05-11-2004, 08:59 PM
Minnesota DNR Launches Lake Protection Project
ST. PAUL, MN--Commissioners from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recently launched a project to maintain the long-term health of Minnesota's north-central lakes.
The North Central Lakes Project, a citizen and government partnership across Minnesota's Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard and Itasca counties, is one of six clean water projects under way as part of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Clean Water Initiative. The project aims to improve shoreland regulations, wastewater treatment, conservation partnerships, technical assistance and citizen education.
Key elements of the project include:
[ul] [li]Updating the state's shoreland rules, which were last updated in 1989.[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]Expanding the use of conservation easements.[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]Developing deeper, stronger government-citizen partnerships through the Healthy Lakes and Rivers Partnership, Brainerd Lakes Area Conservation Collaborative and other organizations.[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]Forming a regional sanitary district to address wastewater issues.[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]Increasing water quality education for local officials and citizens.[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]Increasing technical assistance and reporting project results.[/li][/ul] The five counties in the North Central Lakes Project comprise 21 percent of the state's lakes, 11 percent of the state's rivers and 42 percent of the state's Mississippi River miles.
[signature]
ST. PAUL, MN--Commissioners from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recently launched a project to maintain the long-term health of Minnesota's north-central lakes.
The North Central Lakes Project, a citizen and government partnership across Minnesota's Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard and Itasca counties, is one of six clean water projects under way as part of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Clean Water Initiative. The project aims to improve shoreland regulations, wastewater treatment, conservation partnerships, technical assistance and citizen education.
Key elements of the project include:
[ul] [li]Updating the state's shoreland rules, which were last updated in 1989.[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]Expanding the use of conservation easements.[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]Developing deeper, stronger government-citizen partnerships through the Healthy Lakes and Rivers Partnership, Brainerd Lakes Area Conservation Collaborative and other organizations.[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]Forming a regional sanitary district to address wastewater issues.[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]Increasing water quality education for local officials and citizens.[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]Increasing technical assistance and reporting project results.[/li][/ul] The five counties in the North Central Lakes Project comprise 21 percent of the state's lakes, 11 percent of the state's rivers and 42 percent of the state's Mississippi River miles.
[signature]