Aitkin County Lakeshore Regulations

The Aitkin County Board of Commissioners is considering loosening lakeshore regulations. On July 22, 2025, members of the Lone Lake POA board sent a letter, urging commissioners to vote “no” on weakening shoreline protections. The Aitkin County Board will be holding a “Committee of the Whole” Meeting and receiving in person public comments on July 31, 2025 at 1 PM for the proposed amendments to the Aitkin County Shoreland Management Ordinance.

Links.

Who to contact. Whether you are for or against these change, use your voice! Contact the Aitkin County Commissioners.

Proposed Changes.

  • Section 2.7 – Additions to and Revision of Definitions

  • Section 4.25 – Update of the Classification List for Land Uses

  • Section 6.14 subpart C (2) – Building Coverage increase to 18% of total 25% Impervious Surface

  • Section 7.22 – Vegetation Alterations Administrative Change

  • Section 7.52 subpart A - Building Coverage increase to 18% of total 25% Impervious Surface

  • Section 9.82 – Open Space/Common Open Space Administrative Change

Starry Trek needs you!

Registration for the 2025 Starry Trek is now open.

The event is taking place on August 9

About Starry Trek

Started in 2017, Starry Trek is a statewide event focused on searching for one of Minnesota's newest aquatic invasive species, starry stonewort (and other invaders). Starry stonewort is an invasive algae that was first found in Lake Koronis in 2015 and has since spread to 19 Minnesota lakes (learn more about starry stonewort and our research). This event is an opportunity for you to team up with us and hundreds of your fellow Minnesotans to better understand its distribution in Minnesota.

What you'll do

You will meet at a local training site hosted by one of our local partners where you will receive a brief training on how to identify starry stonewort and other target aquatic invasive species and how to follow the search protocols. Groups are then sent out to nearby priority lakes to follow the protocols and bring back any suspicious organisms. Starry Trek is a free event and no experience or special equipment is required.

Questions you might have

  • Do I have to be an expert in identification to participate?

No! All you have do is be ready to spend some time outside! We'll provide all the training you need to participate. No previous experience or knowledge required.

  • Can my children/grandchildren participate too?

Absolutely! Yes! It's a great event for families to do together. In fact, youth participating with their families have made some important discoveries during this event, like this one where a twelve year old discovers invasive clams as shared in this story. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

  • Will I need a vehicle to participate?

Maybe. Once you arrive at the local training site you will be put into teams and be given monitoring routes to follow. A vehicle will be required to visit those monitoring routes, however if you are comfortable riding with another participant you may not need to drive your own.

Check out more FAQs on the registration page.  Click here.

New raft this year?

A good question was posed to LLPOA by a member a few weeks ago.

What are the laws surrounding placement of a raft in the lake?

An Aitkin County sheriff explained it.

While the lake water is not owned by anyone, Aitkin County laws prevail.

Number 1, if your raft is to stay in the water overnight, you are required to obtain an Aitkin County permit.  These cost $10/5 years () and are mainly an attempt to be able to identify a lost raft.  Therefore the permit will be assigned an identifying set of numbers  that you will place on your raft.  Lights/reflectors on all sides required as well.

Where may I put the raft?

Interestingly, there are no footage requirements at all.

The law is based on common sense.

Location of your raft should not impede the progress of a neighbor to launch or return his/her boat to their dock, nor disturb the general lake boating population.

Work together.

Be a good neighbor.

Enjoy the lake.

July 4th Recap

Boat Parade

Dreaming ……since those below zero temps of the past winter…. July 4th was the perfect hot, muggy day to spend on the lake. Thanks to all who participated in the 12 noon boat parade.

LLPOA 2025 Annual Boat parade winners include:

  • Dock champion lot #105 the Feist family (top photo above)

  • Pontoon champion from lot 78 are the Eull family (middle photo)

  • Speed boat champion from lot #68, the Mann family. (lower photo above)

Triathlon

Boasting a record number of participants, (35,) and already a hot and steamy day at 8:30 a.m., the swim felt good to start, but followed by biking and running, the individual participants and teams gave it everything they had. Thanks to so many who came to cheer on the athletes.

Thanks to the Matt VanSlooten and all the other family and friends who helped with set up, safety boats, signage, water, timing, etc. Now for the rest of us, start training for the anniversary edition in 2026.

Upcoming July Festivities

Annual Lone Lake Triathlon @ 8:30AM

Meet at the public beach. Swim, bike, run

Individuals or teams

Annual Lone Lake Boat Parade @12:00PM

12 noon start time from the public access. Heading west this year.

