2025 Hubbard COLA Meetings & events
2025 Hubbard County Coalition of Lake Associations (HC COLA) Board of Directors Hybrid Meetings
The 2025 HC COLA Board of Director meetings will be held “In-Person” at the Northwoods Bank Community Room and also offered “Virtually” via Zoom in a Hybrid meeting format (logistics below). The meetings are on the last Thursday of the Month at 6:30 PM to approximately 8:30 PM: March through October 2025. Email HCColaMN@gmail to be added to the “Monthly Meeting Distribution List.”
The educational speakers / presentations are scheduled first on the agenda to help facilitate broad sharing / learning with the board and lakes area residents. The public is welcome to join us for these educational programs. We will transition to the business portion of the Board Meeting following a short break of 5 minutes.
Logistics for In-Person Attendance:
These 2025 HC COLA monthly meetings will be held at 6:30 PM at the Northwoods Bank in the lower level Community Room, accessible by elevator. The address is: 1200 1st St E, Park Rapids, MN 56470
Logistics for Virtual attendance via Zoom:
For each separate monthly meeting, if you plan to attend Virtually, there will be a “Zoom” virtual connection link for Registration. Email HCColaMN@gmail.com to be added to the “Monthly Meeting Distribution List.”
The HC COLA 2025 meeting schedule with speakers / presentation topics is shown below:
The last Thursday of the Month at 6:30 PM for the HCCOLA Hybrid Monthly Meeting of the Board of Directors using Zoom and in-person at Northwoods Bank in the lower level Community Room.
March 27, 2025 - Updates from:
1) Gina Kemper, is the new Invasive Species Specialist | Ecological and Water Resources, MN DNR, Northwest Region, located in Park Rapids, MN. Gina comes to this position with an extensive natural resource background, most recently with the Pelican River Watershed District. Gina will share a map / pictures of the zebra mussels discovered on Fish Hook Lake by DNR Staff this winter. She willl cover additions to the DNR Infested Waters List in Hubbard County, share lake stewardship tips. Lake stewardship tips will also be shared.
2) Gary Smith, President - Fish Hook Lake & River Association will share lake-related activities in response to the discovery of zebra mussels.
3) Jake Shaughnessy, Watershed Planner / Coordinator, Hubbard County Soil and Water Conservation District (HCSWCD) will discuss the Crow Wing River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (CWMP) which has been completed. With its completion, additional opportunities and funding for shoreline stewardship practices are available to landowners. The CWMP has prioritized some areas and lakes for initial outreach and project implementation. You can view the CWR Priority Lake Areas map to see if your lake is in the watershed or priority area. Even if you do not fall into one of these priority areas, the HCSWCD may still be able to assist with other funding sources so do not hesitate to reach out. jake@hubbardswcd.org
April 24, 2025 - Update from:
1) Aaron Anderson, Hubbard County Environmental Services, Environmental Specialist will bring us up to date on the details of the 2025 AIS Prevention Program.
May 29, 2025 - Updates from:
1) Deb Massey - Cattail Update on Shoreline Segment on Lower Twin Lakes
2) Ingrid Bey - serves on the Kabekona Lake Association Board, Lake Management Committee along with the HCCOLA AIS Operating Team. She is also serving on the Advisory Board of the UMN Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC). Ingrid will share about MAISRC.
June 26, 2025 - HCCOLA Representative' Discussion / Sharing
July 31, 2025 - Northern Waters Land Trust Executive Director, Annie Knight & team members will share an overview of its land protection program, highlighting the recent conservation of 3M’s former property on Big Mantrap Lake. The project permanently protected 449 acres and over six miles of shoreline on this ecologically significant lake. The project exemplifies the power of strong partnerships in preserving vital shoreland, water quality, and wildlife habitat.
Additionally, the presentation will outline the steps toward achieving 75% protection of the larger Big Sand Lake watershed and emphasize the ongoing efforts required to reach this goal, both here and across other watersheds in Hubbard County.
Aug 28, 2025: HCCOLA’s Annual Meeting
Sept 25, 2025 - TBD
Oct 30, 2025: - Aaron Anderson, Hubbard County Environmental Services, Environmental Specialist will provide an AIS Prevention Program Recap of 2025 and Plans for 2026.
HCCOLA EVENTS for Summer 2025 include:
Tuesday 7/29/2025 Ojibway Lake 1 PM to 4:30 PM
August Date & Lake - Pending / To Be Determined
This is an opportunity for volunteers that want to learn &/or practice near-shore monitoring techniques for early detection of AIS, aquatic vegetation identification, and help a small
lake that isn’t included in the Starry Trek plan for 2025.
We will have AIS Detectors, who’ll help coach / train too!!
We’ll end these afternoons with a toast (optional) to the health of the lake!
Please email HCcolaMN@gmail.com with date(s) you would like to help! You will receive the rendezvous information for the date(s) you're helping!
Volunteer to help from 1 to 4 PM at the HCCOLA Table in the Environmental Education Building. Coaching on this volunteer activity is available onsite.
Email HCcolaMN@gmail.com to sign up for the date that works for you please!
The 2025 HC COLA Board of Director meetings will be held “In-Person” at the Northwoods Bank Community Room and also offered “Virtually” via Zoom in a Hybrid meeting format (logistics below). The meetings are on the last Thursday of the Month at 6:30 PM to approximately 8:30 PM: March through October 2025. Email HCColaMN@gmail to be added to the “Monthly Meeting Distribution List.”
