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What's New at MN COLA?
News of interest
- DNR AIS grant application due December 11 at 9 am CT
- "Zebs, starry, and signal crayfish. Oh My"
- Four little words make AIS inspections stronger
- Wisconsin under threat by the wake boating industry
- Get ready Detroit Lakes for Malibu's coming to town!
- Proposed Vermont wake regulations
- U of MN provides a status update on Phase 2 of wake research
- MN COLA at Minnesota Watersheds
Best We've Seen
- Wisconsin's Last Wilderness Alliance video: Wake surfing - A Threat to our Lakes
Upcoming events
- MN COLA's next Membership meeting is December 5th....on Zoom
- Michigan hosts a virtual Summit on Great Lakes PFAS - December 5-7
- Webinar on the unique pathways of invasive mussel spread - December 13
- Harmful Algal Bloom Virtual Research Symposium in early January
- MSU again offers introduction to Lakes Online course
- U of MN AIS Detectors will offer AIS Management 101 in February
www.lakeadmin.org featured posts
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AIS continues to be one of Minnesota's biggest water challenges | |
I can recall speaking in Walker MN in September 2011 and making what seemed like a bold statement that “the spread will continue until all popular lakes get AIS”. Unfortunately, that may be our reality. But there are people working to change the situation. Read on for more of the story and why we have reason to be hopeful. | |
DNR AIS grant applications due December 11 at 9 am CT | |
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The DNR Invasive Species Unit has up to $400,000 available in 2024 to all local entities such as lake associations, watershed districts, cities, and counties to receive state funding for the control of curly-leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, flowering rush, or starry stonewort.
More information and application materials will be posted to the AIS Control Grant Program website on November 16.
This grant program will begin accepting applications at 12:01 a.m. Friday, November 17, 2023, but please note that the application period closes on December 11, 2023, at 9 a.m.
For questions, please contact Aquatic Invasive Species Management Program Grants and Research Coordinator, Angelique Dahlberg, angelique.dahlberg@state.mn.us
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“Zebs, starry, and signal crayfish. Oh My”" | |
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The hits just keep on coming. It’s mixing metaphors, but more AIS infestations have been reported since the September 11, 2023, update of the DNR Infested Waters List.
Here is the list of DNR news releases reporting 6 new zebra mussel infestations, 1 new starry stonewort infestation, and one signal crayfish infestation – the first in Minnesota. Follow the link below for more information.
More information
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Four little words make AIS inspections stronger | |
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Four little words were removed from MN Statute section 84D.10, subdivision 3 in the 2023 Legislative Session. Now, orders from a conservation officer, other licensed peace officer, or a DNR certified AIS inspector to decontaminate or remove aquatic macrophytes or prohibited invasive species from water-related equipment do not require that the decontamination unit be on site.
How this will be enforced is up in the air, but this change gives more power to Level 1 AIS inspectors.
You can read the exact text of the changes here.
This great work was a result of the lobbying done by MN Lakes and Rivers. Thanks Jeff Forester and Henry Erdman!
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Wisconsin under threat by the wake boating industry | |
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The boating industry is pushing Wisconsin legislators to adopt a 200’ from shore wake boating bill that they have successfully gotten passed in several southern states.
But Wisconsin is not sitting back! They have started a new lobbying organization, developed an impactful new video (see it below in “Best We’ve Heard”), articulated a policy regulating enhanced wakes, and rallied lake associations across the state.
Follow the link below to find out more of what Wisconsin is doing to counter this threat.
More information
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Get ready Detroit Lakes for Malibu’s coming to town! | |
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It’s going to be easier for the greater Detroit Lakes area in Becker County to buy wake surf boats as one of Minnesota’s largest inboard surf boat dealers comes to town in 2024. Consequently, the Detroit Lakes area can expect greater numbers of new surf boats to be on their public waters.
MN COLA hopes that the new dealership will give every surf boat buyer a summary of the St. Anthony Falls Lab’s groundbreaking, peer-reviewed research on the energy of surf wakes and let them know that they need to be running well over 500’ from shore. Every lake user will benefit from this practice.
Maybe billboards could help everyone know the environmental and safety impacts from these boaters and their enhanced wakes?
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Proposed Vermont wake regulations | |
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Fingers remained crossed as we await Vermont’s final decision on changes to the Use of Public Water Rules regarding wake boats. If the regulations go into effect, Vermont will have the strongest wake regulations in the US.
The public comment period on the proposed rule change ended August 10, and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation made its final confidential recommendations to Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources. Many weeks have passed since those recommendations were received. And so, we wait.
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Click on image for larger view | In the meantime, the petitioner of the rule change, Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes, continues their local media campaign to influence the public and State personnel. Here is an editorial cartoon that was recently published to help develop greater understanding of the issue. | |
U of MN provides a status update on Phase 2 of wake research | |
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The St. Anthony Falls Lab is working on Phase 2 of their wake research focused on boat-generated propeller wash. The team completed fieldwork in the fall of 2022, but unanticipated phenomena identified during data analysis led them to realized they needed more data. They completed the additional fieldwork this fall, and this winter they will be working to complete data analysis and publish our findings from the combined propeller wash research effort.