LLPOA 2025 Annual Meeting

Saturday, July 19 @ 9:00-11:00 a.m.

  • Thanks to Dick Preiner for again allowing us to utilize his large garage on Oak Avenue (CR 39, north side of the lake.

  • A new good thing started last year and will continue in 2025.  The annual meeting for the Lone Lake Property Owners Association will be a morning meeting.  This kept the business in the cooler part of the day and allowed for recreation in the warm summer afternoon.

  • Looking ahead, pencil in our speaker to be Kira Pollack, U of M Extension Division expert, speaking on seed collection training and forest regeneration.

  • There will be a collection box for members and non-members to drop off lead fishing tackle at the annual meeting. (Get the Lead Out). Free sample non-lead tackle will be available for interested fisher people to pick up and try out.  Please keep that lead tackle away from the loons and other wildlife.

  • Choose to nominate yourself or another resident to join the LLPOA board.

Annual membership drive heading towards the finish line

Thanks to almost 100 members who have paid their 2025 dues. Remember, the calendar year is the basis for annual membership.

Please also remember…some of you tell us you will be paying online and then life gets so busy that you forget.  

Why join each year?

$25 can seem minor, and the “payback” isn’t something you can hold easily in your hand, but how many lakeshore owners are lucky enough to be able to see almost 30’ down into their lake?  

How many don’t have AIS (yet)?

Who wants to keep it that way?

Every board member is a volunteer to keep your lake clean and help to share ideas with others to maintain our lake’s positive qualities through education and activities. 

Please join us to keep Lone Lake the best it can be.

Click here for the link to the LLPOA webpage.

A note from Tiffany (June 2025)

I hope your summer is starting off fantasticly!  July 4th is right around the corner, the lake will be busy & fun! 
I will be laid up after a surgery, but am looking forward to seeing many of you from the deck or dock! 
Have fun decorating your boats and docks—looking forward to seeing the parade!

Also, to you triathletes GOOD LUCK!  

See you around the lake!

Hugs!    Tiffany

BIG changes for boat operators starting July 1, 2025

MN law passed in 2023. Taking effect in stages. Beginning 7/1/25, ALL boat operators born AFTER 6/30/04 (21 and younger) MUST have a permit to legally operate a motorboat or personal watercraft on MN waters.

Also, anyone who wants to be the “accompanying operator” for someone without a valid permit OR under the age of 12 (ineligible for a permit) must obtain their own permit. (“Accompanying operator” must be age 21 or older, in the watercraft, within immediate reach of the motor controls, and have the valid operator’s permit.)

Renting a motorized watercraft?  You must have a permit.

Do you already have a valid watercraft operator’s permit from MN or another state?  At this point, you do not need another permit.

WHY?

MN is known for boating as a major form of recreation.

Safety for all is the reason.

This law has the purpose to make boating safer and have drivers who know the rules and are trained.

Questions? Start your permit efforts?

Link here

Minnesota DNR webinar series offers ways to learn about the outdoors this summer 

Registration open for new sessions of the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series

Webinars on walleye genetics, buckthorn management, and fish dubbed “living fossils” like gar and paddlefish will be among the outdoors topics covered in the summer series of the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

“Our outdoors skills webinars are a great way for people to broaden their interest in, and knowledge of, the outdoors,” said Benji Kohn, volunteer mentor program coordinator. “In Minnesota, there are tons of ways to enjoy fish and wildlife and public lands and waters. Our webinars can help people gain more knowledge and appreciation for what’s out there, and that can lead to being a better steward of our natural resources and trying something new.”

New webinars this summer focus on topics that will appeal to people interested in nature, including anglers and hunters. The live webinars are at noon on Wednesdays and last an hour or less.

Summer topics:

  • June 18: Aquatic invasive species and watercraft inspections

  • June 25: Mitigating human-wildlife conflicts

  • July 23: Buckthorn management

  • July 30: Walleye genetics and survival

  • Aug. 6: Spruce budworm

  • Aug. 13: Gar and paddlefish in today’s world

  • Aug. 20: Early teal season

  • Aug. 27: Why we manage chronic wasting disease

All webinars are live-captioned and free of cost (pre-registration is required). Recorded webinars are posted for those who can’t attend the live event. Episode descriptions, registration information and a robust webinar archive are available on the MN DNR website. 

For other education and learning opportunities from the Minnesota DNR, including about boat and water safety, hunter education, firearms safety, natural resources education, recreational vehicle safety, visit the Minnesota DNR education and safety training page.  

 For information about the Minnesota DNR I Can! Program that includes programs on camping, paddling, mountain biking, fishing and archery, visit the Minnesota DNR I can! page.