How Cook County citizens can protect their lakes from major threats—aquatic invasive species (AIS), impaired septic systems and poor lakeshore management—is the focus of free stewardship workshops to be held in Cook County. They are scheduled for Thursday, August 25 from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in the Schroeder Town Hall and again on Friday, August 26 from 9 a.m. to12:30 p.m. at the Congregational Church in Grand Marais.
The workshops are sponsored by the Cook County Coalition of Lake Associations (CCCoLA), the Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Tofte- Schroeder Sanitary Sewer District and the Cook County Planning and Zoning Office. An Operation Round-Up grant from the Arrowhead Electric Cooperative helps support the workshops. According to CCCoLA chair Biz Clark, the workshop sponsors believe that citizens, when they are informed and motivated to be proactive, make the best stewards of natural resources.
Hands-on activities, presentations and panel discussions will familiarize participants with the problems and demonstrate the appropriate means of lake protection. For lakeshore property owners, there’s a “Score Your Shore” activity, which becomes a guide to improved lakeshore management. Septic systems need periodic pumping. When to pump will be calculated and a home-based plan will be developed by each participant. Finally, the lake-to-lake transport of AIS—a major issue throughout the state—can be eliminated by attention to key boater behaviors. Identifying those behaviors along with practical actions to be taken will be covered in the AIS segment of the workshops. Participants will receive instructional booklets and other take-home materials designed to reinforce the workshop experiences.
Workshop leaders are staff of the County Planning and Zoning Office and the Environmental Health Office who will cover current laws related to septic systems and land issues. Additionally, staff from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Cook County’s water planner will be on hand to describe the county’s ongoing water projects and a staff person from Minnesota Seagrant will discuss the State’s AIS programs, including relevant new laws.
Workshops are free, refreshments will be available and drawings will be held for useful items which will help participants remember the messages of the workshops. For more information, e-mail bizclar@aol.com, Ilena.berg@co.cook.mn.us , or nancye.belding@gmail.com or call Ilena Berg at (218) 387-3648.
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