WHAT IS A MANAGEMENT PLAN?
Lake Poinsett is our home, and we want to protect, preserve, and enhance it. Beyond the natural elements, we want to create changes that make life better for all of us. Balancing the environmental needs and area developments is possible, but we need a plan. That’s why this project was started: the Lake Poinsett Management Plan, or the LPMP. It’s also why we need your help and insight, but we’ll come back to that in a moment. For now, let’s discuss what a Management Plan is.
Simply put, a Management Plan is like a handbook for maintaining and improving a specific area. Management Plans can vary in scope, but they typically include the same basic parts: goals, objectives, project opportunities, and strategies for—you guessed it—maintenance and improvement. Management Plans can also open the door to project funding opportunities like grants!
Specific to our needs at Lake Poinsett, we need a Management Plan that encompasses two broad subjects: the Environment and Area Development. These two subjects break down into smaller focus areas, too.
THE ENVIRONMENT
Environmental scientists and engineers will review the available data on the conditions of Lake Poinsett and the surrounding environment. This data will help us determine what actions we should take to best protect and preserve Lake Poinsett. We can use the Lake Poinsett Management Plan (LPMP) to check our progress in the years to come, and then adjust accordingly. The LPMP will address topics such as:
- Lake information (depth, size, watershed, etc.)
- Aquatic invasive species management/control
- Wildlife/fishery management
- Shore protection
- Water quality protection
- Recreational management
- Development and watershed management
AREA DEVELOPMENT
From roads and utilities to tourism and businesses, Area Development encompasses dozens of economic and social aspects that affect our day-to-day lives. These segments of the Lake Poinsett Management Plan (LPMP) will home in on projects that can improve quality of life for residents and enhancing the visitor experience.
Like the Environmental portions, the Area Development segments of the LPMP will use data to help us make effective decisions. To gather this data, we need your help. We need to hear from everyone to learn everything we can about the area: things that are working well, things that need to change, and things that we don’t even know we need (yet). Your input, ideas, and feedback will join with others to make a shared vision for Lake Poinsett, one we can pursue together. Take our Survey today to make your voice heard and join us in shaping the future of Lake Poinsett!
MOVING FORWARD
We are currently in the early phases of information gathering, however there are a few more steps before we have a full-fledged Lake Poinsett Management Plan (LPMP). Here’s a brief overview of the process:
IDENTIFY STAKEHOLDERS AND GATHER INFORMATION
An important first step starts with you! We want to reach out to residents, business owners, visitors, and other people with a vested interest in the area to listen to their comments, concerns, and more. We want to hear from everyone who loves Lake Poinsett, and we need as much information as possible: please take the Survey if you have not yet.
ANALYZE DATA
We have a general sense of popular ideas and opportunities for improvement, though the collective data from the Survey (and other feedback systems, coming soon) will help establish which focus areas need the most attention.
DEVELOP GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND ACTIONS
From the data, we will have a well-defined view of the current state, the desired future state, and the gap between the two. In some cases, we might be right where we need to be; in other cases, we will have work to do. Ultimately, this step helps us determine what we need, and the next step helps us determine how we will achieve it.
EVALUATE SOLUTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES
Once we know what we want to accomplish, we will develop approaches to successfully reach our goals and objectives. Some goals and objectives may have one clear-cut option, while others may have several possible options. To determine the best course of action, we may consult with experts and ask for your feedback as well.
KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED AND SEEK PUBLIC INPUT
This is an ongoing step that started at the beginning. For this to be a shared vision for our home, we will need regular input throughout the process. We will share updates as we can, and we will have some opportunities for you to submit new ideas/perspectives along the way. Stay tuned for more details!
TAKE ACTION
As the LPMP nears completion, we will have a prioritized list of projects and opportunities. The plan will provide a road map for these projects and opportunities. We will identify funding sources and like-minded partners to leverage the funding needed to realize the dream we share for Lake Poinsett!
EVALUTE, REASSESS, AND MODIFY
The development of the Lake Poinsett Management Plan is just the beginning! As a living document, the LPMP will provide a path forward and measure how far we have come. We will continue to evaluate the work that has been completed and keep moving forward with projects that help us realize our shared goal.
ENVISIONING THE FUTURE OF LAKE POINSETT
Envisioning the future of Lake Poinsett is an undertaking, and we are proud to have the support of the following groups:
- Lake Poinsett Association
- Lake Poinsett Water Project District
- Lake Poinsett Sanitary District
- East Dakota Water Development District
- Banner Associates, Inc.
- All of you!
The future of Lake Poinsett begins today, and it starts with you. Let’s make it better, together!