The Northern Waters Land Trust will be presenting on their project, which developed an interactive GIS mapping tool to identify and prioritize land protection projects within the watersheds of Lakes of Outstanding Biological Significance (LOBS). Each parcel within these sensitive watersheds was systematically scored to determine conservation priority. This webinar is part of the... Read more »

Sometimes the smallest organisms can have surprising impacts. This presentation will focus on invasive mystery snail impacts to continental North America and will include information on three invasive mystery snails: Chinese mystery snails, Japanese mystery snails, and banded mystery snails. This event will also explore potential mechanisms for continued mystery snail dispersal and what can be... Read more »

The December quarterly Membership meeting will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, December 9th at 9-11 AM CT. We have three important items for discussion: Jeff Forester, MN Lakes and Rivers Advocates, will provide a preview of the 2026 Legislative session including an overview of their strategy to help retain the annual distribution of the... Read more »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »