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
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