How a Lake Works / Stewardship

A lake reflects a complex interaction of many geologic, biologic, chemical, and other factors.  To properly and effectively protect a lake, it is important for everyone within a watershed to understand how a lake works so that appropriate stewardship behaviors can be adopted.

It is useful to understand that most of the lake is hidden from our everyday view and much is happening outside of that everyday view.

To learn more, please use these links to develop a better understanding of how a lake works and to learn some simple steps toward proper stewardship.

• Guide to Lake Protection and Management – This relatively concise and well illustrated guide is made available by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and was prepared in cooperation with the Freshwater Society.  A quick read of roughly 30 pages includes a description of how lakes work, what can go wrong, what residents can do, lake management plan basics, and a checklist of important stewardship reminders.
• Lake Protection Series – Made available by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, this site provides information on several lake protection, stewardship, and management topics.
• Protecting Your Waterfront Investment – Ten Simple Shoreline Stewardship Practices – Prepared at the University of Wisconsin, this borchure briefly describes ten simple steps for homeowners to protect a lake.
• A Guide to Wise Lake and Watershed Stewardship – A guide prepared by the NH Lakes Association.