2023 and Survey results

Lone Lake 2023

Thanks to the almost 100 Lone Lake responders for completing the survey sent out last month. (If life was too busy for you this time around, know that your input is always appreciated. Email lonelakepoa@gmail.com with additional thoughts or to help in 2023.)

Boat Parade

Results will be evident as the year progresses. While it was a close call, just a few more people prefer to watch or participate in the annual LLPOA 4th of July boat parade/dock decoration on the actual calendar day of July 4. Noon was also the slightly preferred time; know that you can now add that to your 2023 calendar—Tuesday, July 4, 2023, annual boat parade

Newsletter

Input for our newer form of communication, this online newsletter, as well as the Facebook page, was positive. We do look for information and knowledge to be shared, so again, if you have historical facts about our lake, are a longtime resident with stories to share, or other important information for those interested, please let us know with an email.

Social Media

We all enjoy the online photos, updates from lakeside when we aren’t there, and the real reason LLPOA exists….to keep our lake clean and safe years into the future.

Volunteering

Thanks to those who volunteered to help either for the membership drive or to join the board. More of you may have volunteered but your email wasn’t shared. If you do not hear from the board or President Steve Frasier in the coming weeks, please email us at lonelakepoa@gmail.com as we look forward to “the more the merrier”.

Membership Drive

Lastly, the final topic of the survey concerned the membership drive. For years and years, many volunteers have set aside time to knock at your door, share lake information, welcome spring to Lone Lake, and ask for your membership in promoting a healthy lake.

Results suggest many residents prefer an online method. An online opportunity has been in existence for a number of years, using PayPal, but more promotion will be utilized in 2023. The hope is, as it has always been when going door-to-door and we miss you or you don’t have the cash or checkbook right now, we are counting on you to take the time to use the online system or print and snail mail it in, whatever is preferred.

We hope for every resident on the lake to join together to keep our lake clean. Your $25 is used or saved for needs now and in the future for the best interests of the lake.

Use this link to download the membership form. Payment online can be made via PayPal. As it is 2023, the membership drive has begun if you prefer the online method.

We would like to offer another online option to pay and currently are researching any other methods. (PayPal does charge a fee so LLPOA does not receive the entire $25.)

If you have any background or information concerning how non-profits can utilize another online payment method, please share that information with us. Beginning research seems to indicate options are very slim. (Of course, you may print the form and pay using a stamp and an envelope.👍)

We will continue to have some volunteers visit those not choosing to register or re-register ahead of time. (We promise to try to not bother you if you have prepaid.). The door to door membership drive will start again around Memorial Day weekend.

Neighbors helping out

As with the recent MLEC outages during the heavy snowstorm in late December, we appreciate neighbors taking the time to check on other neighbors and online communications to keep all cabins and residents safe.  

Enjoy this wonderful winter season which allows all of us to smile when summer arrives.

Native Trees and Shrubs now available to order from Aitkin County

Various trees and shrubs best for growing in the Aitkin County area are now available to order. Pick up will be in early May. Descriptions, photos, and more information available. Supplies are limited. AitkinSWCD information here. Many residents have utilized this service for updates to their property. Great to think about when the thermometer reads -10F!

2022 Extras! Updates

Do you have …..a matching opportunity? …..Extended knowledge ready to share?

As we wind down 2022, LLPOA wonders if:

1. Your employer has a donation program to encourage volunteering and non-profit organizations.

Medtronic sends a donation check thanks to retirees Jerry Nelson and Dave Scott. Even after their employment with Medtronic, their volunteering activates a few dollars to go to their choice of organization, and they chose LLPOA.

XCEL Energy sent dollars thanks to current employee Mark Sauerbrey.

Huge thanks to them for their additional contributions.

Does your employer or former employer have such a policy? Do you as the entrepreneur add this to your policies? If so, now may be the time to explore this opportunity. Thank you for your efforts.

