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   They say, “They aren’t making any more land.” But after years of working with our local waters, I’ve realized something even more vital: they aren’t making clean lakes anymore.

   Living in Cass County means living alongside some of the finest lakes in the nation. As President of the Association of Cass County Lakes (ACCL), I feel immense gratitude for our waters—and a deep responsibility to protect them.

   Years ago, involvement in a local lake association—like mine on Trelipe Lakes—revolved around fish stocking, summer picnics, and local vendors selling cabin alarm systems. Today, our focus has shifted dramatically out of necessity. We’ve learned that the greatest threats to our water quality often come from our own backyards:

   • Manicured Lawns: Importing city-style lawns to the shoreline, along with fertilizers and run-off.

   • Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)—such as Zebra Mussels, Eurasian Watermilfoil, and Starry Stonewort—frequently hitchhike on boats and trailers, spreading rapidly from one lake to another.

   • Clear-Cutting & Weed Removal: Stripping native shoreline vegetation for an unblocked view or clearing underwater plants to create “Olympic-sized” swimming areas.

   At the ACCL, our mission is to preserve, protect, and improve Cass County’s lakes, waterways, and watersheds. We support roughly 40 lake associations through leadership, communication, and education.

   Throughout the summer—from May to September—we host five Friday meetings featuring passionate experts in their fields. Our topics span the issues that matter most: Water Quality, Fisheries, AIS, Shoreline/Loon Preservation, and Civic Engagement. We also assist local associations directly, such as providing formal letters opposing harmful variance requests when shoreline protections are at risk.

   Nature, too, brings its challenges. Monitoring lake levels on my home lake during severe droughts, I’ve watched our gauges sit nearly out of the water. In these moments, understanding our watersheds helps: our surrounding forests and wetlands act as giant sponges, absorbing what little rain falls before it ever reaches the basin. While we cannot control the weather, we can control how we steward the land around us.

   Protecting these waters takes all of us—lake associations, property owners, and recreational users alike. I invite you to join our meetings, share your ideas, and partner with us in keeping Cass County’s lakes clean for generations to come.

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