The North Central Lakes Pilot Project, one of Governor Pawlenty’s Clean Water Initiative projects (established in 2003), includes Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, and Itasca counties. In these counties, which host 21 percent of the state’s lakes, and the population is booming with growth rates of 23 and 24 percent, compared with the statewide population growth of 12 percent, impacts from human activities to water quality and habitat are of concern.

Because of the popularity of area lakes, increased development is a given. However, development is possible without causing serious impacts to the very resources (the lakes) that bring people to the area. The pilot project includes seven major objectives that all have solution-oriented work plans. “We are optimistic,” said John Stine, project coordinator, “because support for lakes stretches from cabins to the Capitol. We have the right people working together on these projects. People know our quality of life is linked to the quality of our lakes.”

Projects include:

• Updated shoreland rules will give local government officials more options and alternatives when making land use decisions.
• Conservation easements will allow property owners to direct future use of cherished lands while providing potential tax deductions in the short term.
• The Healthy Lakes and Rivers Partnership program helps citizen leaders develop and implement their own lake or river management plans and measure success.
• The Brainerd Lakes Area Conservation Collaborative (BLACC) offers long-term strategies that balance development and conservation.
• A regional sanitary district will be considered along with a wastewater management plan, capital improvement plan, and district-wide on-site inspections.
• The land use and water quality education project will improve lake management by providing water quality management education and project opportunities for local officials, housing industry professionals and the public.
• The lakes technical team will help define the technical aspects of the projects, provide technical assistance, and report on results.

For further information, please contact Eleanor Burkett, University of Minnesota Extension Service Regional Center, Brainerd, (888) 241-0720.

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