To help Minnesota become aware of and address water issues, the Itasca Water Legacy Partnership (IWLP) would use $15,000 to create and host a Water Quality Super Saturday. This dynamic and educational event would include tracks for both children and adults and would be held in Grand Rapids during summer 2012. The event would be open to any and all individuals who have an interest in preserving the high-quality waters in Minnesota's lake country. A high-profile keynote speaker would help draw participants from throughout the region and state.

With an overall objective to foster life-long understanding of and concern for water quality, IWLP’s Water Quality Super Saturday would encourage personal water usage practices that help ensure the sustainability of high-quality rivers and lakes. The event would be held at multiple locations in Grand Rapids including the local community college, middle school, and community radio station amphitheater. Activities and educational opportunities for children would include fun and hands-on workshops and games and would be led by master naturalists from the Forest History Center in Grand Rapids and members of the Green Team at Grand Rapids High School. Opportunities for adults would be led by water quality and conservation professionals and would include workshops and/or tours relating to lake-friendly shorelines, invasive species, conservation easements, fish habitat, and other topics. The overall event would culminate with a water-related arts component and a community celebration.

IWLP defines its community as being within the borders of Itasca County, however, the organization’s community also extends to other counties in Minnesota’s lake country as well as to all individuals and organizations throughout the state who share a commitment to high-quality rivers and lakes. IWLP works to build its community by mobilizing on-the-ground actions that encourage diverse and sustainable use, protection, recovery, and enjoyment of water and shoreland resources. Since IWLP’s founding in 2006, the organization has established a diverse base of more than 100 members. The organization’s board of directors is comprised of volunteers representing business and tourism interests, citizens at large, the Itasca County Board of Commissioners, the Itasca County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Itasca Coalition of Lake Associations, University of Minnesota Extension Service, Itasca Community College, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Water issues are affecting IWLP's community because residents and tourists alike love the region's clean rivers and lakes. They love to fish on them, to swim in them, to boat on them, to waterski on them, to jet ski on them, and to build cabins, homes, and resorts on them. Consequently, clean water plays a large role in the local economy. What's more, development pressure is increasing, and as the Baby Boomer generation retires, it is expected to increase even more. This is the primary water issue affecting the region, because with greater usage will come increased water quality issues such as reduced clarity, lowered oxygen concentrations, the introduction of invasive species, shoreland degradation, and heightened phosphorous levels. In the face of such development, it is critical that local collaborative efforts are mobilized to increase awareness, personal practices, improved care, and management in regard to water quality.