Paula West, Minnesota Waters, 218-824-5565

The 2006 Lakes and Rivers Conference, hosted by Minnesota Waters September 7 – 9 in Duluth, was attended by 550 people representing lake and river associations, local and state government, non-profits, education, and businesses who gathered around a common interest in water resources management in Minnesota. A theme of “The Changing Landscapes of Minnesota’s Waters” permeated the 48 sessions, 8 workshops, and three field trips over three days to provide attendees with increased knowledge of water issues, skills to improve the effectiveness of citizen groups to improve and protect our waters, and resources and tools to put into action for specific water issues. A plenary session featuring a panel of experts concluded that changing social expectations, shifting demographic projections from urban to rural lake areas, declining and changing recreational use patterns on our waters, and real climate changes will have broad implications for the future quality of Minnesota’s waters and our willingness to protect these resources for future generations to enjoy unless we act now.

A complete list of sessions can be viewed on the Minnesota Waters Web site. Copies of presentations can be solicited directly from presenters. Contact info@minnesotawaters.org for speaker contact information. The next Minnesota Waters Lakes and Rivers Conference will be held in the fall of 2008 at a location to be determined; watch for the specific date by the end of 2006.

Posted in Lakes |