The educational speakers / presentations are scheduled first on the agenda to help facilitate broad sharing / learning with the board and lakes area residents. The public is welcome to join us for these educational programs. We will transition to the business portion of the Board Meeting following a short break of 5 minutes.
Logistics for In-Person Attendance:
These 2025 HC COLA monthly meetings will be held at 6:30 PM at the Northwoods Bank in the lower level Community Room, accessible by elevator. The address is: 1200 1st St E, Park Rapids, MN 56470
Logistics for Virtual attendance via Zoom:
For each separate monthly meeting, if you plan to attend Virtually, there will be a “Zoom” virtual connection link for Registration. Email HCColaMN@gmail.com to be added to the “Monthly Meeting Distribution List.”
The HC COLA 2025 meeting schedule with speakers / presentation topics is shown below:
The last Thursday of the Month at 6:30 PM for the HCCOLA Hybrid Monthly Meeting of the Board of Directors using Zoom and in-person at Northwoods Bank in the lower level Community Room.
March 27, 2025 - Updates from:
1) Gina Kemper, is the new Invasive Species Specialist | Ecological and Water Resources, MN DNR, Northwest Region, located in Park Rapids, MN. Gina comes to this position with an extensive natural resource background, most recently with the Pelican River Watershed District. Gina will share a map / pictures of the zebra mussels discovered on Fish Hook Lake by DNR Staff this winter. She willl cover additions to the DNR Infested Waters List in Hubbard County, share lake stewardship tips. Lake stewardship tips will also be shared.
2) Gary Smith, President - Fish Hook Lake & River Association will share lake-related activities in response to the discovery of zebra mussels.
3) Jake Shaughnessy, Watershed Planner / Coordinator, Hubbard County Soil and Water Conservation District (HCSWCD) will discuss the Crow Wing River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (CWMP) which has been completed. With its completion, additional opportunities and funding for shoreline stewardship practices are available to landowners. The CWMP has prioritized some areas and lakes for initial outreach and project implementation. You can view the CWR Priority Lake Areas map to see if your lake is in the watershed or priority area. Even if you do not fall into one of these priority areas, the HCSWCD may still be able to assist with other funding sources so do not hesitate to reach out. jake@hubbardswcd.org
April 24, 2025 - Update from:
1) Aaron Anderson, Hubbard County Environmental Services, Environmental Specialist will bring us up to date on the details of the 2025 AIS Prevention Program.
May 29, 2025 - Updates from:
1) Deb Massey - Cattail Update on Shoreline Segment on Lower Twin Lakes
2) Ingrid Bey - serves on the Kabekona Lake Association Board, Lake Management Committee along with the HCCOLA AIS Operating Team. She is also serving on the Advisory Board of the UMN Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC). Ingrid will share about MAISRC.
June 26, 2025 - HCCOLA Representative' Discussion / Sharing
July 31, 2025 - Northern Waters Land Trust Executive Director, Annie Knight & team members will share an overview of its land protection program, highlighting the recent conservation of 3M’s former property on Big Mantrap Lake. The project permanently protected 449 acres and over six miles of shoreline on this ecologically significant lake. The project exemplifies the power of strong partnerships in preserving vital shoreland, water quality, and wildlife habitat.
Additionally, the presentation will outline the steps toward achieving 75% protection of the larger Big Sand Lake watershed and emphasize the ongoing efforts required to reach this goal, both here and across other watersheds in Hubbard County.
Aug 28, 2025: HCCOLA’s Annual Meeting
Sept 25, 2025 - TBD
Oct 30, 2025: - Aaron Anderson, Hubbard County Environmental Services, Environmental Specialist will provide an AIS Prevention Program Recap of 2025 and Plans for 2026.
HCCOLA EVENTS for Summer 2025 include:
- Our "Water Cooler Wednesday" is 5/14/2025 5:30 to 7 PM. The water quality monitoring (WQM) coolers, sample bottles, forms, and the two-meter-long integrated water sampling tubes will be available for WQ monitors to pick up from 5:30 to 7 PM at the parking lot of the Park Rapids Chamber of Commerce, 1204 Park Ave S, Park Rapids, MN. Details here.
- 2nd Street Stage "Social Hour"! Kick off the Summer! Celebrate our Lakes! Thurs June 12th 5-6 PM sponsored by HCCOLA! Booth located between Beer Garden & Pioneer Park. Our "Eyes on the Water" Activities info here
- Rake Toss / Aquatic Veg ID / Early Detection for AIS at the Lake in 2025 (see details below):
Tuesday 7/29/2025 Ojibway Lake 1 PM to 4:30 PM
August Date & Lake - Pending / To Be Determined
This is an opportunity for volunteers that want to learn &/or practice near-shore monitoring techniques for early detection of AIS, aquatic vegetation identification, and help a small
lake that isn’t included in the Starry Trek plan for 2025.
We will have AIS Detectors, who’ll help coach / train too!!
We’ll end these afternoons with a toast (optional) to the health of the lake!
Please email HCcolaMN@gmail.com with date(s) you would like to help! You will receive the rendezvous information for the date(s) you're helping!
- Tues July 15th through Sat July 19th – Hubbard County Fair 2025
Volunteer to help from 1 to 4 PM at the HCCOLA Table in the Environmental Education Building. Coaching on this volunteer activity is available onsite.
Email HCcolaMN@gmail.com to sign up for the date that works for you please!