Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation

10/08/2026

Congratulations to Representative Andrew Myers, who also serves on the board of Keep It Clean Minnesota, for this outstanding achievement!

Honored to be recognized as Clean Water Legislator of the Year.

Thank you to the Minnesota Water Quality Association for partnering with me to address the need for safe, clean drinking water for every Minnesotan from Mound to Moorhead.

Creating solutions to improve water quality and access has been a priority for me over the past four years, and it will continue to be. Clean water matters in every community, every neighborhood, and every backyard.

When we work together, we can deliver results.

09/10/2026

In case you missed this article in last Sunday's StarTribune, it's about the cormorants and the clean up of the Hennepin Island and Spirit Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Loathed by fishermen, these birds are actually vital stewards of our water, dredging up human garbage from lakes as they build their nests. But that litter can kill baby birds ― which is why volunteers come out every year to help clean up, Aaron Brown writes.

09/02/2026

Have a safe, thankful Labor Day! Our Fall and final Newsletter is available:
https://mailchi.mp/13710bdd3256/grant-recipients-11045790

08/20/2026

Twelve contractor bags with roughly 250 pounds of trash were removed from the Hennepin and Spirit Island National Wildlife Refuge during today's annual cleanup. The 11 member cleanup crew found the following items in these nesting areas: broken fishing rods and reels, fishing line, zip ties, aluminum cans, ice skimmers, floating minnow scoops, mouth spreaders, bobbers, fishing lures, fishing leaders, frayed rope, strapping, sunglasses, bungee cords, electrical wiring, phone chargers, spatulas, silverware and more. One young cormorant was found dead entangled in fishing line in its nest. Please do your part to Keep It Clean! Make a plan to properly contain and dispose of your trash before heading out on the ice or water. And thanks to Walt Ford, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Cody Carlstrom, Wildlife Biologist, USFWS, and Perry Bunting, MLBO Director of Environmental Programs, for including Keep It Clean Mille Lacs in the cleanup effort! It was great spending the day with you!

06/18/2026

We are officially One Week away from the Rivers & Lakes Fair!!! We hope you can join us next Saturday, June 20th, any time between 9 am and 2 pm at the Long Lake Conservation Center!

06/13/2026

Enter any National or State Park for free today! Come see us at Father Hennepin State Park between 10 am and 2 pm to learn more about Keep It Clean efforts on Mille Lacs, the Mille Lacs Trash Tracker and other local programs and opportunities.

06/02/2026

Visit Father Hennepin State Park for free on Saturday, June 13! Stop by the Beach/Picnic Area to learn more about local Keep It Clean efforts, the Mille Lacs Trash Tracker and more! For details, visit: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/event.html?id=1215

06/02/2026

Did you know? Loons can dive up to 200 feet deep to hunt for fish?...

06/01/2026

Our grant application window is again open from June 1-September 15. More info:
https://mailchi.mp/c8369b184040/grant-recipients-11044403

05/29/2026