Lakes

"A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature."
-- Henry David Thoreau

DNR Programs Related to Lakes
Frequently Asked Questions About Lakes
Facts About Minnesota's Lakes, Rivers, and Wetlands

Lake Recreation Information

• Water Recreation - boating, canoeing, water access and more
• Minnesota Fishing - species information, seasons, licenses
• Boating and Water Recreation Regulations - boating guide, watercraft registration

Lake Resource Information

• Lake Finder - assorted data for more than 4,500 lakes and rivers throughout Minnesota
• Lake Level Minnesota - volunteer lake level monitoring program
• Shoreland Management - resources for managing shoreland
• A Guide for Buying and Managing Shoreland - evaluating shoreland property for purchase, sustaining shoreland ecosystems
• Water Quality Data and Conditions - from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Regional Water Clarity Finder - from University of Minnesota, College of Natural Resources
• North Central Lakes Collaborative - An affiliation of state and local governments, citizens, and organizations which grew out of Governor Pawlenty's Clean Water Initiative

Lake Regulation Information

• Shoreland Rules Update Project - updating the minimum shoreland standards
• Do I Need a Permit? - lakeshore related permit information
• Docks - issues related to docks including dock platform general permit
• Aquatic Plant Management Program - aquatic plant guide and aquatic plant control permitting process
• Shoreline Alteration Information Sheets - beach sand blankets, riprap, ice ridges, docks and floating structures
• Lake Outlet Dams - maintenance, history, changing runout elevations
• Lake Shoreland Classification Definitions - development standards differ for different types of lakes