Assessment of Shallow Lake Management

Minnesota's shallow lakes provide numerous direct human benefits such as clean water, hydrologic storage to limit flooding, recreational opportunities, and access to unique wild areas. They also contribute many valuable ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, habitat for native species, and unique recreational opportunities. Unfortunately, water and habitat quality of Minnesota's shallow lakes have deteriorated dramatically during the past century. Conversion from native upland covers, widespread wetland drainage and surface-water consolidation to facilitate agricultural and urban/residential development have been implicated as major causes for these changes.