What is the Shallow Lakes Forum?
The Shallow Lakes Forum is a collaboration of public and private interest groups concerned about the current status and management of shallow waters in Minnesota. The Forum was forged in 2003 by a group of interested stakeholders and we have sponsored several events (The Shallow Lakes Forums):
*North Mankato (2004),
*Alexandria (2005),
*Willmar (2006),
*St. Cloud (2007),
*Fergus Falls (2008), and
*Chaska (2009).
As a result of the Forum, a shallow lakes brochure has been produced and will be reprinted in 2009. Awareness about shallow basin issues has also been elevated. The Forum participants are working within their own ranks and collectively to promote management practices that avoid damaging the sensitive functions of shallow lakes and deepwater wetlands - while remaining reasonable about land use needs and desires. If you are concerned about shallow lakes management, then the Forum's events are for you!
Who has been coordinating the Shallow Lakes Forum?
The Shallow Lakes Forum has been an interdisciplanary effort mutually coordinated among representatives from state agencies and private interest groups. The Forum was founded by six stakeholder groups in 2003 and since its inception, we have also welcomed new members, such as The Wildlife Society, The Water Resources Center at Minnesota State University Mankato, Minnesota River Board, and the Soil and Water Conservation Society. Our current partners are:
*Minnesota River Board
www.minnesotariver.org
*Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
www.ducks.org
*Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
www.dnr.state.mn.us
*Minnesota Waters
www.minnesotawaters.org
*Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
www.pca.state.mn.us
*Minnesota Chapter, American Fisheries Society
www.mnafs.org
*Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
www.bwsr.state.mn.us
*Water Resources Center, MN State Universirty, Mankato
www.cset.mnsu.edu/wrc/
*The Wildlife Society (Minnesota Chapter)
www.crk.umn.edu/tws/MN/
*Soil and Water Conservation Society
www.swcs.org
The Forum is open to additional participants.
Please contact any of the Forum representatives for more information.
Go to http://www.shallowlakes.info/boardcontacts.html for Forum contacts.
What is the Mission of the Shallow Lakes Forum?
The Shallow Lakes Forum of Minnesota recognizes shallow lakes as fragile ecological resources posing unique management challenges. The Shallow Lakes Forum brings together diverse interests in collaborative settings to inform, educate, and provoke positive discourse. The Shallow Lakes Forum encourages protection and management actions that recognize and balance the needs and interests of shallow lakes stakeholders, who include public and private interests, conservation and recreational interests, and human and wildlife interests.