MILC Session 14: Lake Protection

Water quality is critical for the health of lake ecosystems and all of the benefits that they provide. Clean water provides better aesthetics for boating and swimming, increases property values and the tax base for local governments, supports healthy sportfish populations and Threatened fishes such as the Cisco, and promotes a healthy lake ecosystem. Unfortunately, as the forests, prairies, and other natural lands near these lakes have been degraded, water quality in many lakes has declined. This session will describe and share lessons learned from recent efforts in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan to identify and protect the highest quality lakes. First, Heather Baird, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, will share experiences and results from efforts to identify and protect high quality lakes in Minnesota with a focus on Cisco. Next, Pamela Toshner, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, will describe the Healthy Watersheds, High Quality Waters program that the was recently launched. Finally, Sarah Nelson, Barry Conservation District, will share details on a project specifically focusing on protecting water quality on a high-quality Cisco lake in Barry County, MI. Together, these sessions will provide a roadmap for identification, prioritization, and implementation of water quality programs at the state- and lake-levels within Michigan.