Minnesota Coalition of Lake Associations

MGLP Lake Conservation Series: Lake weeds or plant communities? Some thoughts on EWM management, control prioritization, and new work to nurture care and appreciation - October 20
2026-10-20 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago)
This presentation will start with some findings about Eurasian watermilfoil management and management prioritization – in that work, we wanted to better understand and provide context to some of the effects of whole lake herbicide treatments we observed in survey data. From there, we developed a model to predict lakes likely to experience future EWM introductions and lakes likely able to support dense populations. We hope that information could help guide smart prevention and smart management. More recently, we are interested in expanding the way folks are able to think and talk about plant communities – by naming, narrating, and celebrating unique community assemblages, we hope eventually to enable people to appreciate, connect to, and experience part of the natural world that usually remains hidden.
Register here for this event.

MGLP Lake Conservation Series: Protecting Land for Water Quality – Watershed-Based Land Conservation Strategies - October 27
2026-10-27 13:00 - 14:00
Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, or polluted runoff, is the predominant cause of water quality problems in the United States. Land protection can play a critical role in protecting waters by maintaining forests, riparian buffers, and other critical natural areas that filter polluted runoff. Protected lands also help ensure the durability of water quality restoration by preventing new pollutant loads. Over the last several years the USEPA has worked to highlight the role of land protection as a NPS management strategy and strengthen partnership opportunities between clean water programs and land conservation community. In this webinar Steve Epting will spotlight this work and how its relevance to protecting lake ecosystem health.
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MGLP Lake Conservation Series: Walleye stocking success in the Midwestern USA - November 17
2026-11-17 13:00 - 14:00
Robert Davis & Daniel Isermann discuss factors involved in walleye stocking. This study evaluated stocking success of Walleye in lakes and reservoirs across the Midwestern United States to inform stocking practices for state agencies. Demand for Walleye stocking may increase if climate change limits the potential for natural recruitment in lakes. Consequently, the strategic distribution of Walleye stocking may maximize fishing opportunities. Latitude and year explained relatively little variation in stocking success compared to within‐lake variation. Relative abundance of Largemouth Bass was an important indicator of Walleye stocking success for fry and fingerlings, with stocking success generally decreasing with increased bass abundance. There was an interaction between lake surface area and growing degree‐days, as large lakes (>2500 ha) seemed to be more conducive to Walleye stocking success regardless of growing degree‐days. The models that we developed did not accurately predict exact levels of Walleye stocking success but were 92–94% accurate in predicting whether the stocking success of both fry and fingerlings would be at or above the 50th percentile. These findings may help to inform the management and stocking allocation of Walleye and suggest that future increases in Largemouth Bass abundance and growing degree‐days could limit the effectiveness of stocking in some lakes.
Register here for this event.

MN COLA December Membership Meeting - December 8
2026-12-08 09:00 - 11:00
Hold the date. The December Membership meeting will be held on December 8, 2026.
