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  • Introduction to Lakes Online course – begins January 20, 2026

    Registration for the award-winning Michigan State University Extension Introduction to Lakes Online course is now open! MN COLA’s Jim Kutzner took this on-line course 4 years ago and thought it was highly valuable and completely relevant to Minnesota Lakes. This six-week online course kicks off January 20th and is designed for anyone interested in inland lakes including... Read more »

  • Shallow Lakes: Deep Insights into Management Challenges

    For this late-winter, full-day event, we bring together a group of lake management experts to present research, case studies, regulatory overviews, and lessons-learned on specific lake management topics. We leave lots of time for informal discussions and networking as well. Come join us and help to advance lake management in Minnesota by learning from others... Read more »

  • What Lakes do in Winter

    For many years, lake researchers focused mostly on open-water seasons, leaving the ice-covered months relatively understudied. Today, growing concern about rapidly changing winter conditions has led to a surge of interest in lake winter ecology. In this presentation, Dr. Ted Ozersky from the U of MN – Duluth, will explore what scientists are discovering about... Read more »

  • Minnesota Ice-Out

    So, this is a different kind of ICE Out than what’s been in the news. John Downing of Minnesota Sea Grant will present his 2026 ice-out forecasts and show you how you can win your ice-out pool for your favorite lake. Minnesota Sea Grant’s Ice-Out Clock yielded accurate ice-out forecasts for 2024 and 2025. This... Read more »

  • Strategies for Recreational Watercraft Governance

    This practical webinar will be exploring why and how boat traffic is legally managed on lakes and rivers—and what that means for communities, recreation, and water protection. A panel featuring a water- and coastal-law attorney, a boat-traffic enforcement officer, and the director of a public-interest organization that helps people navigate lake and river issues will... Read more »

  • Safeguarding Amphibians from the Invisible Invaders

    Chytrid fungi are microscopic aquatic pathogens that have caused severe amphibian declines worldwide and represent one of the largest biodiversity losses linked to disease. In Minnesota, the emerging chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, is of growing concern for conservation and aquatic ecosystem health. Amy Kinsley, an Assistant Professor at the U of MN College of Veterinary... Read more »

  • Genetic options for controlling invasive carp species

    Improvements in our ability to re-write the genetics of living organisms that have been developed in the past few decades are rapidly accelerating the ability of biotechnology to address problems in medicine, agriculture, and the environment. In the area of pest and invasive species control, innovative new genetic methods are already making an impact for... Read more »

  • MLR Leadership Summit

    The leadership summit will be held in Alexandria at the Legacy of the Lakes Museum. It is an opportunity for lake association leaders to connect, get a legislative update from Jeff Forester, and hear from the DNR. The summit is planned for June 3 from 2 – 5 pm. Admission will be $15 which covers... Read more »

  • Potential impact of fireworks on lakes and other waters

    Each year in the U.S., hundreds of millions of pounds of fireworks are used, releasing perchlorate—a key fireworks ingredient and a known drinking water contaminant—into the environment. Perchlorate can disrupt thyroid function, and studies have shown that fireworks can elevate perchlorate levels in nearby surface and groundwater. Dr. Andrew Jackson from Texas Tech University will... Read more »