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CLEARWATER LAKE'S Aquatic Management Area

Clearwater lake has a 148 acre Aquatic Management Area in the upper NW corner of the lake.   It surrounds the boat launch area and continues down the western shore for almost a mile.   Clearwater Forest Camp worked with the Trust for Public Land in 2004 to help create this safe haven on our lake.

This property is a large area that still belongs to the camp but with development restrictions.  We should all thank the Camp for helping to protect our lake with this designation.

DNR and AMA

As defined in Minnesota Statute 86A.05, Subd. 14, “Aquatic management areas may be established to protect, develop, and manage lakes, rivers, streams, and adjacent wetlands and lands that are critical for fish and other aquatic life, for water quality, and for their intrinsic biological value, public fishing, or other compatible outdoor recreational Uses”.

That is a "legal" way of saying they are protecting the land for native wildlife against future development.

DNR Project Plan:  MN DNR AMA Plan
2011 Status:  AMA Indicators

What can I do in an AMA?

Since the intent of an AMA is to preserve the area for native wildlife you do have limits on what you can do in an AMA.  The primary permitted activities are fishing, non-motorized travel and wildlife observation.  In some area you can hunt.   I could not determine if hunting was allowed in our area.

We also must have an exception for motorized travel, since the boat launch location requires motorized travel to reach the lake.

For a listing of the governing rules.

148 Acres of MN Lake Shoreline Protected

Article on the Trust for Public Land (TPL) web site.
Brainerd, MN, 6/26/2004

Working through the Habitat Corridors Partnership, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) helped protect nearly a mile of critical shoreline on Clearwater Lake east of Brainerd, including the headwaters of the Nokasippi River. Like hundreds of other Minnesota camps and resorts, Presbyterian Clearwater Forest was established long before the rapid growth of lakefront development threatened the water quality and shoreline habitat of many of Minnesota's lakes. With the help of TPL, the camp will retain ownership of 148 acres of untouched northern shoreline forest while committing the land to long-term protection through a conservation easement to be held by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries as an Aquatic Management Area.

The camp, located on some of the region's most valuable lakeshore property, was established fifty years ago to serve Presbyteries throughout Minnesota, Northwest Wisconsin and the Dakotas. Nearly 4000 youth and adults participate in the camp's programs every year. Financial pressures forced . . .

See the full article on the web