ISG will host the second annual Future of Southern Minnesota Lakes Conference at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato, Minnesota. The conference will open on Friday evening, April 12, with a fireside chat featuring writer and host of the television show “Minnesota Bound,” Ron Schara. The evening is an exclusive opportunity for conference attendees to share stories about Minnesota’s natural resources and learn from one another in a relaxed atmosphere.
The main conference on Saturday, April 13, will focus on empowering lake residents and stakeholders with knowledge and tools to manage their lakes using a four-phase framework: assess, plan, implement, and monitor. Key sessions will include a panel of healthy lakes experts with representatives from the Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and the University of Minnesota. Conference attendees will gain knowledge on how to develop and implement a lake management plan from a landowner-scale to a watershed-wide approach.
“The energy and feedback received from our first conference were extremely positive. People left with practical approaches to planning, funding, and implementation,” said Julie Blackburn, Water Business Unit Leader at ISG. “Due to an overwhelming participant response, we’ve expanded the conference to a larger venue. We’ve attracted leading researchers, advocates, and experts to not only inspire, but empower attendees to take action on improving water quality in Minnesota.”