Lakes are losing ice cover at unprecedented rates. With reduced ice cover, lakes may stratify earlier which can lead to elevated water temperatures, primary production, and likelihood of algal blooms, some of which may be toxic. Mitigation of greenhouse gases is essential to preserving this ecological, cultural, and economically important resource.

Multiple activities within watershed boundaries impact the quality of freshwater systems and this presentation examines stakeholders' perspectives of governance in the Iowa Great Lakes region. Conservationists' perspectives on the region's environmental pressures, barriers they encounter, and solutions within this system are discussed.

The second volume of the MGLP’s Living document highlights families who live on natural shorelines and have taken a variety of steps to benefit themselves and their lakes. This is an opportunity to hear directly from some of the featured property owners as they share their experiences in conservation.

The overall goal of the  Healthy Watersheds, High-Quality Waters initiative is to keep 100% of the priority healthy watersheds and high-quality waters within them at or better than their current conditions through 2030.

Want to delve a little deeper into the zebra and quagga mussel invasion? Try this webinar put on by the Invasive Mussel Collaborative. It includes two presentations: Mussel squeeze: dissolved oxygen and temperature can “squeeze” zebra mussels out of invaded reservoirs by Rich Miller and Crysta Gantz with Portland State University, Portland, OR Dreissena (zebra and... Read more »

Register today for this webinar with Jeff Marr and Andy Riesgraf of the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota for an update on this critically important research: recently completed, in-process, and future. This free session is on May 31 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, but you must register in advance. Big thanks go... Read more »

The 2023 MN COLA Annual Meeting will be held in person at the Initiative Foundation in beautiful downtown Little Falls, MN! Our Annual Member Meeting promises to be content rich and an exciting opportunity to meet in person. The agenda includes the all-important Legislative Update. Jeff Forester of Minnesota Lakes and River’s Advocates will be... Read more »

Join the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) and regional leaders in a two-day workshop about priority aquatic invasive species concerns for North Central Minnesota. Date: Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24, 2023 Location: Cedar Lakes Casino, 6268 Upper Cass Frontage Rd NW, Cass Lake, MN 56633 Cost: $45 for both Friday and Saturday; $30 for Friday only. There is no option to... Read more »

Dr. Cody Sheik is a microbial ecologist at the University of Minnesota Duluth where he focuses his work on the roles microorganisms, especially cyanobacteria, play in freshwater ecosystems. In this virtual session he will share important research to identify what microbes are present across Minnesota and the Great Lakes, and to consider the implications to our... Read more »

Join this webinar on Aug 10, 2023, 08:00 am CT and hear the results of a Michigan State University study about boater resistance to cleaning their equipment of harmful, transferrable AIS. It’s free, but you need to register in advance. Aquatic invasive species continue to be spread by boaters and anglers, primarily by those who... Read more »

Plan to be part of Starry Trek 2023! Starry Trek is organized by the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center and University of Minnesota Extension in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Registration is open now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/starry-trek-2023-tickets-664078706287.