Category: Lake Ecology
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A lake in the making
From 30,000 feet, Minnesota’s lakes reveal a story of glaciers, growth, and change. As my daughter gains the freedom to drive herself this summer, I find myself reflecting on how teenagers are a lot like young lakes—still being shaped by the experiences that will define them.
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The Clear Water Phase
Maybe that’s what the clear water phase offers both lakes and people. Not a different reality, but a clearer view of the one that was already there. Sometimes all it takes is a little less turbulence to see more deeply into what matters.
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Just Breathe
Breath in. Breath out. In stressful moments, we return to our breath. Lakes do the same. Beneath a calm surface, lakes follow a daily rhythm—producing oxygen in sunlight and using it through the night. This quiet, unseen breathing connects us to something steady, reminding us that calm often comes from…
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The Ecology of Us
Nothing in nature is accidental — not the shape of a basswood leaf or the low-light vision of a walleye. What if the same is true for you? An ecological lens reveals how nature and nurture shape who we become.
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The benefits of a deep freeze
Yesterday’s walk reminded me that winter still has something to offer, even when it’s sharp and unforgiving. The lake rests. The plants wait. Life pauses without apology. Walking beside it yesterday, I remembered that I can do the same. Even in the cold, even in the dark, there is steadiness…
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Small Choices, Big Impact: Healthy Habits for You & Your Lake
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…
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In a world of carp, be the cisco
“It’s a hell of a responsibility to be yourself. It’s much easier to be somebody else or nobody at all.” -Sylvia Plath Imagine sitting in a boat on a lake and the only fish you could catch was a carp, only one kind of bird was singing, and the only…
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A Sheet of Ice, A Lifetime of People
A lunchtime walk revealed the lake’s first thin layer of ice, its crystals forming intricate patterns in the calm cold. Watching this slow transformation reminded me of how relationships grow—tiny connections expanding over time into a strong, interconnected network. Standing there, I felt deep gratitude for those bonds.
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Masters of music and lakes
Seeing Paul McCartney live was a bucket list moment that sparked reflection on mastery—both human and natural. Just as McCartney perfected songwriting, lake species like walleye, mussels, zooplankton, and wild celery have evolved into ecosystem experts. Their adaptations reveal nature’s quiet brilliance in shaping survival and balance over millennia.
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The Magic of Collaboration
Mahomes & Kelce, Finneas & Ashe, bluegills & plants—what they have in common shows the power of working together