North Central Lakes Collaborative
North Central Minnesota Lakes project area
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Mission
The North Central Lakes Collaborative (NCLC)promotes sustainable private and public land use practices that protect Minneosta's lake heritage.
Profile
The North Central Lakes Collaborative is an affiliation of citizens, organizations, local governments, and state agencies working together to identify and promote strategies for sustaining healthy lakes in central Minnesota. The five-county area encompasses Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, and Itasca counties.
This is a rapidly growing region of the state, with 3--year growth projects expected to exceed 60 percent. The Brainerd Lakes area, situated in the heart of this five-county collaborative, is among the country's fastest growing "micropolitan" areas, ranking 27th in the nation for population growth during the previous decade. The region's abundant water resources make central Minnesota a popular location for seasonal housing and recreation.
Project counties are Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Itasca, Hubbard
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With this rapid growth, come challenges to the long-term sustainability of the region's water resources. These include over one-fifth of Minnesota's lakes and 11 percent of its river miles (42 percent of Minnesota's Mississippi River miles).
The region faces a dilemma: How to accommodate growth while maintaining natural systems that contribute to a high quality of life for residents, particularly in a tourism-driven economy.
NCLC's strengh lies in the diversity of individuals, organizations, and government entities contributing their time and talents to seek balanced solutions for the complex challenges facing central Minnesota lakes. Today, the collaborative is directed by a steering committee and carries out its mission through four committees made up of volunteers. The committees are: Collaborative Management, Education, Innovative Planning, and Marketing and Outreach.
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