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, Water Resource Director for the Red Lake Nation Department of Natural Resources,  began working as an Aquatic Biologist for the 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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February 19, 2026:  Minnesota Lakes Thaw Tracker

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 lakes thaw forecasts and show you how you can win your  pool predicting the date of 2026 first open water for your favorite lake. Minnesota Sea Grant’s Lakes Thaw Tracker yielded accurate ice-out forecasts for 2024 and 2025. This year, the models are improved by new data and analyses. John will also talk about predicting when lakes will freeze over and how thick the ice-cover will be.Tune in so you can plan when to stay off the lake and when to put the boat in the water.

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March 5, 2026: Strategies for Recreational Watercraft Governance 

Presented By:

Terra Bowling is Research Counsel II at the National Sea Grant Law Center, where she is editor of The SandBar, a quarterly publication reporting on legal issues affecting U.S. oceans and coasts, and the Ocean and Coastal Case Alert, a monthly newsletter highlighting recent court decisions impacting ocean and coastal resource management. She provides legal research and outreach for the wider Sea Grant network on ocean, coastal, and natural resources legal issues.

Jeff Forester is the longtime Executive Director of Minnesota Lakes and Rivers (MLR), where he has led efforts for more than two decades to protect Minnesota’s lakes and rivers through citizen engagement and strong partnerships with policymakers. A Hubert Humphrey Public Policy Fellow and Shannon Leadership Fellow, Jeff is the author of Forest for the Trees: How Humans Shaped the Northwoods and an Emmy-winning associate producer of TRANSPLANT, A Gift for Life. He lives in Minneapolis and spends as much time as possible at family land on Lake Vermilion near the Boundary Waters.

Matt Miller has served as a Conservation Officer for the Minnesota DNR Enforcement Division since 2007, and has a combined total of 24 years in law enforcement. As a CO, he spent 14 years on the Division’s previous Lake Superior Marine Unit, and is now the Duluth-area officer assigned to the statewide Marine Unit. His areas of focus include watercraft operation enforcement and education, ice rescue, sonar and ROV work for drowning recoveries, and commercial/charter enforcement on Minnesota’s waters of Lake Superior.

Topic Summary: Join us for a practical webinar exploring why and how boat traffic is legally managed on lakes and rivers—and what that means for communities, recreation, and water protection. A panel featuring a water- and coastal-law attorney, a boat-traffic enforcement officer, and the director of a public-interest organization that helps people navigate lake and river issues will explain the legal foundations for restrictions, real-world safety and enforcement considerations, and how communities can balance recreation, property rights, and environmental protection. Ideal for lake residents, local officials, lake associations, and anyone interested in fair, effective watercraft management.

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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: Ecology, Disease Prevention, and Control of Floodwater Mosquitoes

Presented by: Dr. Jon Oliver is a public health entomologist at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. His research and teaching focus on surveillance of disease transmitting arthropods like mosquitoes and ticks and examining how disease-causing microorganisms are transmitted. He is also interested in how wildlife contribute to disease transmission cycles that may impact humans. Back when he had more free time, Jon spent a lot of it camping and hiking.

Topic Summary: Floodwater mosquitoes are abundant in the summer in Northern Minnesota and can ruin a camping trip and transmit dangerous diseases. This presentation will describe the sorts of environments where these mosquitoes thrive, habitat controls that homeowners can undertake to reduce the number of mosquitoes on their properties, and measures that Minnesotans can take to reduce disease transmission risks while enjoying the great outdoors.  

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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

Presented by: Katie Benes, works for the residents of Itasca County as the Director of Environmental Services. As Director, her responsibilities include administering the County’s planning and zoning regulations, solid waste program, septic program, shoreland program, and more. She started with Environmental Services in 2018 and has found it to be a place where there is always something to learn.

Topic Summary: An overview of how septic systems are regulated, what standards and inspections are required, and how compliance helps protect public health, groundwater, and nearby lakes and streams.

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

Presented by: Austin Steere, Projects Director, Itasca Soil and Water Conservation District. Austin was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology from Bemidji State University in 2020. Austin has worked with the Itasca Soil & Water Conservation District since 2017 and has served as Project Coordinator since May 2021. An avid duck hunter and trout fisherman, Austin is dedicated to applying his education, professional experience, and personal interests to the protection and preservation of our natural resources.

Topic Summary: Austin Steere of the Itasca Soil & Water Conservation District will discuss a variety of voluntary conservation practices that landowners can use to protect their shoreline and improve overall lake health. The presentation will also highlight agencies that can assist landowners with implementing these practices, along with an overview of related requirements.

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September 10, 2026: Native Mussels

Presented by: Dr. Bernard Sietman is a malacologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Center for Aquatic Mollusk Programs in Lake City, where he works on native mussel conservation and recovery. His past and current projects include statewide mussel surveys, long-term monitoring, assessing mussel responses to stream restoration, and studying the life history of rare mussel species.

Topic Summary: Freshwater mussels and other bivalves are among the most overlooked yet ecologically important organisms in lakes and rivers. This talk explores their unique life cycles, their role in filtering and improving water quality, and what their presence reveals about ecosystem health. We’ll also discuss the threats they face—from habitat loss to invasive species—and why protecting native mussels is essential to sustaining clean water, biodiversity, and resilient freshwater systems.

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

Presented By: Dr. Crystal Ng, Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota. Crystal is a professor at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. She teaches classes in hydrogeology, including a summer field course in north-central Minnesota. Her research focuses on integrated hydrological computer modeling and fieldwork to understand how shallow groundwater systems respond to climate change, land-use/cover change, and contamination. Recently she has also been conducting community-engaged research, through which she strives to demonstrate the need for collaboration with Indigenous communities, inclusion of other knowledge systems, and work towards environmental justice.

Topic Summary: Groundwater and surface water in lakes are often treated as separate systems, but they are frequently connected. Anyone who has felt a rush of cold water near the lake bottom in summer, or noticed areas that never seem to freeze in winter knows this - those are from groundwater seeps!. This presentation will explain how scientists detect and measure exchanges between groundwater and surface water, and why these connections matter for water quantity and quality in both lakes and groundwater aquifers.

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November 5, 2026:  Organizing to Sustain Lake Quality 

Presented By: Learn from our panel of experienced lake association leaders--what can and should be done to protect our lakes and why you should care. Lori Ptak, President, Vermillion Lake Association - Kathy Nielsen, Secretary, Pokegama Lake Association (Pine City) - Steve Nelson, President, Minnewaska Lake Association

Topic Summary: Lake associations in Northern Minnesota play a critical role in protecting water quality, preserving wildlife habitat, and maintaining the overall health of lakes. However, they face growing challenges, including invasive species (like zebra mussels), shoreline development pressure, water pollution from runoff, and climate-related impacts such as changing water levels and algae blooms. Limited funding and volunteer capacity also make it harder to respond effectively.

For lakeshore owners, joining a lake association is one of the most direct ways to protect their investment and the natural environment they value. Membership supports monitoring, prevention efforts, and advocacy, while also giving owners a voice in decisions affecting their lake. Simply put, healthy lakes require active communities—and participation helps ensure these lakes remain clean, usable, and beautiful for years to come.

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December 3, 2026: Info coming soon  

Presented By:

Topic Summary:

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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