2. Calling all Lone Lake property owners. The LLPOA board is looking for more and varied talents and points of view. Hours and hours not necessary. Usually 5 board meetings each year and can be a zoom/call in meeting if that works better for you.

We are all “on the lake” as that is what we enjoy. The current board has both working and retirees with the common goal of keeping our lake as wonderful as it is now for future generations. We want to represent all owners. Please consider joining us.

3. DNR information just out presents this news within 25 miles of Lone Lake.

Property owners on West Rabbit Lake contacted their lake association and posted information on social media about finding zebra mussels in the lake. A DNR invasive species specialist searched several areas of the lake and found at least one zebra mussel at each location. East Rabbit Lake, Clinker Lake and Turner Lake will also be listed for zebra mussels because they are connected to West Rabbit Lake.

“Lake property owners and lake service provider businesses can play an important role in detecting invasive species by carefully examining boats, docks and lifts when they are being removed from the water at the end of the season,” DNR Invasive Species Unit Supervisor Heidi Wolf said.

Lake property owners should carefully look for invasive species on the posts, wheels and underwater support bars of docks and lifts, as well as any parts of boats, pontoons and rafts that may have been submerged in water for an extended period.

Not good news. We need to stand together to keep our lake clean.

One last 2022 item

We are looking for input on several topics. Please watch for and respond to the short survey to come early November. Thanks!

2022 Update | Planning & Zoning

Planning & Zoning Team Report – 2022:

There was considerable construction on Lone Lake this year but to our knowledge all work done was by permits and no variances or special permits were requested that required public hearings.

Director Andrew Carlstrom met with us on several occasion either in person or phone/email on inquiries by lake residents. Of all the inquiries, only one remains to be resolved by the Planning and Zoning Department. They hope to have that concern resolved by this fall as they are working short staffed.

Thank you LLPOA members for getting permits for work on your property and following the guidelines that help us all protect the environment around Lone Lake. Steve Frazier

2022 Update | Surface Water Use Report

by Steve Frazier – Surface Water Use Team Leader Pro-temp.

​The Surface Water Use team has two items to report on this past summer. The first was a situation of use and abuse of Steven’s Point. The presidents of the Steven’s Point Association and the LLPOA worked together to resolve the conflict and to bring member awareness to the issue.

The second is an ongoing discussion item as the LLPOA Board follows the U of M – St. Anthony Falls research on wave action using various types of boats. This research is in its beginning phases but bears watching.

St Anthony Falls Laboratory Healthy Waters Initiative
You can signup to receive updates directly from the team conducting the study.

The take away of the report confirms the LLPOA’s ‘best practices’ recommendation to conduct water sports in the middle, deep portions of the lake and not in shallow areas.

Quoting from the report, “Here, operational distances greater than 425 ft were needed to decrease wave height, energy, and power of the wake/surf boats to levels similar to the non-wake/surf boats at operational distances of 200 feet.” Report from February 2022

The Board will continue to follow and monitor the research as it has not yet dealt with how wave action affects the shoreland or lake bottom in terms of water quality.

The team suggests that one of our LLPOA members who have a deep wake boat become a board member to bring that perspective to the board of directors.

2022 Update | Water Quality

Great Lone Lake facts for you

by Dave Scott

LLPOA wouldn’t exist without water.

Lake Levels facts

• Fall 2021— 13” below Spring 2021 level

• May 2022— 4.5” below Spring 2021 (snow & precipitation brought the lake up 8.5”)

• June 2022— 2” above Spring 2021 (a rainy spring)

• August 2022– 2” below Spring 2021 (lost 4” over the summer)

Lake level summary……Lake levels go up and down, fall of 2022 is down, not as badly as 2021, but we will hope for good fall and winter precipitation amounts.

Water Clarity

• June 8, 2022. Deepest Secchi disc reading 30.5’

• August 25, 2022. 23.5’ Secchi disc

Please continue your efforts to haul out dead leaves, maintain a 6’ strip of natural land near the shoreline, and keep chemicals away from the lake.

