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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Minnesota Coalition of Lake Associations
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SUMMARY:Introduction to Lakes Online course - begins January 20\, 2026
DESCRIPTION: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. \nThis six-week online course kicks off January 20th and is designed for anyone interested in inland lakes including concerned residents\, decision makers\, local leaders\, and lakefront property owners. Course instructors include faculty from MSU Extension and state agency personnel. \nCourse topics include lake ecology\, watershed management\, shoreline protection\, aquatic plants\, Michigan water law\, and community engagement. These six topics are explored online through video lectures\, interactive activities\, and discussion forums. Additional resources are also provided for those looking to dive deeper into a topic. Participants communicate with each other and instructors through lively discussion forums and biweekly Ask-an-Expert webinars which include guests from organizations such as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Department of Environment\, Great Lakes\, and Energy. \nRegistration is open now through January 27\, 2026\, at 5 pm ET. The cost of the course is $115 per person. An early-bird rate of $95 is available if you register by January 5\, 2026. \nClick here for more information.
URL:https://mncola.org/event/introduction-to-lakes-online-course-begins-january-20-2026/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260305T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260305T130000
DTSTAMP:20260415T030145
CREATED:20260130T172537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260311T150305Z
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SUMMARY:Strategies for Recreational  Watercraft Governance
DESCRIPTION: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 explain the legal foundations for restrictions\, real-world safety and enforcement considerations\, and how communities can balance recreation\, property rights\, and environmental protection. Ideal for lake residents\, local officials\, lake associations\, and anyone interested in fair\, effective watercraft management. \nPanelists include Terra Bowling from the National Sea Grant Law Center\, Jeff Forester from Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates\, and Matt Miller\, a Conservation Officer with the Marine Unit of the Minnesota DNR. \nThis free webinar is from noon to 1 pm on March 5. Register here.
URL:https://mncola.org/event/strategies-for-recreational-watercraft-governance/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260312T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260312T130000
DTSTAMP:20260415T030145
CREATED:20260130T172952Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260130T172952Z
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SUMMARY:Safeguarding Amphibians  from the Invisible Invaders
DESCRIPTION: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. \nAmy Kinsley\, an Assistant Professor at the U of MN College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Fellow at MAISRC will fill us in on this interesting research. \nThis talk introduces MN-SNAPS\, Minnesota’s amphibian chytrid surveillance program\, which combines field sampling and education to support prevention and early detection. The presentation will explain how chytrid fungi spread\, why they matter\, and how risk modeling can be used to prevent their spread. This work emphasizes the value of planning\, awareness\, and prevention in safeguarding amphibian health and aquatic ecosystems. \nThe free webinar is on March 12 at 1 pm CT. Register here.
URL:https://mncola.org/event/safeguarding-amphibians-from-the-invisible-invaders/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260317T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260317T110000
DTSTAMP:20260415T030145
CREATED:20251209T184832Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260227T225949Z
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SUMMARY:MN COLA March Membership Meeting - March 17
DESCRIPTION:The March Membership meeting will be held on March 17\, 2026 at 9 – 11 am. Click here to register anytime before the meeting. The Zoom link for the meeting will be provided following registration in an email from Zoom. Watch for it and be sure to save the email. \nHere’s what’s on the agenda: \n\nDr. Nick Phelps from MAISRC will talk to us about compelling new research on the value of the AIS Prevention Aid. That is the program that provided $10 million annually for AIS prevention. As you may recall\, the $10 million was at risk in the 2025 Legislative session but was retained for another 2 years. It is slated to be back on the chopping block\, so it is vital that we all understand what it has delivered to Minnesota.\nJeff Forester from MN Lakes and Rivers Advocates will provide an update on the 2026 Legislative session that began in the middle of February. Hopefully some action will happen this year\, but it is a challenge as the House is evenly split and the DFL holds a one-seat majority in the Senate.\nKeegan Lund from SePro will talk about a creative approach to proactively stop the spread of starry stonewort in Minnesota. We ended 2025 with 37 waterbodies infested since the first infestation was found 10 years ago at Lake Koronis. Getting a handle on this high impact AIS is critical now! Keegan has been with us before\, and you may also remember him as an AIS specialist at the DNR.\n\nRegister here. \n 
URL:https://mncola.org/event/mn-cola-march-membership-meeting-march-17/
CATEGORIES:Featured
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260324T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260324T143000
DTSTAMP:20260415T030145
CREATED:20260304T222236Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260304T222412Z
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SUMMARY:Area Lakes Conference
DESCRIPTION:Passionate about protecting our lakes? Join us on March 24th for the Lakes Area Conference! In partnership with Kandiyohi County Coalition of Lake Associations (COLA)\, we’re hosting a free and engaging event for lake owners\, lake associations\, and anyone who cares about protecting our waters. Hear from local experts about safe wake zones and preventing shoreline damage\, shoreline protection and the role of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources\, watershed district resources and projects\, starry stonewort updates in our area\, and other helpful tools for lake communities. \nThe event will take place at the Dethlefs Community Center (217 Hillcrest Ave\, Spicer\, MN) on March 24 from 10:00 AM–2:30 PM (doors open at 9:30 AM).  \nPlease RSVP to ruth56288@gmail.com by March 9th. We look forward to seeing you there! \nThe event is free\, but an RSVP ensures enough lunches will be available. \nDownload the meeting agenda here.
URL:https://mncola.org/event/area-lakes-conference/
CATEGORIES:Featured
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260331T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260331T110000
DTSTAMP:20260415T030145
CREATED:20260309T125619Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260311T150247Z
UID:2712-1774951200-1774954800@mncola.org
SUMMARY:Wrap Recycle Right - March 31
DESCRIPTION:Sarah Bonvallet will present an overview of Minnesota’s new boat wrap recycling program\, Wrap Recycle Right\, created under the state’s first Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law for boat wrap. She will explain how the law shifts recycling responsibility to producers\, outline the role of key partners\, and describe Minnesota’s significant volume of boat wrap waste. Also\, she will describe the practical and valuable uses of the recycled boat wrap. \nShe will walk through how the program will operate\, and the importance of collecting clean\, “recycle‑ready” material. Discussing the program’s phased rollout plan\, Sarah will walk members through the steps of building a state-wide program and how they can get involved.  \nMN State Representative Larry Kraft will provide a brief introduction to explain how his boat wrap recycling program came to be. \nThere will be Q&A after the presentation. \nRegister today for the Wrap Recycle Right Seminar \nTuesday March 31\, 10-11amCT.
URL:https://mncola.org/event/wrap-recycle-right-march-31/
CATEGORIES:Featured
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