These articles explain lake concepts in layman's terms. Lake Associations are welcome to publish these articles in their newsletters and websites as long as they give RMBEL credit.

May 2, 2013 By

Lake Stewardship and Protection

pelicanviewOur lakes are some of our most precious resources. Especially here in “Lakes Country”, we understand the value of enjoying the lakes and the economic value of tourism involving our lakes. So, what is lake stewardship and how do we promote it?

First of all, stewardship is an attitude. It is the understanding that what we do on land and in the water affects the lake. It is recognition that lakes are vulnerable and that in order to make them thrive, citizens, both individually and collectively, must assume responsibility for their care. [Read more…]

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May 2, 2013 By

There’s still time to clean up ice litter

Imagine yourself in a month when the ice goes out. You’re so excited to get your boat in the water and just go for a ride. As you’re flying along the lake with the wind in your hair all the sudden you hit a couple 2×4 boards floating on the lake’s surface. On another nice April day, you’re walking along the lake and see plastic bags, cigarette butts and aluminum cans washing up on shore. What a way to kill the mood! [Read more…]

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May 2, 2013 By

Giving Thanks for our Lakes

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving this week. The Thanksgiving holiday is a time for us to think about what we are thankful for, and I am thankful for our lakes.

“A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth’s eye; looking MNlakesinto which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.”– Henry David Thoreau

Today, I will illustrate the abundant natural resources we have access to as Minnesotans and get creative about what you can do to protect them and inspire others to do the same. [Read more…]

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May 2, 2013 By

Minnesota lakes trivia

MNlakesHave you ever wondered why Minnesota has so many lakes, how these lakes formed, which are the deepest and what are the most common names? If so, then read on!

First of all, only 2% of the earth’s surface is covered by freshwater. The Great Lakes (Superior, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Erie) make up the largest continuous volume of fresh water on earth, with Lake Superior covering the greatest area of any purely freshwater lake. [Read more…]

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May 2, 2013 By

Boats impact the littoral zone

Now that it’s June, the true boating season has begun. While you’re out enjoying the lake this summer, there are a few concepts that will help you become a more informed boater and lake steward.

Figure 1. Different lake zones in reference to available sunlight.We’ll start with a definition: the littoral zone. The littoral zone is the area of the lake that is less than 15 feet deep and where sunlight can reach the bottom. The littoral zone is usually where you will find the majority of aquatic plants since they need sunlight to grow. The littoral zone is also important habitat for fish, shorebirds and aquatic invertebrates because the plants give them refuge from predators and there is abundant food available. [Read more…]

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