Click below for a short progress update, photos from the field campaigns, and plans for the next steps:
More information
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MN COLA at Minnesota Watersheds | |
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Minnesota Watersheds’ Annual Conference and Trade Show provides its members with opportunities for education and training, peer-to-peer learning, and networking. Members participate in regional caucuses and learn from vendors at the Trade Show.
And this year MN COLA will be an exhibitor at the conference being held Nov. 28 – Dec. 1, 2023. We look forward to getting greater awareness of MN COLA and our priorities from these water managers. Board Members Kevin Farnum, Ruth Schaefer, and Joe Shneider are planning to be at our MN COLA table.
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Wisconsin’s Last Wilderness Alliance video: Wake surfing –
A Threat to our Lakes
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Video courtesy of Last Wilderness Alliance
This YouTube video discusses the safety and environmental impacts of wake surfing. We think it’s very well done, and we think you will agree.
“Like” it and send it on to others so they better understand the issues with wake surfing.
YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OEHn0Htj8A
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Next MN COLA Membership meeting:
December 5th - on Zoom
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The next MN COLA meeting is on December 5, 2023, from 9 – 11 am CT on Zoom. Register here in advance for the meeting.
The meeting is short but should be very interesting. Topics include an update on our Legislative agenda for 2024, and 3 different best practices that we think you will find interesting.
The best practice topics include items that you can start planning now:
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Leveraging our strongest asset (the water) as part of building relationships with elected officials and local government leaders
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Using a Watershed District “project” to fund water protection and improvement activities
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Building a permanent thermal decontamination station at Deer Lake in Itasca County
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Michigan hosts a virtual Summit on Great Lakes PFAS - December 5 - 7 | |
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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continue to present some of the biggest challenges in chemical contamination across the world. States throughout the nation, including the Great Lakes region, are finding PFAS contamination in a growing number of locations where these persistent chemicals pose a threat to human health and the environment.
The Great Lakes PFAS Summit will bring together environmental program managers, policy experts, researchers, and contractors from around the Great Lakes region to share new methods of addressing this contamination and present innovative technical solutions developed to address these “forever” chemicals.
The Summit is hosted by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
Admission is $35, but is waived for government, non-profits, and students. The registration deadline is December 1.
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Webinar on the unique pathways
of invasive mussel spread – December 13
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Register for this free webinar on December 13 from 1:00 – 2:30 ET to hear 3 presentations on unique pathways of invasive mussel spread. The webinar is hosted by the Invasive Mussel Collaborative. Presentations include:
More than we bargained for: Zebra mussels transported amongst European native freshwater snails by James Dickey with Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany
Assessing Dreissena spread in Lake Superior through traditional and eDNA surveys by Courtney Larson with the US EPA Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN
Chemical drivers of Dreissenid habitat: Moving beyond calcium and temperature by Daniel Sandborn with the University of Minnesota Duluth.
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Harmful Algal Bloom Virtual Research Symposium in early January | |
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The Algal Bloom Action Team of the North Central Region Water Network is once again hosting their Virtual Harmful Algal Bloom Research Symposium on January 4 and 5.
This free, virtual event brings together over 800 water professionals from across the North Central Region to hear about the latest harmful algal bloom (HAB) research, discuss examples of effective bloom management, and learn about the latest technologies being used to tackle this global issue.
The North Central Region Water Network is comprised of 12 Land-grant colleges and universities, including the U of MN Extension, U of WI Extension, and the MSU Extension.
The Algal Bloom Action Team offers a series of Educational Resources on their webpage that you may find valuable, including HAB FAQs, factsheets, prevention and treatment options, and more
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MSU again offers Introduction to Lakes Online course | |
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Registration for the award-winning Michigan State University Extension Introduction to Lakes Online course is now open! Our own Jim Kutzner took this on-line course 2 years ago and thought it was highly valuable and completely relevant to Minnesota Lakes.
This introductory six-week online course kicks off January 30th 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.
Course 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.
Registration is open now through January 28, 2024. The cost of the course is $115 per person. Register by January 12, 2024, for an early bird price of $95 per person.
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U of MN AIS Detectors will offer
AIS Management 101 in February
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If you would like to be a more informed consumer about what’s happening on your nearby lake, have a better understanding of what lake management professionals are doing, or are considering new AIS control efforts, this class is for you!
Sign up to get an email when the course registration opens. You can also sign up for emails about other AIS Detector news, events, and courses.
For details about AIS Management 101 follow the More information link below.
More information
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MN COLA Board of Directors
(As of June 2023)
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Blaine Barkley
Jan Beliveau
Biz Clark
Kevin Farnum
Jeff Forester
Steve Frawley
Lynn Goodrich, Vice-President
Jim Gray
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David Helgerson
Kathy Jonsrud, Treasurer
Jim Kutzner
Tom Nelson, Secretary
Ruth Schaefer
Joe Shneider, President
Tom Watson
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