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Mille Lacs Lake Watershed Management Group Mille Lacs Lake, located in east central Minnesota, is recognized as one of the premier walleye producing lakes in the world, and is considered by many to be one of Minnesota’s crown jewels. The Mille Lacs Lake Watershed Management Project has been active since 1996, and works toward a goal of protecting the water quality of Mille Lacs Lake. To help them attain their goal the following projects are being undertaken: Lake Mille Lacs Lakescaping Education and
Implementation: This project will educate landowners about
lakescaping through classroom and hands-on planting workshops
held in 2009. Participants will gain the skills needed to design
and implement a lakescaping project of their own. In addition,
parcel data mapping will be conducted to identify future
potential project sites. The Watershed Group is
Rain Garden Education: During the summer of 2009, the Mille Lacs Lake Watershed Management Group will also work to educate landowners on the benefits of implementing rain gardens to manage runoff from developed areas of lakeshore property. These gardens are designed to trap rain water, and allow the sediments and nutrients carried in the runoff to settle out, before reaching the lake or river. Donations from the Aitkin County Water Planning Task Force, and Project AWARE Foundation are supporting this work. Watch for a workshop and demonstration planting to be scheduled in the summer of 2009! Water Quality Monitoring: The Watershed Group has just
wrapped up detailed water quality monitoring on 12 tributary
streams to Mille Lacs Lake, and the outlet of the lake. Samples
were collected during 2007 and 2008. All data is stored The Mille Lacs Lake Watershed Management Group meets every other month, normally on the third Monday. All meetings are open to the public, and participation by those interested in the watershed is encouraged. For more information, check out the Group’s website at www.Millelacswatershed.org
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fortunate
to be partnering with the Lake Mille Lacs Association on this
project, with funding provided through a generous donation from
the Minnesota Waters Lake and Stream Conservation Partnership.
with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and is being
analyzed by S.E.H. A detailed report will be available in May of
2009. Funding for this sampling was provided by the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency, Surface Water Assessment Program.