Photo credit: Eleanor Burkett

Karen Terry, University of Minnesota Extension, 888-241-0843

Have you ever been curious about the water quality in your lake or river and wondered what makes it better or worse? Do you have an erosion problem on your shoreline that you just don’t know how to fix? Curious about the rain gardens everyone is talking about these days? Or would you like to learn to identify those plants that grow in the water?

To learn answers to these and other questions, check out the lineup of workshops offered by the University of Minnesota Extension’s Shoreland Education Team. These workshops are designed to help you learn how to protect and improve water quality while creating and maintaining a healthy and attractive shoreline. Don’t see what you’re looking for? The Shoreland Education Team will develop workshops that fit your needs!

Shoreland Best Practices

Focuses on the hows’ and ‘whys’ of lakes, rivers, and watersheds. Teaches the basics of ecology, and can be tailored to suit your group’s interests.

Erosion Control for Property Owners

Teaches how to evaluate the condition of a shoreline, select the appropriate erosion control measure, and develop a lake-friendly stabilization plan for your shoreline.

Monitoring for Bacteria or Macroinvertebrates

Helps you characterize the health of your lake or stream based on the bacteria and macroinvertebrates living there.

Rain Gardens

Instructs you how to design and install a rain garden to minimize stormwater runoff on your property. The workshop also offers a hands-on component on installing a rain garden.

Aquatic or Wetland Plant Identification

Identify those mystery plants in your lake and learn how to use plant keys to determine which plants are growing in your lake, river, or wetland.

Algae Management

Explains why algae are a problem on some lakes, and shows you how to identify the algae.You will also learn about methods for managing and controlling algae.

Shoreland Landscaping

Offered as a series of introductory, advanced, hands-on planting and maintenance workshops. Taking them all is not required but many people do; these are popular classes. You will learn about landscaping projects that anyone can undertake to improve lakeshore or riverbank property.

Curlyleaf Pondweed Management

Even if curlyleaf pondweed has not invaded your lake, this workshop will teach you how to identify it, understand its unique life history, and help prevent new introductions.

Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!

Teaches about the exotic plants and animals that live in your lake or river that you could do without, including how to identify them, what threats they pose, and what you can do to prevent their spread.

If you are interested in any of these workshops, check out the most up-to-date calendar online at http://blog.lib.umn.edu/shore/calendar/ or contact any of the educators listed at the end of this article to set up a workshop. Workshops are typically sponsored by a group such as a lake association, local unit of government, conservation organization, or watershed district, and can be held anywhere in Minnesota. You can download a brochure with more information about these workshops here.

Shoreland Education Contacts

Karen Terry

Fergus Falls, MN

888-241-0843

Eleanor Burkett

Brainerd, MN

888-241-0720

Mary Blickenderfer

Grand Rapids, MN

888-241-0885

Posted in Care of Shoreland Property, Lakes |