A packed house attended the 21st annual meeting of WICOLA on Thursday, August 7. Known for a long history of monitoring water quality in White Iron, Farm, and Garden Lakes, association members quickly adopted a potentially contentious resolution with an overwhelming majority of votes both present and by proxy:
"WICOLA, as a steward of the White Iron Chain of Lakes, will closely review the plans of Twin Metals and other proposed projects that potentially degrade our water environment and will act to promote clean water. WICOLA is committed to preserving the high water quality of the unique watershed we inhabit. We embrace the federal and state requirements that our chain of lakes, which flow into the BWCAW, remains pure and unpolluted."
WICOLA, cited statewide as a model of citizen participation in water quality work, also honored its six past presidents who initiated and continued the water monitoring projects that recently culminated in the over $500,000 Kawishiwi Water Protection Project (KWPP).
WICOLA has long focused on member-related water quality projects such as proper septic maintenance and shoreline management. The current resolution cited its mission and vision statements which encompass all threats to water quality in the Kawishiwi Watershed. With this stand, WICOLA widens its scope to evaluate and distribute information regarding all potential threats well beyond individual responsibility.