Losing Our Lakes - Star Tribune series

Part 1: Rules skirted and lakes under attack
Officials in Minnesota's vacationland can't say 'no' to those who want to break the rules.
Published June 23, 2010
By Jim Spencer

Environmentalists and economists, who have seen land-use boards approve questionable lakefront projects across the state, fear that uncontrolled development will permanently taint Minnesota's vaunted sky-blue waters. They worry about rising pollution levels, leaking septic systems and congested lakes covered by noisy, gas-burning watercraft. Read more

Part 2: A stinking mess
Lake Independence was supposed to be Minnesota's first success in the Clean Water program. Instead, it was our first failure.
Published June 25, 2010
By Tom Meersman

Alarmed by rising pollution levels, state officials put Lake Independence on their list of "impaired" waters in 2002. Citizens mobilized, scientists studied the water and $410,000 in state money was set aside to tackle the problem. Lake Independence emerged as the first lake in Minnesota with a state-approved cleanup plan.

Eight years later, almost nothing has changed. Read more

Part 3: Overwhelmed and worried
A worried officer tells of the enormous struggle to protect state lakes.
Published June 25, 2010
By Jim Spencer

Cary Shoutz is one of 191 enforcement agents who form what the state Department of Natural Resources calls the "thin green line." These agents are supposed to protect 12,000 lakes and other natural resources from safety and environmental violations, but some conservation officials, including Shoutz, say the line has been stretched by stagnant staffing during a 30-year boom in lakefront development. Read more