Lake Litter Cleanup Events for “We Are Water MN”
Otter Tail County, along with community partners, is celebrating local water. Otter Tail County will be hosting “We Are Water MN,” a traveling exhibit and community engagement program at the Fergus Falls Public Library August 18 through October 10, 2022. The “We Are Water MN” committee is kicking off the celebration by participating in a cleanup event of a local lake. The committee invites all lake associations and community members to participate in a lake clean up on one of Otter Tail County’s 1,048 lakes.
“We Are Water MN” builds relationships between people and water and raises awareness about the quality of Minnesota’s water. The first event to connect exhibitgoers to active water solutions is a cleanup of frozen area lakes. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources requires all dark houses, fish houses and portables to be off the ice no later than March 7, 2022. Unfortunately, after the snow cover melts litter can be found on many lakes. Most anglers are careful not to litter but each year debris is left behind. This unwanted debris will stay in the lakes if it is not removed.
A county-wide effort to remove litter and protect water is encouraged. “We Are Water MN” is welcoming lake associations to sponsor frozen lake cleanups this year. If your lake association is sponsoring a cleanup event, please contact Shannon Terry at [email protected] or call/text 218-671-3445.
The West Battle Lake Association will be conducting its annual lake clean-up in March and will be co-sponsored with “We Are Water MN.” When snow cover has melted and ice conditions are still safe for people to walk, members of the lake association, “We Are Water MN,” and the Battle Lake High School Baseball Team will remove litter from frozen West Battle Lake. The date is weather-dependent. With a few days’ notice, the group will organize and set out to pick up litter on the west side of the lake.
Protecting lakes is a priority in Otter Tail County. Please consider participating in activities to conserve and preserve our beautiful waterways. Watch for upcoming “We Are Water” sponsored events and plan to attend the exhibit.
About We Are Water MN We Are Water MN is led by the Minnesota Humanities Center in partnership with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; the Minnesota Historical Society; the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources; and University of Minnesota Extension.
