Northern Waters Land Trust
The Northern Waters Land Trust is a non-profit working to protect water quality and preserve environmentally sensitive lands, water resources, and wildlife habitats in north central Minnesota- a region with more than 2,000 lakes, 3,400 miles of rivers and streams, and over 4 million acres. By acquiring and protecting land, the organization strives to prevent further habitat loss, preserve the integrity of Minnesota ecosystems, and promote a harmonious relationship between people and nature, fostering a suitable future for generations to come.
The Northern Waters Land Trust's approach to conservation focuses on the"big picture" looking at the whole watershed and long-term sustainability of healthy ecosystems and good water quality through permanent protection.
Their conservation projects directly impacts water quality and wildlife habitat on specific bodies of water, lakefront landowners, and businesses dependent upon quality lakes such as outdoor recreation and tourism. Indirect outcomes are larger in scale and include increased resiliency of ecosystems, mitigation of climate change impacts, and quality drinking water for distant communities outside the region.
The Northern Waters Land Trust has been working to conserve land in key areas of watersheds to protect water quality and wildlife habitat for over 30 years. They have protected 6,934 acres of critical fish and wildlife habitat.
The mission of the Northern Waters Land Trust is to protect the lakes, rivers, and forests in northern Minnesota and support the local economy and culture.
Northern Waters Land Trust's Work
The following are a couple highlights of the impactful work of the Northern Waters Land Trust.
Clean Water Critical
Habitat Program
The Clean Water Critical Habitat program focuses on protecting the watersheds of deep cold water tullibee refuge lakes in northern Minnesota. A tullibee refuge lake is a lake in which there is a healthy, sustained population of tullibee fish. Tullibee fish are important to protect because they are crucial to the diet of walleye, northern pike, muskies, and lake trout. When tullibee populations decline, it indicates habitat change. Habitat change provides a warning of three major threats to Minnesota's clean waters and sports fisheries: degradation of watershed health, extensive shorelines development, and warming climate. The Clean Water Critical Habitat program preserves natural, undisturbed land cover and well managed shorelines to offer the best chance to protect tullibee and other related fish species.
The Northern Waters Land Trust's Minnesota Loon Restoration Project aims to reduce mortality and increase the number of young loons produced in Minnesota. The primary emphasis is to provide loon nesting habitat by protecting natural lakeshores through acquisition and/or easements. The project also focuses on engaging community members in a Loon-Friendly Lake Registry and participating in joint monitoring of project implementation and outcomes. The project is based in eight northern Minnesota counties: Becker, Clearwater, Beltrami, Hubbard, Cass, Crow Wing, Itasca, and Aitkin.
Minnesota Loon
Restoration Program
Join us in supporting the Northern Waters Land Trust.
75% of this month's donations will go towards our partner, Northern Waters Land Trust.
This month and every month, Wild Boyz Photography will be partnering with one non-profit. 75% of any donations that we receive during the month will go to the nonprofit. Help Northern Waters Land Trust continue their mission of protecting the lakes, rivers, and forests in Northern Minnesota.