Practical Water Wisdom:

A Virtual Learning Series 

1st Thursdays at 12:00 - 1:00  

January through December 2026

 

Would you like to leave a legacy of clean water for future generations?
Have you ever wondered about the safety of your drinking water or the quality of the lakes you love to swim in, fish in, or boat on?
If either of those are true, then this series is for you!

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January 8, 2026 - Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Lake Management 

Presented by: Shane Bowe began working as an Aquatic Biologist for the Red Lake Nation Department of Natural Resources in 2006. In his time at Red Lake Nation Department of Natural Resources in 2006. In his time at Red Lake, he has worked on projects ranging from shallow lake research, to water quality monitoring and paleolimnology, to numerous nonpoint source pollution reduction projects including dam removal and stream restoration. As a nonmember managing lakes on a closed reservation, Shane has a unique perspective regarding Traditional Ecological Knowledge and the interplay between resource management and local culture and traditions.

Topic Summary: Over the past two decades, we’ve learned that the most effective way to incorporate tribal community needs and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into our lake management work is to support and empower tribal members to manage their own natural resources. Our approach has evolved to focus on increasing tribal representation within resource management roles. Recent initiatives include strengthened outreach to Red Lake Nation College, a tiered mentorship program, and, most recently, the development of an apprenticeship program designed to build long-term capacity within tribal communities.  

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January 29, 2026 (rescheduled from Oct 2025)- When the Forest Burns, What's in the Water?

 

Presented By: Sarah Elliott is a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey Upper Midwest Water Science Center that leads and supports research on various topics. A majority of Sarah’s research the last decade has focused on topics related to the presence of contaminants of emerging concern in aquatic environments and ecological implications. Other areas of research include urban stormwater runoff and treatment, implications of geologically derived contaminants in groundwater, and effects of wildfire on water quality, including a focus on critical drivers of post-wildfire water quality.

Topic Summary: Wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe worldwide, leading to significant physical and chemical changes in aquatic ecosystems within affected watersheds. These changes can impact both public water supplies and ecosystem health. In the U.S., research has mainly focused on the wildfire-prone West, where surface waters are a major source of drinking water. Despite growing knowledge, key gaps remain in understanding what drives water quality changes after wildfires. This presentation reviews the current science on post-wildfire water quality and offers recommendations for addressing these knowledge gaps.

 

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February 5, 2026: What Lakes Do in Winter

>Presented By: Ted Ozersky is an Associate Professor of Biological Limnology at the Large Lakes Observatory and the Department of Biology at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Over the past decade, he has become increasingly fascinated by what lakes and the organisms that inhabit them do during periods of snow and ice cover. His research spans ice-covered lakes around the world, examining relationships among water quality, winter severity, and oxygen, nutrient, and biological dynamics. 

Topic Summary: For many years, lake researchers focused mostly on open-water seasons, leaving the ice-covered months relatively understudied. Today, growing concern about rapidly changing winter conditions has led to a surge of interest in lake winter ecology. In this presentation, Dr. Ozersky will explore what scientists are discovering about the physics, chemistry, and biology of lakes during winter—and what these shifting winter patterns could mean for lake health and the vital ecosystem services lakes provide.

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March 5, 2026: Strategies for Recreational Vehicle Governance 

Presented By:Terra Bowling, Sea Grant Law Center; Jeff Forester, Minnesota Lakes and Rivers; and, Captain Adam Block, Minnesota DNR Boating Law Administrator

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March, 2026:  Minnesota Ice-Out

Presented by:Dr. John Downing, Director of the Sea Grant College Program, a research scientist at the Large Lakes Observatory on Lake Superior, and a professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

Topic Summary: John Downing of Minnesota Sea Grant will present his 2026 ice-out forecasts and show you how you can win your ice-out pool for your favorite lake. Minnesota Sea Grant’s Ice-Out Clock yielded accurate ice-out forecasts for 2024 and 2025. This year, the models are improved and now give forecasts for any lake you choose. The new models consider snow, latitude, how big the lake is, cumulative cold and cumulative thawing. Tune in so you can plan when to put the boat in the water.

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April 2, 2026: Waterbird Biology, Ecology and Conservation 

Presented by: Annie Bracey has worked as an Avian Ecologist at the University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute for over 15 years. Much of Annie’s research focuses on monitoring and management of wetland birds and waterbirds in Minnesota and throughout the Great Lakes region. Her research focuses on documenting movement to identify risk, including exposure to contaminants, and uses mark-recapture techniques to assess population dynamics for species of concern.  Annie has a Ph.D. in Conservation Biology from the University of Minnesota, where her research focused on conservation and management issues related to inland breeding Common Terns. Annie’s broad interest is documenting how human activities influence bird populations and how research that integrates ecology, biology, and conservation sciences can be used to better inform management decisions.

Topic Summary:This session will explore the ecology of waterbirds, how scientists monitor them, and why long-term tracking is essential. It will highlight what waterbirds can reveal about the health of our environment, with a special focus on several tern species. The presentation will also show why large-scale collaboration is crucial for understanding and protecting these populations. 

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May 7, 2026: Floodwater Mosquitoes 

Presented by:Dr. John D. Oliver, Associate Professor, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota

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June 4, 2026: Potential Impact of Fireworks on Lakes and Other Waters 

Presented by:Dr. Andrew Jackson is Chair of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering at Texas Tech University and a board-certified environmental engineer. His research examines how contaminants move through natural environments, with particular expertise in perchlorate—the major oxidizer in fireworks—and its impact on water quality. Dr. Jackson’s work includes field and laboratory studies on contaminants such as perchlorate, explosives, PFAS, and heavy metals, as well as methods for measuring and mitigating their effects. He has published more than 120 scientific papers and has led research funded by agencies including EPA, DOE, DoD, and NASA.

Topic Summary:Each year in the U.S., hundreds of millions of pounds of fireworks are used, releasing perchlorate—a key fireworks ingredient and a known drinking water contaminant—into the environment. Perchlorate can disrupt thyroid function, and studies have shown that fireworks can elevate perchlorate levels in nearby surface and groundwater.

This presentation explores how fireworks may affect drinking water sources by examining field studies, aerial deposition measurements, and national water surveys conducted before and after major fireworks events. We’ll discuss how factors such as the amount of fireworks used, waterbody size, dilution capacity, direct deposition, runoff, and natural attenuation influence perchlorate levels and potential risks to water quality.

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July 9, 2026: Septic Compliance/Shoreland Management

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August 6, 2026: What You Can and Can't Do to Your Lakeshore  

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September 3, 2026: Native Mussels

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October 1, 2026: Groundwater, Springs and Effects on Lakes

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November 5, 2026:  Boat Cleaning Video 

Presented By: Bill Grantges, Itasca County Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager

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December 3, 2026: Organizing to Sustain Lake Quality  

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Practical Water Wisdom Series Planning Committee

Cary Bates, Turtle Lake

Gail Blackmer, Deer Lake

Kathy Cone, Itasca Waters Director

John Downing, Itasca Waters Director

Bill Grantges, Itasca Waters Director

Bill & Deb Hagenbuck, Siseebakwet Lake

Rose Lawler, Hubbard County near Nevis

Jan Sandberg, Pokegama Lake/Committee Chair

Glen Bergstrand, small lake north of Duluth

Brian Whittemore, Big Bass Lake, Cass County

Bethann Perendy, Itasca Waters Coordinator