Start a Lake Stewardship Group

Thinking about starting a lake stewardship group? Here are some tips to help get you started:

• Gauge community interest by going door-to-door or send out letters to lake residents to determine who would be interested in joining and participating in a lake stewardship group.
• Find a suitable location to hold your meetings with appropriate space and equipment.
• Develop a clear and concise statement of what the group wants to do, for whom, and for what benefits. A statement of purpose will help decision making and allow you to measure progress.
• Establish measurable goals so the group knows when they have been fulfilled.
• Have members identify expectations they have for the group. Plan events which will help the group members get to know one another socially.
• Appoint or hire a coordinator to maintain contact with members, secure funding and training, organize meetings, and act as the primary contact for the group. They should be based within the community, so they have a good understanding of its people and needs.
• Establish committees (fundraising, communications and more) to help reduce burn-out of volunteers. Each committee should select its own leader, develop a schedule and ground rules, keeping its responsibilities to the larger group in mind.
• Focus on the future. Don’t get stuck by letting past experiences dictate what you believe you can or cannot accomplish.
• Gather data before you start on any projects or activities. Government agencies, community partnerships, conservation groups, agricultural boards, and research organizations may have data you need. Residents are also a great source of information about a lake’s resources and history.
• Get funding information from municipal, provincial and federal government agencies. You can also try raising funds locally, on a project by project basis or for the group's efforts as a whole.