(The Secchi disc is black and white. Lowered into the water, we watch it carefully until the water makes it too cloudy to see. Nothing techie. A true snapshot of clarity in Lone Lake.)

Veligers

(A precursor to zebra mussels)

Lone Lake is tested as we are an “uninfested” lake.

No signs of them as of August.

Let’s keep it that way.

Shoreline Stabilization Program

Only one participant this year for the two year grant to expire 10/23.

With our lakeshore volunteers, we were able to complete our part of the grant with volunteer hours of in-kind labor.

Consider applying for assistance for your lakeshore in 2023. Email now if possibly interested. lonelakepoa@gmail.com

Check your lakeshore for stability this fall.

2022 Update | Treasurer's report

Treasurer’s recap by Linda Kics, LLPOA board member

LLPOA is in good financial standing. Our records indicate 121 paid memberships. If we missed you on this year’s membership drive you can still pay your dues online or by sending a check to:

LLPOA
PO Box 10
Aitkin, MN 56531

A special thank you to those that included extra funds for AIS (aquatic invasive species) education, inspections and to fund future eradicator if required.

LLPOA made donations to the following organizations:

• ACLARA $25

• Aitkin First Responders $100

• Rivers and Lakes Fair $200

• Conservation Minnesota $150

• U of M St. Anthony Falls Research $200

If you would like a more detailed accounting of our financial standing please contact me at lonelakepoa@gmail.com

Taking over the remaining term of treasurer this year after the passing of Karen Frazier has been quite an education. If anyone with a bookkeeping or accounting background (or just good with numbers!) is interested in serving on the board please us know.

Thank you,

Linda Kics

2022 Update | AIS

by Linda Szymanski, LLPOA Board member

Lone Lake participated in the county AIS inspection program this year. We are waiting for the final recap from the county on the results of the inspections. These inspectors do such a great job preventing the spread of AIS between lakes.

Starry stonewort

This summer a vigilant inspector prevented the spread of Starry Stonewort into Lake Superior. See the article below for more information. Lake Superior is a very used waterway. The DNR has tracked the spread of AIS down the 35W corridor and across the state from 35W. We are very grateful for the work the inspectors do to keep our lake safe.

Starry stonewort introduction to Lake Superior prevented by watercraft inspectors.

Watch next year for information on how we can keep our own shorelines safe from AIS and how to inspect the vegetation for early identification of AIS.

2022 Update | Fish & Wildlife

by LLPOA board member Zint Kics

My focus this summer was with problems that often occur with the use of lead fishing tackle.

Did you know:

• 1 out of 5 loons die of lead poisoning from fishing tackle.

• Fishing tackle in fish eaten by loons as well as lead shot from hunting gets picked up and eaten when mixed with gravel from lake bottoms. (Gravel aids in a loons digestion)

• At least 20 eagles die of lead poisoning each year in Minnesota

• Approximately 80% of all eagles tested have elevated levels of lead in their system. This is caused by eating fish or game that have lead fishing tackle or lead shot in them.

• Other animals that eat fish or game animals which may contain lead can die from lead poisoning. Otters, foxes, swans, racoons etc.
  

Where to get lead free tackle:

We had a lead-free tackle display at this year's LLPOA picnic with a box members could drop off lead tackle and another box with free samples of tackle that did not contain lead.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agencies Get The Lead Out program website has listings of where to find lead free tackle. List of retailers from MPCA. Online retailer Amazon and some local retailers carry lead free tackle or you can check with your local dealer

Recycle lead tackle:

Many scrap metal recycling facilities such as Milaca Iron and Metal will accept lead tackle and lead debris, drop off at no charge.

