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PHOTOS: Check out spotted around town. PAGE 11
Golden Lake: May be removed from impaired list BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
CIRCLE PINES — Since 2002, Golden Lake has been one of the many lakes included on the state’s impaired waters list. That just might be changing. Golden Lake in Circle Pines is one of seven lakes slated for possible removal from Minnesota’s impaired waters list. Bald Eagle Lake is also on the list. “That’s a positive development and a big deal. This is rare,” said Matt Kocian, lake and stream program manager at Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD). “Statewide, there is not a lot of delistings. There are thousands of impairment listings and less than 50 cases of delistings.” He added that the RCWD, which includes 55 lakes and 186 square miles, has only had one delisting approved. According to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), Golden Lake was added to the list of impaired waters in 2002 because of the presence of excessive nutrients. In 2003, the city of Circle Pines developed a water quality management plan in hopes of one day getting the lake to come off that list. “It is a constantly moving and bouncing ball,” said Mayor Dave Bartholomay. “What might have been a good idea five, 10, 20 years ago might not work anymore …” As required by the federal Clean Water Act, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) assesses all state waters and creates a list of impaired waters every two years. The list includes waters that fail to meet water quality standards and uphold that water body’s designated use.
ANOKA COUNTY PARKS | CONTRIBUTED
Maple Syrup Fest Indulge your sense at the Maple Syrup Festival from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 23 at Wargo Nature Center in Lino Lakes. Observe the process of making maple syrup, smell the sweet smoky aroma of boiling sap and enjoy a scrumptious maple treat.
SEE GOLDEN LAKE, PAGE 5
Foodshare Month puts the spotlight on year-round need BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
For 43 years, Minnesota FoodShare has been on a mission to eliminate food insecurity. Its annual Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign brings people together statewide to keep 300 food shelves stocked with food and other essentials for those who are struggling financially. Throughout various communities, many individuals join this fight to help
others in their time of need. “Our mission is always to serve our community in a dignified way,” said Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf Director Chris DuFresne. “We are focused on providing a great service to our clients that is confidential and dignified.” DuFresne emphasized three steps the Hugo food shelf takes to offer good service to customers. One is recruiting volunteers to help regularly. The second is bringing
in financial donations to purchase food from Second Harvest and other food banks. The third is arranging for prepackaged food bags at grocery stores like Festival and Cub Foods so shoppers can purchase them and place those food donations in marked food shelf bins near the exits. DuFresne said these food bags will go straight to the food shelf and, ultimately, to clients’ homes. SEE FOODSHARE, PAGE 7
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Financial donations ensure that both the Hugo and Centennial food shelves can buy food and essentials for their clients
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