“Little by little
You have to give it all in all your life”
- Oasis, Little by Little
2026 according to Instagram: I should be fasting for 48 hours, eating way more protein, doing somatic yoga, never touching carbs, and taking collagen supplements (preferably all at once). Meanwhile, in real life, a lot of us are starting the new year trying to make healthier choices. I’m trying to eat more vegetables and lift heavy weights to build muscle. And my Instagram algorithm definitely knows it, because my feed is now a nonstop stream of confidently delivered and wildly conflicting health advice.
There are so many mixed messages when it comes to our health that it can be overwhelming. Take a supplement; don’t take supplements. Do high intensity training; just walk. Don’t eat carbs; some carbs are okay. But there are some common themes that we do know work: get good sleep, exercise, and limit sugar and processed foods. Each incremental choice seems so small, but it adds up to our long term health.
It’s the same with lakes. There are some mixed messages on what is worth doing or not. But like our health, there are some common themes that we know work. We need to slow rainwater down from running straight into the lake. The more concrete, mowed lawn, and buildings on the lakeshore, the faster the rain runs off into the lake. The more trees and plants on a lake lot, the better.
The more bad choices we make on eating junk food or sugar, the worse our overall health becomes. Being sedentary also contributes to poorer health as we get older.
Like with human health, runoff and lakeshore alteration is incremental. Damage accumulates over time, little by little, one tree, shed, and sidewalk at a time. The more each lake lot is developed or modified from its natural state, the more it adds up and cumulatively affects the lake.
Shoreline ordinances may seem annoying if you’re trying to build something. But they are there to minimize all those incremental additions of dirt and runoff to the lake. We all like to think we would make the right choices for the lake if there weren’t rules. Yet even with these rules and ordinances, we often push the limits. We remove bushes and trees to improve the view, even though they are great at slowing runoff. We want our house to be close to the lake because we love looking at it. Nonetheless, being closer is worse for the lake. Also, there’s more risk of property damage if the lake level gets high.
If we truly love our lakes and want them to be beautiful for our grandkids to enjoy, we need to pay attention to all the incremental effects to the lake. In Minnesota, lakes are public waters, so the water belongs to everyone, but the work also belongs to everyone.
We can work to minimize incremental effects on our own lot for starters. Your local Soil and Water Conservation District can help with design and cost-share funding to implement projects such as shoreline plantings, rain gardens, pervious pavers, and more.
Like with our own health, there is no silver bullet to protecting or improving lake health. We just need to keep making good incremental choices step by step overtime. And the truth is, we’re not just taking care of the water. We’re taking care of memories, traditions, and a place that feels like home. I think that’s worth showing up for. Do you?
Moriya Rufer is a lake biologist with 20 years experience working with and loving lakes in northern Minnesota.
Photo above from Star Tribune.
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