Crow Wing County will be recognized with a Lake-Friendly Protection Strategy Award for its revision of its shoreland rules at the ninth annual Lake-Friendly Development Awards.
Lake-friendly development by homeowners and contractors, and lake-friendly initiatives by local governments, organizations and individuals are recognized through the awards, which bring together several agencies.
Partners include Envision Minnesota, the Brainerd Lakes Area Audubon Society, Minnesota Waters, Crow Wing County Lakes and Rivers Alliance, DNR Nongame Wildlife Program, DNR Section of Fisheries, Minnesota Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, The Nature Conservancy, A.W. Research Laboratories, University of Minnesota Extension, and the Crow Wing County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Along with Crow Wing County, which is being recognized for revising its shoreland rules, incorporating a lot of the DNR’s recommended revisions, bringing in qualified and respected consultants like John Sumption and Paul Radomski to help and unanimously approving the changes at the county board.
Other projects being recognized this year include a lakeshore restoration project on Sorenson Lake in Merrifield by Jeff and Sharon Herwig, a lake-friendly home construction project by Geoff and Martha Davidge who own about 40 acres on Lower Whitefish Lake and have worked hard to replant their shoreline and better control stormwater runoff into the lake, and the Annual Harvest Dinner which gets lake people together with farmers to enjoy locally produced food and to assure each other that clean, healthy water is a priority. It is sponsored by the Cass County Farm Bureau, the Pine River Watershed Alliance and Whitefish Area Property Owners Association, among others.
The last project the group is recognizing is the Land and Water Tour for Lake Margaret, which was placed on the impaired waters list in 2006 due to high phosphorous levels. The tour, described as educational and fun, uses busses and pontoon boats to visit farms in the watershed, as well as shoreland restoration projects on Lake Margaret. The purpose is to educate residents of the watershed on phosphorous and how to keep it from entering Lake Margaret.
The awards ceremony is planned 3-4:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Minnesota Pollution Control Office on College Road in Baxter. Guest speaker for the event is Darby Nelson, who recently wrote a book “For Love of Lakes.”
Award winners receive framed prints, certificates of achievement, books and praise for their efforts.
