Whos minding the lakes?
Of the estimated 500 to 600 lake associations around the state, about 150 belong to the Minnesota Lakes Association (MLA). “Our goal and mission is that we are the only statewide organization dedicated to improving Minnesota’s lakes,” says Paula West, executive director. MLA activities focus on legislation, lobbying, education and coalition building. It has supported legislation to control exotic plants such as milfoil, establish standards for private septic systems, limit phosphorus in fertilizer, regulate feedlots and provide incentives for shoreland buffer. “We tend to take our lakes for granted in Minnesota,” West says. “Yet, we have no dedicated funds for lakes. “Lakes in central and northeast Minnesota are still in fairly good shape, but they are rapidly being affected by development and overuse. That means we need to take a proactive approach. We can prevent the degradation of 20 lakes for what it costs to restore one,” West says. “Everyone is a lake manager,” says West. “A lake
