Watersheds

Watersheds (includes all 3 presentations below)

(0:00) Nonpoint source pollution success stories in lake restoration. Ellie Flaherty, ORAU/EPA

Nonpoint source pollution (NPS) Success Stories are published by the Environmental Protection Agency's 319 program, and highlight water bodies identified by states as being primarily NPS-impaired and having achieved documented water quality improvements. These stories are short summaries of the innovative approaches and partnerships behind each water quality improvement. In order to better understand the effective approaches that have led to water quality improvements, a subset of these Success Stories were selected based on waterbody type and evaluated more closely. There are over eighty Success Stories that include water quality improvements in lakes, and this subset of lake-related stories is the focus of this analysis. This presentation will discuss findings from analyses of the many parameters collected as a part of each lake success story, with an emphasis on the watershed approach. This will include an evaluation of pollutants, time-frames from listing to delisting, suites of management/restoration practices on the land and in-lake, as well partners and funding.

(30:00) Protecting land = protecting lakes: how land trusts can help. Hilary Hunt, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy

Sometimes it feels like we are overflowing with technological fixes to problems caused by the over-development of lakes. But what if we got back to basics? The very best way to prevent a future erosion, pollution, or flooding problem on a currently high-quality lake is to take action now by conserving what's left. Do you live or recreate on a lake that still has natural land along its shores? If so, maybe your local land trust can help keep it that way. The very best tool to keep water quality intact and to maintain healthy wildlife habitat is to protect existing high quality natural areas from future development. Natural systems function cohesively in ways that technological fixes can only hope to emulate. For example, natural land lining the shore of a lake defends against flooding, filters pollutants, recharges groundwater, allows infiltration, reduces algae blooms, and sustains all forms of life. That's where your local land trust comes in. Charged with the protection and permanent conservation of beautiful natural land, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy has protected 17,500 acres of land in SW Michigan over the past 29 years and has worked with hundreds of landowners to protect the places they love. Geared toward all who love natural lake shorelines and want to see them thrive, this presentation will teach you about the tools your local land trust can use to help protect inland lakes. Topics covered include: how land trusts work in an inland lake context, examples and lessons from past inland lake projects, tools for inland lake protection (such as conservation easements), and how to know whether your land is a good candidate for this kind of protection.

(1:00:42) A forest landscape approach to lake habitat protection. Dan Steward, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources

Counties and Soil and Water Conservation Districts are working to develop watershed-based comprehensive local water plans across Minnesota. In the past year two watersheds in the lake rich north-central part of the state have completed their plans and are now moving into implementation. The plans focus on long-term protection of private forest lands. The plans prioritize lakes, then target parcels with a simple GIS approach. The goal of the plans is to achieve 75% protected forest cover in the lake's watershed. The 75% strategy is based on research conducted by Peter Jacobson and Minnesota DNR Fisheries.

Presented during the 2020 Michigan Inland Lakes Convention.