Climate trends affecting lakes and rivers

algae

Climate trends are accelerating harm to our lakes and rivers not protected by natural shoreline vegetation

Photo courtesy of Murray County

lakeshore.

What is happening?

Our lakes and rivers are getting warmer, and we are experiencing more frequent and intense rain events. The rate of change in air and water temperatures and number of intense precipitation events is accelerating.

 

Learn more »

 

house on lakeshore

What does this mean?

These climate trends are accelerating the growth of algae, loss of fish and wildlife, and increasing flood risk in and around lakes and rivers made vulnerable where protective natural vegetation has been replaced with suburban landscapes.

 

Learn more »

 

graphic map image

What you can do

While we can’t stop our lakes and rivers from warming or the intensity of rain events, property owners and local governments can take steps to protect lakes, rivers and shoreland property against these trends.

 

Learn more »

 

The Minnesota DNR – Your climate and natural resource partner

Public waters and their shorelands and floodplains are statewide resources that are especially vulnerable to climate trends. They are also valuable assets for local community health, safety and prosperity. Housing the State Climatology Office and many natural resource research and management programs, the DNR has significant technical resources on climate and natural resources to share with local governments to support land use decisions that sustain these resources and local community prosperity.

 

Back to top