Northern Waters Land Trust (NWLT) is a 501(c)3 non-profit accredited land trust committed to preserving land to protect water in northern Minnesota, a region that supports some of the best fish and wildlife habitats in the state.

NWLT’s watershed approach to conservation focuses on the ‘big picture’ of preserving land around lakes and rivers to protect water quality and wildlife habitat. Protecting the lakes, rivers and forests in northern Minnesota supports the local economy and culture, which is dependent on healthy natural resources for outdoor recreation and tourism.

Conservation in this area also helps ensure healthy drinking water for communities outside the region that depend on the Mississippi River for their drinking water. Our area is projected to have a 10-20% population growth in the next 25 years, so thoughtful development and protection of sensitive land and shorelines is critical.