Itasca Water Legacy Partnership
Minnesota Community Pride Showcase
Itasca Water Legacy Partnership
Clean water and outstanding fish and wildlife habitat, hallmarks of Itasca County's world class lakes, are essential fuel for the economic engine in this lake rich area. Water testing and discovery of new introductions of aquatic invasive species in several lakes in Itasca County indicate that, without improved care and management of precious water resources, impairment of water quality, reduced water clarity, lowered oxygen concentrations and loss of suitable habitat for game fish can be expected. Local water advocates came together in late 2006 to identify and implement a set of activities that would ensure clean water and quality habitat in the major watersheds in Itasca County. In the past 4 years, the Itasca Water Legacy Partnership (IWLP) formalized and assured its operations as a broadly-based community coalition by inviting volunteer members from all walks of life to serve. A logo and theme "Team Up for Clean Waters" were chosen. A board and an executive committee guide partnership activities and have formed a nonprofit, 501 (c) 3 corporation. Representation on the board includes local business and tourism interests, citizens at large, Itasca County, Itasca Community College, lake associations and state agencies. IWLP's mission is to work collaboratively on water issues and mobilize on-the-ground actions that encourage diverse sustainable use, protection, recovery and enjoyment of Itasca County's water and shoreland resources that are critical to a strong economy.
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Minnesota Community Pride Showcase competition.
About You
About You
First Name
Harold
Last Name
Dziuk
Website
Organization
Country
United States, MN, Itasca County
About Your Organization
Organization Name
Itasca Water Legacy Partnership
Organization Website
Organization Phone
218-326-8518
Organization Address
PO Box 881, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Organization Country
United States, MN, Itasca County
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Your Story
Title
Itasca Water Legacy Partnership
Briefly describe the problem—or opportunity—your community improvement project addresses
Clean water and outstanding fish and wildlife habitat, hallmarks of Itasca County's world class lakes, are essential fuel for the economic engine in this lake rich area. Water testing and discovery of new introductions of aquatic invasive species in several lakes in Itasca County indicate that, without improved care and management of precious water resources, impairment of water quality, reduced water clarity, lowered oxygen concentrations and loss of suitable habitat for game fish can be expected. Local water advocates came together in late 2006 to identify and implement a set of activities that would ensure clean water and quality habitat in the major watersheds in Itasca County. In the past 4 years, the Itasca Water Legacy Partnership (IWLP) formalized and assured its operations as a broadly-based community coalition by inviting volunteer members from all walks of life to serve. A logo and theme "Team Up for Clean Waters" were chosen. A board and an executive committee guide partnership activities and have formed a nonprofit, 501 (c) 3 corporation. Representation on the board includes local business and tourism interests, citizens at large, Itasca County, Itasca Community College, lake associations and state agencies. IWLP's mission is to work collaboratively on water issues and mobilize on-the-ground actions that encourage diverse sustainable use, protection, recovery and enjoyment of Itasca County's water and shoreland resources that are critical to a strong economy.
Tell us about the community in which your project is taking place
Itasca County's natural resources, forests, mines and waters, are essential sources of income for Itasca County's 45,058 residents. Over 1,000 lakes are located in Itasca County. Water covers 9% (263 square miles) of the total area (2,928 square miles). Water is essential for residential and industrial uses as well as for cultural and economic values in outdoor recreation and tourism.
Country your work focuses on
United States, MN, Itasca County
Partnership
To what extent does your community improvement project involve collaboration or partnerships that are outside or cross traditional organizational or sector boundaries?
Since both surface waters and underground aquifers flow across and under property lines, improving care and protection of water resources requires all members of a community to collaborate in setting and achieving goals and objectives. All residents, those who live in a shoreland and those who live elsewhere, are encouraged to become familiar with and to support the many IWLP sponsored projects.
Innovation
Issue Selector
n/a
What makes your community improvement project innovative and how has it improved the quality of life?
Effective watershed management requires public/private partnerships that blend the interests and concerns of residents from many walks of life and the competent guidance and advice of knowledgeable scientists in a sustained collaborative effort. IWLP leaders have enlisted the volunteer help of residents with many talents: e.g. business owners, limnologists, chemist, engineer, fisheries biologists, and water resource educator. IWLP's accomplishments include: establishing a state certified water testing laboratory at Itasca Community College that will provide a new local service for both surface water and well water testing as well as an opportunity for college students to earn college credits, to have a summer job and to obtain hands-on practical experience in water science. Water testing of 230 lakes that previously had not been sampled were completed providing scientific reports that will inform local and state decision making concerning lake development and a platform for watershed implementation plans that are built on broad community input. Well water testing will provide valuable information for rural residents on the safety of drinking water drawn from private wells.
Progress and Next Steps
Tell us about the planning and implementation done to date, and by whom
IWLP is a community coalition of over 100 supporting members and is led by the Board of Directors comprised of volunteers representing business and tourism interests, citizens at large, Itasca County Board of Commissioners, Itasca County Soil and Water Conservation District, Itasca Coalition of Lake Associations, University of Minnesota Extension Service, Itasca Community College, Minnesota DNR, BWSR, and MPCA and US Forest Service. Implementation of a strategic plan through a subcommittee structure focuses on 3 goals: 1) building local capacity for water quality assessment, 2) encouraging personal practices that sustain high-quality waters, and 3) assessing the full economic value of clean water. In the last 4 years, IWLP has been awarded over a million dollars in grants providing funds to: equip and establish a certified water testing laboratory at Itasca Community College, monitor water quality in 230 Itasca County lakes, inform the public about IWLP's projects through annual reports, news releases, radio, public meetings and a website (www.itascawaterlegacypartnership.org), initiate the University of Minnesota's Natural Shoreland Buffer Incentives Program, establish a low-interest revolving loan fund with Itasca County Environmental Services for upgrades to qualifying individual septic systems, initiate a 2-year diagnostic study on 2 of the largest and most heavily developed lakes in Itasca County, sponsor the 2011 Water Summit, Team Up for Clean Waters, for 190 registrants at Itasca Community College, a day of education, exhibits, and tours and an evening to celebrate water resources, participate in educational outreach to area school children through hands-on activities at Robert K. Elkington School's "Team Up to Green Up" event and at the "Children First Fair," and participate in the Itasca County Soil and Water Conservation District sponsored Mississippi River Clean-Up.
| 97 weeks ago Jillian Brown said: Thank you for entering, Itasca Water Legacy Partnership, in the Minnesota Community Pride Showcase. If you have any questions about your ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > | |
| 98 weeks ago Harold Dziuk updated this Competition Entry. | |
| 98 weeks ago Harold Dziuk updated this Competition Entry. | |
| 99 weeks ago Harold Dziuk updated this Competition Entry. | |
| 99 weeks ago Harold Dziuk submitted this idea. |
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