What is a lakeshed?

A lakeshed is a natural landscape unit that includes a lake and its surrounding catchment area. As such, lakesheds provide the most appropriate scale for protecting and enhancing water quality. Any precipitation and land use practices within a lakeshed ultimately influence ecological processes within the lake. Lakesheds correspond roughly to US Geological Survey's HUC Minor 7 codes (see for example 706500, Marquette Lakeshed).

What are Lakeshed Liaisons?

Lakesheds Liaisons are citizen volunteers who are committed to maintaining and enhancing water quality and ecological integrity of a particular area lake. Lakeshed Liaisons receive training and background information regarding specific ecological details of their lake and surrounding watershed. In addition, they receive training regarding state shoreland rules and relevant county and township ordinances.

Lakeshed Liaisons help distribute information pertaining to particular lakesheds. They work with residents, resorters, and realtors to foster lakeshed land and water practices that maintain and enhance water quality and ecological integrity of a particular lakes and streams. They also act as eyes and ears in the field and help to assure compliance with shoreland and related ordinances.

Lakeshed Liaisons can provide guidance regarding Environmental Services Department applications and procedures; they also serve as first contacts for concerns about things happening on the lake or in the encompassing lakeshed.

How does a person become a Lakeshed Liaison?

On lakes with active property owners associations, a Lake Liaison can be appointed by vote of association directors. On other lakes, individual volunteers can contact either Bill Patnaude (Beltrami County Environmental Services Department, 218-333-4158) or Paula Lowe (Beltrami SWCD, 218-755-4339). Lakeshed Liaisons are required to attend at least one informational session annually.

How to use this map

Click an icon on the map for Lakeshed Liaison contact information for a particular lakeshed.

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Beltrami SWCD

• 100 Lakes Database Initiative: will provide a comprehensive source of information on area lakes

Beltrami County & Other Local Units of Government

• Beltrami County Environmental Services Department: webpage with links and contact information
• Beltrami Countly Comprehensive Local Water Managment Plan 2008-2013 (pdf)
• Beltrami County Ordinances: complete list of all ordinance with links to text for most
  • Shoreland Ordinance
  • Subdivision Ordinance
  • Watercraft Operation Ordinance
  • Wetland Ordinance

State of Minnesota

• Department of Natural Resources
  • Lakefinder: an excellent first source for information about your lake
  • Bemidji Area Fisheries Office: conact information and resources
  • TIP: Turn-in-Poachers | 1-800-652-9093 (24-7-365)
  • Public Waters Inventory Map (pdf) -- You'll need to zoom in to read...
  • Shoreland Management Resources
    • State Shoreland Rules -- Minnesota Rules 6120.2500 - 3900
    • Shoreland Rules Update Process
• Pollution Control Agency
  • Citizen Monitoring Prgram
• Department of Health
  • Fish Consumption Advisories

United State Government

• Environmental Protection Agency
  • Surf your Watershed
  • Clean Lakes Program
• Chippewa National Forest
• Geological Survey
  • Interactive Watershed Tool
• Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Rapid Watershed Assessment -- Mississippi Headwaters
  • Beltrami County Soil Data
  Army Corp of Engineers
  • Mississippi Reservoir Operating Plan Evaluation (ROPE)

Non-Governmental Organizations

• Beltrami County Lake and River Association
• Turtle River Watershed Association

 

Cooperating Agencies

• Beltrami SWCD
• Minnesota Department of Transportation
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• Bemidji State University
• USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
• Minnesota Conservation Corps

Citizen Volunteer

• Trek North High School
• Boy Scout Troop #25
• Webelos Scout Pack #82

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