PRIVATE LANDS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF THE 80,000 LAKES IN THE MIDWEST GLACIAL LAKES PARTNERSHIP WHICH ARE A UNIQUE, WORLD CLASS RESOURCE AND FISHERY. PRIVATE FORESTLANDS HAVE THE GREATEST RISK OF CONVERSION TO OTHER LAND USES, CONVERSIONS WHICH OFTEN INCREASE STORMWATER RUNOFF, REDUCE GROUNDWATER RECHARGE, AND DEGRADE WATER QUALITY. DRAMATICALLY INCREASING LAKE CONSERVATION WORK WILL REQUIRE AN INTEGRATED METHODOLOGY THAT KNITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR THE PROTECTION OF PRIVATE FORESTLANDS ON A WATERSHED BASIS ALONG WITH GREATER FUNDING. THEREFORE, IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR STATES IN THE MGLP TO DEVELOP A SHARED VISION TO SECURE THE AVAILABLE FEDERAL AND FOUNDATION FUNDING NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT CONSERVATION ON LANDSCAPE SCALES. THIS PROJECT WILL CONVENE A FOREST PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION WORKSHOP TO PRESENT THE SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS FOR LINKING WATER QUALITY IN LAKES TO FORESTED WATERSHEDS AND DEMONSTRATE WATERSHED PRIORITIZATION TOOLS. A SECOND WORKSHOP WILL ENGAGE STATE AGENCY LEADERS TO DEVELOP A CONSERVATION FUNDING VISION FOR THE MIDWEST GLACIAL LAKES REGION DOCUMENT. THIS DOCUMENT WILL PROVIDE STATES IN THE MGLP A CLEAR VISION AND CONTEXT TO GUIDE THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES TO SECURE FEDERAL AND OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO PROTECT FORESTED WATERSHEDS AND THEIR GLACIAL LAKES.