Minnesota's Lake Associations are taking the lead

Minnesota's lakes, streams and other priceless water resources need protection. And, in Minnesota, there are some hopeful and innovative measures stemming from citizens. Groups throughout Minnesota, commonly known as lake associations, have heeded the challenge, mobilizing and taking action for lake and stream protection today. It’s a simple solution: locally led citizen stewardship for Minnesota’s natural resources.

Lake associations often form around a particular issue or a concern for water or shoreline protection. They start out with a few meetings and leaders who can spur interest. After that, the group forms a steering committee, develops a mission and vision statement, creates bylaws and program areas, enact a charter, and elect officers.

Lake associations are leaders in watershed stewardship and protection. The statewide water protection organization, Minnesota Waters, has assisted groups in a wide variety of watershed education, local water policy advocacy, water monitoring, and innovative lake and stream conservation projects. Minnesota Waters can also help local citizens form a lake association.

Today many lake associations are forming coalitions of lake associations (COLAs) or watershed groups. Other associations are forming lake improvement districts (LIDs), a small local unit of government, which gives landowners increased involvement in lake management activities.

Regardless of scope or specific focus, lake associations and other local water protection groups are the backbone of water resource protection throughout Minnesota. If you’re interested in forming a lake association or in learning more about local water resource protection groups, please contact Minnesota Waters at 800-515-5253 or mollyz@minnesotawaters.org