COLA looks at lake, river plans

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Protecting lakes and rivers, along with building the next generation of water stewards, are the main advantages of establishing healthy lake and river management plans. Don Hickman, speaking Saturday morning to members of the Otter Tail Coalition of Lakes Association (COLA), said the best way to develop a successful plan is to involve lakeshore owners, watershed residents, farmers and others.

“If we don’t take care of our lakes and rivers, there not only will be adverse effects on future generations, but we’ll also squander lakes and rivers as an economic development tool,” said Hickman, program manager for planning and preservation for the Initiative Foundation in Little Falls.

In a nutshell, Hickman said that a lake management plan for one of the many bodies of water in Otter Tail County would identify the concerns that people feel are important to address. Eight possible issues include water quality, aquatic species, exotic species, water surface conflicts, public access, fisheries, wildlife and land use planning.

“We need to not only protect the lakes and rivers but also to build the next generation of stewards,” he said during the COLA gathering Saturday morning at the Ottertail Community Center. “Establishing a workable management plan allows a group of people to not only protect a lake or river. It also allows for influencing public policy.”

Grant money, he said, is available for those groups of people developing lake and river management plans. Involvement can come from entities such as the West Central Initiative, Fergus Falls, an organization similar to the Initiative Foundation to which Hickman works for in Little Falls.

Lake home and cabin owners, area farmers, watershed residents, resource management agencies and various interest groups all need to come to the table during the preliminary stages in order to establish healthy lake and river management plans, Hickman said.

“It’s important to set realistic goals and have a plan for the long run,” he said. “This includes specific objectives and actions. I often refer to a saying from Yogi Berra, ‘If you don’t know where you’re going, you may not get there.’ In other words, have a clear plan of action.”

Lake associations in Cass County, near Leech Lake north of Brainerd, have sponsored inspection of over 2,000 septic systems.

“They’ve matched the owners of failing septic systems with low-interest loans,” Hickman said, “so that cost isn’t a barrier to adequately treating sewage.”

He said that other counties in his jurisdiction have formed lake improvement districts to fund the treatment of Curlyleaf Pondweed and Eurasian watermilfoil.

“Other areas have initiated shoreland restoration or lakescaping projects,” Hickman said, “while working with local units of government. They establish modern shoreland ordinances and assist neighboring farmers to mitigate impacts of field or feed runoff.”

As for getting started, Hickman said that step one is the formation of a citizen steering committee. This is done in order to successfully organize a lake or river management planning advisory group. Membership, he said, should include people from all of the various interest groups.

“Diversity is a real asset in moving forward,” he said.

The final steps for any lake or river management plan should include seven major objectives: 1) information and support, 2) issues and concerns, 3) actions to pursue, 4) what people in certain areas of the plan are responsible for implementation, 5) a time-line for implementation, 6) methods to help measure success and 7) setting a realistic budget that identifies local and outstate sources of support.

For more information contact Hickman at the Initiative Foundation, Little Falls (320-631-2043) or e-mail at dhickman@ifound.org.

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