Moriya collecting water samples on Pelican Lake.
PGOLID contracts with Houston Engineering to provide a Lake Coordinator. The Lake Coordinator oversees all the water quality monitoring and data assessment, invasive species monitoring, septic system projects, maintains and updates the Lake Management Plan, writes grants, and conducts education for PGOLID members.
History of the Lake Coordinator
As a recommendation from the 2004 PGOLID Lake Management Plan, prepared by Blue Water Science, PGOLID hired a Water Resource Coordinator in 2005. This position started out as a full-time seasonal position covering just the summer months, contracted through RMB Environmental Laboratories. Jordan Ornquist served as the PGOLID Water Resource Coordinator for the summers of 2005-2006. In 2006, the position changed to a part-time, year-round position. In December of 2006, Moriya Rufer was hired and was the PGOLID Water Resource Coordinator from December 2006 to December 2018. Steve Henry took on the position of PGOLID Water Resource Coordinator from May 2019 to May 2023.
In September of 2023, PGOLID contracted with Houston Engineering to bring Moriya Rufer back as the Lake Coordinator. Moriya in the Spring of 2026 took a job with the State of Minnesota and we wish her the best of luck in that new role and thank her for her tireless work making Pelican Lake and its watershed a better place for everyone.
May 2026 we welcomed Hannah Passolt from Houston Engineering to be our new Lake Coordinator and she will be taking over Moriya’s responsibilities going forward.