Conferences & Events
Which Plants Should I Plant? – June 13, or repeated on June 20
The 1-hour webinar is free and starts at noon CT on June 13. The session will be repeated on June 20 at 6 pm CT. Grow your knowledge of native Minnesotan plants as you prepare your own gardens with MN Sea Grant's Jessy Carlson and John Bly of Metro Blooms for a free webinar hosted by Cook County Higher Education. This event... Read more »
MN COLA Annual Membership Meeting – June 18th
Our Annual meeting of 2024 will be held on June 18th at 9-11 am cdt. Meeting topics and speakers: Election of Directors for the MN COLA Board. Director terms are 3 years and we have several seats to fill. Note: if you have interest in joining the MN COLA Board, please contact Kevin Farum to... Read more »
Getting AIS into the classrooms – June 25
Getting students aware of AIS is a good thing and it will also foster behavior change in adults. Lake Superior State University brings together students, teachers, natural resource mentors, and staff from LSSU’s Center for Freshwater Research and Education to conduct hands-on research into local invasive species issues. Learn how this collaboration has fostered local,... Read more »
An Underwater Tour through a North Country Lake! – June 28
This in-person session is June 28 from 9:30-11:00 am at the Cass County Land Office, 218 Washburn Avenue E, Backus, MN 56435 Dr. Bruce R. Carlson, a retired professor from the University of Michigan Medical School, will lead the session addressing: An overview of how a typical area lake is put together and how it functions Numerous... Read more »
Native & Natural: A Shoreland Preservation and Restoration Tour
Register: $20 per person -- reserve now! Seating limited to 54 Use the QR code or go to https://nativenaturalshorelandtour.evenbrite.com Gather at 8:00 am at Sunshine's Summerhouse at 2008 Hill Drive SW, Fairview Township Bus departs at 8:30 am and returns at 12:30 pm Questions? Call Sheila at (612) 226-6571
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 »