What is a Public Inland Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District?
A special unit of government designed to deal with lake management issues. It is not a general purpose unit of government like a town or county that must deal with a broad range of issues ranging from fire protection to road repairs. A lake district is empowered to operate on its own initiative, independent of its creating entity and the state, but subject to local ordinances and state law. Lake districts can act in concert with other municipalities to undertake lake protection and rehabilitation projects.
General Management Powers of Lake Districts
Lake districts can operate in a wide variety of lake management activities such as:
- evaluate lake management issues
- carry out solutions to lake management issues
- develop long range lake management plans
- undertake projects to enhance recreation
- monitor water quality
- cooperate with non-profit organizations on projects
- operate water safety patrols
- control erosion
- survey lake users, local citizens and property owners
- aerate the lake
- harvest or treat aquatic plants
- divert nutrients/dredge
- construct and operate dams
