Design Your Monitoring Plan" citizen-monitoring training programs, in which they received program materials and technical support to create a plan (see above article).  For the first time, those materials are now available for download by registering on-line at: http://www.riversmn.org/monplan/

Community Sustainability Assessment Tool

The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) promotes human activities and technologies that can be harmlessly integrated into the natural world in a way that is supportive of healthy human development and can be successfully continued into the indefinite future. Their sustainability auditing tool provides a test for comparing an existing community (association, neighborhood, etc.) with ideal goals for ecological, social, and spiritual sustainability. In addition, this tool is a learning instrument - pointing out actions aspiring individuals and communities can take to become more sustainable.  The 41-page assessment is available for completing either on-line or on a downloaded PDF.  To learn more, go to: http://ena.ecovillage.org

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Watershed Website

The EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds recently created a website to help nonprofit watershed organizations, state and local governments who are working to improve watershed health.  The site includes the Draft Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect our Waters, information on funding and much more.  Click here to visit the website.

Smart Growth Technical Assistance Opportunities

Assistance is available from the US EPA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for local governments that face growth pressures and the challenge to develop in ways that improve the tax base, provide housing and transportation choices, and minimize environmental impacts.  This assistance can be tremendously helpful for local Minnesota governments experiencing strong shoreland development pressures.  Click here to learn more.

~ Conferences, Confabs and Conglomerations ~

MN Project WET's Winter Workshop for K-12 Educators

February 24, 5:00 - 9:00 pm and February 25, 8:30 am - 1:00 pm at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center, Fergus Falls
Are you in search of hands-on, interactive activities that will engage your students in learning about their local environment and community? If so, please join the Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) K-12 winter workshop.  7 CEUs available to all participants.   For more information click here or call April Rust, DNR Project WET Coordinator at 651-259-5706.

University of Minnesota Extension Shoreland Education Program: In-depth Shoreland Landscaping (Two-Day)

February 25 and March 11, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

For more information and to register, contact Sauk River Watershed District: 320-352-2231 or Info@srwdmn.org.  For details on all Shoreland Education Workshops in 2006, click here.

Minnesota Natural Resource Conference

February 28-March 2, Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake, Brainerd

The Minnesota Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology (MN SCB) invites you to attend the first ever Minnesota Natural Resource Conference. This is a unique opportunity to share information, provide insight, advocate a perspective, relay a position, change an opinion and grow as a professional. Over 300 folks from across the state and country will come together to strengthen the bonds and understandings we share as natural resource societies.  For detailed information, click here.

17^th Annual MECA Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Conference

March 9 & 10^th at Double Tree Park Place Hotel, St. Louis Park

The Minnesota Erosion Control Association (MECA) is planning its 2006 Annual Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Conference.  For a complete program and online registration please visit www.mnerosion.org or call Carolyn at 763-478-3267.

Worry Free Advocacy

March 10, this is a day-long event—Location and Time TBA

Worry Free Advocacy is sponsored and conducted by the Washington D.C.-based Alliance for Justice, a national association of environmental, civil rights, mental health, women's, children's and consumer advocacy organizations.  Morning session: lobbying rules for 501(c)(3) public charities. Afternoon session: election-related activity and the rules on coalitions and affiliated organizations.  Early bird registration is $40.  To register and learn more, go to http://www.allianceforjustice.org/events/

The Latest in Low Impact Development: Engineering and Landscape Design

March 21, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Don't miss this day long workshop featuring the latest technology in stormwater management, urban planning, and landscaping for sustainability and functionality!  For detailed information and registration forms, please go to www.minnehahacreek.org or contact Julie Westerlund, MCWD Communications and Education Coordinator: 952-471-0590 x 209 or jwesterlund@minnehahacreek.org

~ The Bucks Start Here ~

DNR Grant Program for Lakewide Treatment of Invasive Species

The DNR announces the availability of limited grant funds to expand its pilot program of lakewide control of Eurasian watermilfoil and Curly-leaf pondweed. A lakewide treatment is one that attempts to treat all, or almost, all of the target plant in a lake. The purpose of these control projects is to reduce curly-leaf pondweed or Eurasian watermilfoil lake wide in the year of treatment, to provide long-term reduction in curly-leaf pondweed or Eurasian watermilfoil in the lake, and to provide ecological benefits to the treated lake. Ecological benefits should include increases in the frequency or abundance of native submersed plants and, in the case of curly-leaf pondweed, may include reductions in levels of phosphorus and algae, which should increase water clarity.  Counties, cities, townships, and incorporated lake associations may apply. Applications are due February 28,2006. For more information on criteria to be considered for funding, see http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/habitat/lakewide.html.

Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will fund up to $4 million in projects nationwide - approximately 30 awards of not more than $200,000 each - that either foster partnerships that focus technical and financial resources on conservation priorities in watersheds or airsheds of special significance, or that conduct locally-led resource assessment and planning on watersheds.  Applications are due March 7.  Click here for more information.

Grants for Restoration Projects
The Five-Star Restoration Matching Grants Program, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, provides grants on a competitive basis to support community-based wetland, riparian, and coastal habitat restoration projects. Supported projects should build diverse partnerships and foster local natural resource stewardship through education, outreach and training activities. The stars in "Five-Star" are the partners, funders, and participants necessary to complete the project. Projects should involve diverse partnerships of ideally five organizations, including schools, universities, businesses, community groups, local governments, nonprofit organizations, foundations, etc. Applications must be postmarked by March 10.  Click here to learn more.

Community Based Waste Reduction, Toxicity Reduction and Recycling Projects

Community POWER (Partners on Waste Education and Reduction) is a project of the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board that supports innovative, community-based approaches to waste reduction. For five years, Community POWER has educated and actively engaged over a half million residents of the six-county metro area in waste reduction by partnering with non-environmental organizations and schools.  This year, $253,000 in grant funding is available, supporting projects up to $12,000 each. Letters of Interest for this funding are due by March 17.  Click here to learn more.

National Fish and Wildlife General Matching Grants Program

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation operates a conservation grants program that awards matching grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible grant recipients, including federal, tribal, state, and local governments, educational institutions, and non-profit conservation organizations.  Matching grants are awarded to projects that, among other things, work proactively to involve other conservation and community interests.  The Foundation is mandated by Congress to ensure that each federal dollar awarded is leveraged with a non-federal dollar or equivalent goods and services. The Foundation refers to these funds as "matching funds."  Project pre-proposals are due April 1.  For more information please visit: http://www.nfwf.org/guidelines.cfm

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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.