Conferences & Events
Starry Trek 2024
Join us at locations across Minnesota for a day of searching for starry stonewort, mystery snails, and other aquatic invasive species!
Changing Water Quality in Itasca County Lakes – September 5
The September session of Itasca Waters’ Water Wisdom focuses on “Changing water quality in Itasca County lakes.” The webinar is from noon – 1 CT on September 5. The northeast region of Minnesota, and Minnesota overall, are well-known for iconic, high-quality waters. Some people have reported seeing decreases in water quality and unwelcome changes in... Read more »
MN COLA Membership Meeting – September 17th
We have three important topics on the docket: Concerns from the rise of vacation home rentals in lake country Septic systems and their impact to water quality The upcoming statewide elections and how that may influence the 2025 Legislative session in St. Paul. Register anytime before the meeting. The Zoom link for the meeting itself will... Read more »
Being Septic Smart – September 17
Septic systems are a key element to keeping our lakes and rivers healthy. Waterfront property owners need to be aware of maintenance needs of septic systems and the University of Minnesota’s Onsite Sewage Treatment Program has your back. As part of the EPA’s SepticSmart Week (September 16-20) the Onsite Sewage Treatment Program is offering a... Read more »
MAISRC 2024 Showcase – in person! – September 25
Photo, University of Minnesota, MAISRC This event is in-person and gives you a great opportunity to see what’s happening at MAISRC, meet the researchers, and connect with other water stewards in Minnesota. This is in our backyard and we are privileged to have these kinds of opportunities. The event is from 8:30 to 5:30 at... Read more »
PFAS in Water: How did they get there and why are they so challenging to address? – October 3
The October session of Itasca Waters’ Water Wisdom focuses on “PFAS in Water: How did they get there and why are they so challenging to address?” The webinar is from noon – 1 CT on October 3. PFAS, often referred to as "forever chemicals," are unlike any other harmful environmental contaminants that we have faced before.... Read more »
Learning from the past to manage inland lake fisheries for the future – October 8
This free webinar is on October 8 at 1pm CT. It is put on by the Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership (MGLP). Registration is required. The seminar will highlight research that has used data from a collaborative project digitizing over a century of historical lake survey records from the Michigan DNR Institute for Fisheries Research. We... Read more »
Inland lake shoreline assessment and best management practices in Michigan – October 15
This free webinar is on October 15 at 1pm CT. It is put on by the Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership (MGLP). Registration is required. This presentation will review the Inland Lake Shoreline Energy Assessment Tool. The goal of this new tool is to educate the user on important inland lake shoreline characteristics and to provide... Read more »
Basics of Shoreline Erosion Control – New Documents to help in design and management – October 29
This free webinar is on October 29 at 1pm CT. It is put on by the Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership (MGLP). Registration is required. Bioengineering can offer a nature-based solution on lake shorelines for controlling erosion, adding beauty, and providing habitat for fishes, birds, and other fauna. However, reference materials for professionals conducting lakeshore bioengineering... Read more »
Low and No-Salt Water Softening and Conditioning – November 7
The November session of Itasca Waters’ Water Wisdom focuses on “Low and No-Salt Water Softening and Conditioning.” The webinar is from noon – 1 CT on November 7. Salt pollution is an increasing concern in Minnesota, as salt use for water softening, deicing roads, and other applications can lead to increasing chloride levels in our... Read more »
2024 Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference – November 12-14
The 2024 Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference (UMISC) addresses both aquatic and terrestrial invasive species. This will be a hybrid conference with both in-person and online attendance options. The conference will be held in Duluth. Early Bird rates apply through September 27, 2024. The goal of conference is to strengthen management of invasive species, especially... Read more »
MN COLA Membership Meeting – December 10th
This will be a great meeting! In the first part of our meeting we will talk about kids and why we should be focusing on them. We often direct our efforts toward adults as we work to improve some lake problem, but we know that engaging kids in issues that impact the environment is a... Read more »