Cindy Hagley of Sea Grant, helping Jim Diede of Pokegama Lake learn about water sampling techniques in the lake ecology session.

Julie Miedtke, Extension Educator

A weekend in late April found a small group of people gathered along the tranquil shores of Bluewater Lake, north of Grand Rapids. The setting at Camp Bluewater was ideal, the ice was off the lake, the weather was glorious and a pair of loons had arrived home to this pristine water in the heart of the Chippewa National Forest. Truly an inspirational setting for the 25 citizens, representing 17 different lakes, ready to learn about water resources and to become a Shoreland Volunteer.

The Shoreland Volunteer training is offered five times in locations throughout the state of Minnesota, to provide information, practical experience and resources for people interested in promoting Shoreland stewardship.

Instructors are from Sea Grant , the University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center, Minnesota DNR, the Itasca Soil and W ater Conservation District, Itasca Coalition of Lake Associations (ICOLA) and the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

Volunteers learned from resource professionals about:

• Lake and river ecology
• Managing shoreland in ways that monitor lakes & rivers health
• Water quality monitoring
• Detecting exotic species
• Restoring degraded shorelines
• How to share their knowledge with others

Following the training, Shoreland Volunteers agreed to give 20 hours of community service. To help with this summer’s activities, Stephanie Kessler (yes! She is Aaron Alto’s sister) has agreed to help coordinate the volunteers, and will be sponsored by the Itasca Coalition of Lake Associations and the Soil and W ater Conservation District.

For more information about the Shoreland Volunteer program in the Grand Rapids area or if you are interested in other water resource workshops, please contact Julie Miedtke by e-mail or phone at 218-327-4177 or .

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