StoryEducational presentation promoting county lake conservation programJuly 23, 2025

City Promotes Lake Pledge Conservation Program

Meeting date: Jul 23, 2025
Published Aug 23, 2025

City officials highlighted the Lake Pledge initiative during a recent meeting, encouraging residents to participate in the Hennepin County program designed to protect local lakes from invasive species.

The program targets harmful species including zebra mussels, Eurasian mill foil and curly leaf pond weeds that can damage lake ecosystems. Zebra mussels can cut swimmers' feet and invasive pond weeds can choke shallow swimming areas, according to the presentation.

Residents can participate by visiting lakepledge.com and selecting their favorite lake. Bloomington residents can choose between Bush Lake and Penn Lake, with additional Hennepin County lakes also available in the program.

Participants create an account, select their preferred lake activities, and watch customized educational videos. Lakeshore property owners provide their address during registration, while other lake visitors can participate without property ownership.

The program relies on participants to change their behavior and influence friends and family to protect Minnesota lakes for future generations, officials said.

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Full analysis
  • Hennepin County launches digital Lake Pledge to combat spread of invasive species like zebra mussels.
  • Can digital education campaigns change behavior to protect Minnesota's lake ecosystems?
  • Local municipalities promote personal accountability for shoreline protection through web-based video tutorials.

When we visit lakes, we can bring with us some unwanted guests, invasive species.

Unidentified Narrator
Invasive speciesIntroductory warning about ecological threats to lakes.

Protecting our lakes is a team effort. We all have to participate. It's not difficult.

Unidentified Narrator
Community engagementCall to action for the public.
Source document

[0:01] - As Minnesotans, we

love to enjoy our lakes,

[0:04] but it's important that our

lakes are enjoying our love.

[0:08] When we visit lakes, we can bring

[0:09] with us some unwanted

guests, invasive species.

[0:12] This can be like zebra mussels

that can take over a lake

[0:16] and cut up your feet if you

accidentally step on them.

[0:19] Or invasive pond weeds

like Eurasian mill foil

[0:22] or curly leaf pond weeds,

which can choke out

[0:25] that shallow section of a lake,

[0:27] which is often where we like to swim.

[0:29] Protecting our lakes is a team effort.

[0:31] We all have to participate.

It's not difficult.

[0:33] The hardest thing is knowing what to do.

[0:35] All the information you might

need can be found on the

[0:38] Hennepin County initiative Lake Pledge,

[0:40] which is an assortment

[0:41] of informational short videos

organized by activity type.

[0:45] Lake Pledge also gives you the

opportunity to show support

[0:48] for your favorite lake.

[0:49] To get started, you go to lakepledge.com.

[0:52] You select your favorite

lake. In Bloomington,

[0:56] the options are Bush Lake or Penn Lake.

[0:58] There are also an assortment

of other lakes from

[1:00] around Hennepin County.

[1:02] You put in your email,

create a password, confirm that.

[1:05] If you're a Lakeshore

property owner, select

[1:07] that you are and you'll be

asked to include your address.

[1:12] But if you're not, you're

just a visitor of the lake.

[1:15] Go ahead and hit continue.

[1:17] Once you've done that,

select the activities

[1:19] that you enjoy doing.

[1:21] This will customize your priority videos

[1:23] for completing your lake pledge.

[1:25] You can always add new activities

[1:27] or even just watch the videos as a bonus.

[1:29] Once signed up, you'll need

to watch your assortment

[1:31] of videos, and then your

lake pledge is complete.

[1:34] But, the job does not end there.

[1:36] We are relying on you to change

your behavior, to influence

[1:40] and inspire your friends and family,

[1:42] and to help protect Minnesota's Lakes so

[1:44] that they stay clean

[1:45] and healthy for many generations to come.

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Other Topics from This Document

  • Protection of Minnesota lakes

  • Invasive species management

  • Hennepin County Lake Pledge initiative

  • Public education on lake health

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