Lake Stewardship
All lakes are vulnerable and it is up to each of us to assume the responsibility for the care of our lake. Lake management is a process that includes the study of our lake, assessing its status and needs and then becoming knowledgable about how we can maximize our lake’s ecosystem and eventually take action. The Big Pine Lake Property Owners Association (BPLPOA) promotes stewardship among lake homeowners and looking at ecological relationships within the lake and its watershed toward the goal of keeping our lake healthy. We promote preventative action and work with many groups such as associations, local city and state organizations and agencies. We encourage you to get involved.
Good stewardship can be the beginning of a good lake management program. It is important the we each get involved in order to garner the greatest benefit for both our property and our lake’s health. There are many benefits to protecting our lake. A properly managed lake provides many recreational opportunities for fishing, swimming and boating. The quality of our lake affects property values and our local tax base.
Here is what you can do to protect and improve our lake:
- Plan wisely before building
- Minimize Waterfront Alterations
- Modify Yard Care
- Take Care of On-Site Wastewater Treatment System
- Reduce Runoff From The Yard
- Modify Boating, Swimming, and Fishing Practices
Please review the Lake Protection and Management Guide published by the Freshwater Society in cooperation with the Minnesota Pollution Control Society for more detail on what you and your association can do to better Big Pine Lake.
Another resource, User’s Guide to Shoreland Property, provided by the Aitkin County Water Planning Task Force and the Mississippi Headwaters Board provides useful information in making the most of managing lakeshore development and provides information on maintaining and best management practices to protect water quality.
Septic Smart
The University of Minnesota Water Resource Center has an excellent video and slide presentation on all things septic and how good care and maintenance can help protect our lake properties and shoreline.