With events on hold or cancelled during COVID-19, there are many things we can do as lake shore owners to protect the health of Lone Lake. On this topic, there is good news and bad news to share....
Good news: Lone Lake continues to be the clearest lake (6.8 meters/22.31 feet) in Aitkin County as per the data from the "Water Quality Standards for Aquatic Recreation in the Mississippi River-Brainerd Watershed"
Bad news: The same 2019 report and the MN Pollution Control Agency Report of Aitkin County impaired lakes (2020) shares the news that Lone Lake is declining in water quality and clarity.
The culprit? Total phosphorus (decaying organic materials) going into the lake or being brought up by boats from the lake bed.
The 5 simple steps we can all be part of to reverse this trend
Remove leaves, sticks and washed-up dead debris from your shore and beach.
Keep a natural buffer between your lawn and the water to filter drainage.
Have your septic system checked for cracks and leaks the next time you have it pumped.
While cruising the lake (i.e. little or no wake) stay out in 15-20 feet of water to prevent prop disturbance of the lakebed. (LINK TO DNR DEPTH MAP HERE)
Prevent shore erosion by conducting water sports and deep wake surfing in the deepest parts of the two large bays.
As the LLPOA we can all work together to reverse this decline in water quality and clarity. We will then see our lake's name disappear from the list of declining water quality lakes! Thanks for your commitment to work on improving our lake quality to what is can be again.
See you on the lake,
Steve Frazier, President