We Minnesotans deeply cherish our lakes and take the task of keeping them clean very seriously. That’s why Conservation Minnesota, a nonprofit organization, developed CheckMyLake.org— an online tool for Minnesotans to quickly determine if their favorite lakes are suitable for swimming, fishing and other recreation. In response to a July 11 article in the Albert Lea Tribune about CheckMyLake.org, we welcome the opportunity to explain how it works.

First and most important, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is the source of the data used to create CheckMyLake.org. It was therefore puzzling that a local MPCA official questioned the data.

Second, it is important to clarify that the three lakes near Albert Lea (Pickerel, Fountain and Albert Lea) are, by the state’s own classification system, still impaired for aquatic recreation. The most recent MPCA data show that the three measurements made for determining a lake’s suitability for aquatic recreation — Secchi disc, chlorophyll and phosphorus counts — are extremely high (meaning unsuitable). In all but one case, the measurements are quite literally “off the charts.” Follow the links to the MPCA data on each lake’s page at CheckMyLake.org to see for yourself.

The MPCA provides a wealth of information about our state’s lakes, though they display it in ways that average people (that is, people like me, without Ph.D.’s in biology) may have trouble understanding. CheckMyLake.org clearly interprets their data in a way that we can understand and make wise decisions for our families as we go out and swim or fish in our favorite lakes.

Third, though CheckMyLake.org is not a project of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, staff from Conservation Minnesota have been in close contact with seven MPCA staffers responsible for lake monitoring, data collection and communication while preparing the site. All the language that is used on CheckMyLake.org was carefully crafted with input from MPCA staff to accurately reflect the intent of the MPCA data. MPCA staffer Bill Thompson, based in Rochester, stated that the MPCA “haven’t had staff that have helped them (Conservation Minnesota) with their determinations.” That simply isn’t true.

We applaud the efforts of groups like the Albert Lea Lakes Restoration Association and the Shell Rock River Watershed District that are making great efforts to identify the sources of pollution in their lakes and clean them up.

Hopefully, the next round of MPCA data collection will reflect the positive impacts of their hard work and we can show Pickerel, Fountain and Albert Lea Lakes to be suitable for swimming and recreation!

Perhaps using CheckMyLake.org will inspire other Minnesotans to work as hard as the people of Albert Lea to restore our lakes for us and future generations to enjoy. It is through the work of these citizen heroes that our lakes are getting better.

Paul Austin is the executive director of Conservation Minnesota.