According to the Aitkin County Environmental Services Director next year people can drop off lead tackle and other lead debris at the Aitkin recycling centers annual Hazardous Waste Day program in May

Lone Lake fish stocking assessment:

Due to walleye not reproducing successfully on their own in Lone Lake, walleye need to be stocked by the MN DNR.

Due to COVID, no walleye fry was stocked in Lone Lake in 2020, consequently no assessment was performed in 2022, two years after stocking. Next assessment to determine the need and quantity of fry required for stocking will be in 2024

Lone Lake Overflow

A group of LLPOA members continue to monitor the overflow at the west end of the lake which maintains the water level to the DNR's required level. Occasional blockage occurs which must be removed to maintain this optimal level.

2022 Is wrapping up

With the changing seasons comes the end of our LLPOA Summer 2022 on Lone Lake.

Mother Nature challenged us with our spring Road Cleanup as it was very cold and only 7 members participated but they got the job done.

The AIS Inspections Program ran throughout the summer with no Eurasian Milfoil or Zebra Mussels detected.

Then on the 4th of July the Lone Lake Triathlon surged ahead only to finish in a deluge of rain. The threatening storms and lightning caused the cancellation of the popular Lone Lake Independence Day Boat Parade.

The LLPOA’s Annual Meeting and lunch was well attended on July 15th by 55 members and guests. They were treated to Stan Tekiela’s Back Yard Birds presentation and great foods and desserts.

On July 30th a lakeshore restoration project was completed by 18 members working on the Prell’s lakeshore.

We ended our summer with a great turnout of 21 members for the Fall Road Clean-up!

The LLPOA Board of Directors met throughout the summer and held their final meeting to complete this year’s work and plan for the 2023.

To help complete next year’s planning a short member survey will be sent out in November to help in determining how to plan for a midweek 4th of July and how to best communicate with members.

Many changes lie ahead for LLPOA leadership as I will end my term as president after 22 years at the 2023 Annual Meeting. A nominations committee has been set up to find candidates for president, treasurer, and other board positions. So far board member Mark Sauerbrey has announced his candidacy for president and board member Linda Szymanski for treasurer.

The committee will be looking to find candidates for Team Leaders for AIS, Water Surface Use, and two Directors at Large.

Bev Napurski is completing work on our LLPOA Membership Roster which will be sent electronically to paid members. Watch for it in the coming weeks.

So, thank you for your membership and support of the LLPOA as we had 121 join the association this year. We all will continue to work to preserve and protect the beauty of Lone Lake for the future.

We will see you on the lake and around town.

Steve Frazier, LLPOA President

Summer/Fall LLPOA calendar & fall reminders

Saturday, August 20

Starry Stonewort area workshop. Come learn about the next AIS plant that has been found in Aitkin County. Click Starry-trek for more information and to register soon. Farm Island boat landing.

Saturday, September 10. 9:00 am

Annual fall road clean-up. Please come join your neighbors to clean area roads for the long winter ahead. Start with some coffee and rolls provided by Paulbeck’s Market. Less than an hour later you will have joined others in cleaning a section of road surrounding Lone Lake.

Oot of town that weekend? Let us know and you can help by cleaning a section earlier or later than the scheduled date. The more the merrier. (Lonelakepoa@gmail.com)

Fall reminders

…..help avoid Lone Lake becoming a new member of the AIS club.

• Select professional help with your lake items from companies that clean their equipment before entering a new lake. Here’s a source for DNR permitted service providers

• Dry equipment 7-10-15 days before putting it in Lone Lake or moving it into another lake.

• Reduce runoff that contains nutrients, eroded soil sediments, bacteria, etc. by allowing water to flow over green space before entering the lake.

• Maintain that buffer zone near the lake. Native plants and natural vegetation will help now and in the spring. Long roots keep the soil more stable. (Grass has short roots!)

• Continue to travel at no wake speeds when near shore or at a depth of less than 15’.

• Check your own water equipment as it comes out of the lake. Anything “stuck” to it? See the zebra mussels images below for better identification.