Association resources
WCOLA Information
Our lakes include Wabana, Little Wabana, Bluewater, Trout, Little Trout, Clearwater, and Doan Lake.
What is WCOLA?
WCOLA—the Wabana Chain of Lakes Association—is a group of volunteers, neighbors, and friends dedicated to maintaining the quality of our chain of lakes. WCOLA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by an elected Board of Directors and volunteer committee chairpersons.
Our mission is twofold: first, to educate our members about the many ways we can keep our lakes clean and pristine; second, to help build a strong sense of community.
How do we do that?
- Volunteer committees: Committee chairpersons lead work involving aquatic invasive species (AIS) and environmental issues, shoreland matters, Secchi disk readings, communications, the website, government affairs, and historical interests.
- Lake clarity monitoring: Volunteers take Secchi disk readings in partnership with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
- Aquatic Invasive Species protection: WCOLA arranges AIS boat inspections at many public accesses during the open-water season, shares information about AIS issues and preventive actions, helps maintain a Water Quality Management Plan for our chain of lakes, and is developing an AIS Rapid Response Program.
- Annual loon count: Volunteers partner with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
- Road cleanup: WCOLA volunteers help care for our local roadsides.
- Communications: Members receive quarterly newsletters, hear from subject-matter experts, and can find information through the WCOLA website and Facebook page.
- Community events: Activities include a spring social, an ice cream social in partnership with the Wabana Community Fund, a fall gathering, and an August community event such as a picnic or fundraiser.
We invite you, your family, and your friends to join WCOLA—or continue as members—so we can work together to protect our lakes and strengthen our community now and for years to come.
WCOLA Calendar
October 13, 2026 is the next and last meeting of the year
Historical & Reference Documents
The resources below are preserved for historical and reference purposes. Some were created in earlier years and may not reflect current regulations, lake conditions, data, or recommendations. For current guidance, please use WCOLA’s Education/AIS and Ordinances pages and the appropriate Minnesota, Itasca County, or Wabana Township source.
2021 Wabana Township Comprehensive Plan — Historical township planning reference.
Minnesota Lakes and Rivers — Boater Certification Information — External reference; requirements and guidance may change.
2019 Wabana Fishing Draft — Archived draft document.
2019 Bluewater Lake Water Report — Archived lake-water report.
2019 Grand Rapids Chamber Lake Protection Resource — Archived community lake-protection material.
2019 Itasca County Lakes Data — Archived spreadsheet.
Lake Health & Stewardship Archive
These materials document earlier WCOLA lake-health and stewardship work and are retained as a historical resource. For current lake-protection recommendations, please see the Education/AIS page.
2018 — What’s Up With Our Lakes? — Historical lake-health presentation.
Itasca County Shoreland Guide to Lake Stewardship: This guide was developed through Itasca Waters with contributions from agencies, nonprofits, businesses and community members. It covers shoreline protection, runoff, septic systems, erosion, wetlands, AIS, forest management, land conservation and shoreland permits.
The guide covers practical shoreland stewardship topics, including watershed health, pollution prevention, septic systems, runoff, shoreline protection, erosion, wetlands, aquatic invasive species, forest management, land conservation, and shoreland permits. Because requirements and recommendations can change, consult the current Itasca Waters and local government resources for current guidance.
Visit Itasca Waters for current stewardship resources and information.
Historical lake trend reports: RMB Labs prepared the reports below using WCOLA and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency data. WCOLA’s Secchi readings on Wabana date to 1975, while chemical sampling began in 1991. Because the historical datasets are not equally complete for every lake, these reports should be read as historical trend resources rather than current lake-condition assessments.
2018 Lake Trend Reports
Historical Plans & Association History
These documents preserve earlier WCOLA planning work and association history. They remain useful background, but should not be treated as current regulatory or technical guidance.
2018 — Where Did the Name Wabana Come From?
Membership and Governance
Current membership information and key association documents are provided below. Older membership material is retained as an archive.
2020 Membership Newsletter — Archive
WCOLA’s governing bylaws are available below.