Howard Lake Community Guide 2019-20

The Howard Lake Thri� Store is also open to the public and serves neighbors in need, and is located at 801 Hwy. 12. Last year, hundreds of families and people in need were helped through the combined eﬀ ort of community volunteers and donations of time, items, money and prayer. Classes and programs are oﬀ ered to help families move beyond their struggles towards self-suﬃ ciency. Financial donations and donations of items (new and gently used) are always welcome. To donate furniture and items, call the store manager at 763- 972-6547 ext. 2, and arrange for a time to drop oﬀ your donation. The organization is unable to take furniture that has holes, stains, bad scratches, odors, or pet damage; nor electronics and ma� resses of any kind. It costs money to dispose of these items, and that takes funds away from the mission to help families in need. Contact LoveINC. for a list of items they cannot accept. Monetary contributions, items, and clothing to be sold in the thri� stores, prayers said on the organization’s behalf, and volunteer work are always appreciated. To volunteer or for more information, call 763-972-6547 ext. 3. Both stores and oﬃ ces share this same phone number. accepted into a joint study venture with Wright Soil and Water Conservation District and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which includes the watershed area, as well as the lake. As a result of this broadening venture, the group’s bylaws and incorporation were amended in 2004, and the group was renamed the Howard Lake Watershed Alliance. This action promoted the group to become more focused on total lake and watershed management. The lake has been monitored since 2000, for trends in clarity and nutrient loading. In 2003, a program to control nuisance aquatic vegetation was initiated. Grants were received in 2007 and 2011, to determine how invasive aquatic species and their treatment were aﬀ ecting native aquatic vegetation. At present, Eurasian milfoil is being treated every other year. The alliance’s goals are met through voluntary eﬀ orts. The alliance welcomes energetic volunteers. The board of directors meets quarterly, with an annual meeting in May. A newsle� er is published two times per year. Contact Curt Forst at 320- 543-3736 for further information concerning the Howard Lake Watershed Alliance. Howard Lake Watershed Alliance The Howard Lake Friends of the Library has been supporting library programs since 2004. There are about 30 members, and they work to bring public awareness to all the programs and services oﬀ ered through the Howard Lake Library. Meetings take place the second Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at the library. To join, or for more information, call the Howard Lake Library at 320-543-2020. The goal of the Howard Lake Watershed Alliance is to help protect, maintain, and enhance the waters of, and surrounding watershed for Howard Lake. The organization provides educational resources, activities, and tasks to achieve this goal. Information is shared through local cable television and newspaper articles, as well as meetings and newsle� ers. The original lake association was deeply concerned with the water quality of Howard Lake. In early 2002, Howard Lake was Howard Lake Friends of the Library �� 320.485.2535 HOWARDLAKEHERALDJOURNAL.COM | 23

Howard Lake Community Guide 2019-20 | Page 23