Search Results

June 6, 2024 @ Uncommon Loon Doors open at 6:00 with business meeting starting at 6:30 pm. Come join us for pizza, wings, and a salad will be provided for a free will donation. Business meeting will include election of officers and our speakers will offer an update on the status of our lakes and important issues in our area. Jimmy Marty is an ecologist with Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc, specializing in lake and wetland science. He has been working in lake vegetation research, surveys, and management for 12 years, He routinely works with lake management organizations to confront a variety of AIS and lake vegetation issues. Ben Elfelt is the Administrator for the Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District. His B.A. in Environmental Planning and former role as the Parks Director for Polk County, WI, is complimented by a diverse background in environmental resource and recreational management, community development, and planning.

The Lake Improvement District (LID) would like to connect with residents about their perceptions of the current state of our lakes, as well as identify topics that would benefit from further outreach/education efforts. Please click the button to take the short survey and provide the LID with important information they need to help our lakes and others in the area!

***UPDATE 4/15/24**** It was an excellent weekend to work on the construction of the loon nesting platforms!  Thanks to generous donations, 12 volunteers, and some great planning, the platforms are complete!  There is already a plan to deploy the nest on North Center. We need another volunteer to help with deployment of the South Center nesting platform!  Due to the low water levels in the North/South channel under Hwy 8, navigation is difficult.  We are in search of a volunteer in the next day or two that has a pontoon/fishing boat in the water on South Center that could help to transport this nesting site and place it in the water with the anchors.  The nesting platform is about 4 feet square and light weight. If you can help, reach out to shweiss318@gmail.com! ***UPDATE 4/1/24**** Exciting update on our Loon nesting platform project. We are just $183 away from our goal of $423 to acquire the materials needed to build the platforms for North and South Center lakes. We have a generous offer to match funds to help us attain our goal. Cash donations will be used to purchase materials required to build the platforms. We will have a get-together of volunteers to help build the platforms and are in need of a few more. The build date is Saturday, April 13th, on North Center Lake. Construction to begin at 10AM. ***ORIGINAL POST 3/19/24*** Center Lakes Association will be building two loon nesting platforms, one to be placed on each lake. The loons have experienced a series of unsuccessful nesting years. There are several possible reason for the unsuccessful nesting: fluctuating lake levels, predators, and large waves. Our goal is to provide two new nesting options this spring. We are asking for donations of materials or cash for this project, as each platform costs approximately $423. Please let us know if you are willing to donate any of the materials listed below. They can be dropped off or we will pick them up. Materials will be accepted from now until April 7. Please send an email listing the specific items you have to: shweiss318@gmail.com Cash donations will be used to purchase any remaining materials. Please mail cash or checks to: CLA, PO Box 568, Lindstrom, MN, 55045 Mark the envelope "Loon" We will have a get-together of volunteers to help build the platforms. The build date is Saturday, April 13th, on North Center Lake. Construction to begin at 10AM. If you are interested in helping, please contact us at shweiss318@gmail.com Materials Required for a single nest 12’ of 4” PVC pipe Four 4” PVC 90° angle joints Four 1⁄2" PVC T-joint with threaded female part Four 1⁄2” PVC adapter with male threaded part 10’ section of 1⁄2" PVC pipe PVC primer and cement (~4 oz each) Two cans of spray foam One tube of 100% waterproof silicone or latex caulk Tube of marine epoxy (should be one package of two separate tubes) One 4’ x 8’ foam insulation board (2” thick) Two wood blocks (approximately 2” x 2” x 4” each) Eight 1” galvanized roofing nails Four 2” x 3/8” brass bolts with matching nuts and washers Two 36” plastic garden stakes Roll of vinyl coated chicken wire (3’ tall if possible) Two cement blocks for anchors Black, green, or other dark-colored snow fencing if possible (only need 4' x 8')1 18” zip ties (or 20”, quantity 6-8 zip ties) 24” heavy duty cable ties (minumum of 16) Sandpaper (80 grit) Packing peanuts (optional) 2 sections of fire hose or rubber/neoprene inner tube, 4” by 33” *We need double of each set of material to build a nest for both North and South Center Lake

Bridging scientific knowledge and human relationships with water The We Are Water MN Exhibit is run by the Minnesota Humanities Center and travels each year to several Minnesota host communities.  There will be many events and activities to learn about water issues in Chisago County and why we care about clean water.  More information about the exhibit can be found here:  https://www.mnhum.org/program/we-are-water-mn/ The exhibit has both an outdoor and indoor display.  The indoor exhibit will be located at the North Branch Area Library and at the Chisago County History Center in Lindstrom, MN (outdoor location TBD). Would you please join us at our Open House to kick-off the exhibit? The Open House is on Tuesday, March 19 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Chisago County Government Center in Room 150B.  Located at 313 North Main Street, Center City, MN. At the Open House, you will learn about how your organization can participate in planning events for the exhibit and volunteering at the exhibit sites.  We will need people who can share their knowledge, planning time, and networks. Please RSVP by emailing Susanna at susanna.wilson@chisagocountymn.gov Please also share this email and flyer with other groups that may be interested in participating with the exhibit and attending the Open House. Thank you for your involvement and please feel free to contact me with any questions about the Open House or upcoming exhibit! Sincerely, Susanna We are Water MN is led by the Minnesota Humanities Center in partnership with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; the Minnesota Historical Society; the Board of Water and Soil Resources; the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources; and University of Minnesota Extension. We are Water MN is funded in part with money from the Clean Water, Land, & Legacy Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008 and by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The latest edition of The Scuttlebutt from the Center Lakes Association is now available!

The latest edition of The Scuttlebutt from the Center Lakes Association is now available!

STORY BY Barbara Heitkamp Last week, I had the pleasure of crashing a boat ride for local municipal officials. Staff from the Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District (LID) and the Chisago Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) put together a morning cruise of North Center Lake (with many thanks to members of the Center Lakes Association for providing pontoons and drivers!) to showcase the LID’s water monitoring efforts and completed SWCD projects that have helped reduce pollution inputs to the Chisago Chain of Lakes. It’s a compelling story. Collaboration between the two entities and local community residents has lead to over 200 completed projects since 2011, keeping over 600 lbs of phosphorus (a nutrient that can cause algal blooms) and 400 tons of suspended solids (think sediment) from entering the lakes. SWCD personnel has partnered with area farmers to stabilize gullies and implement responsible tillage practices that minimize erosion and runoff from their fields. More developed areas has seen the creation of raingardens to help manage stormwater runoff, along with encouraging residents to participate in the care of local storm drains (you can adopt your own storm drain at adopt-a-drain.org). The most noticeable projects for the boat tour participants were the scattered pops of color along the shoreline where several residents have worked with the SWCD and LID to install native plant shoreline buffers. These buffers provide multiple benefits to both the homeowner and the lake, with one of the largest benefits being that buffers help slow and infiltrate stormwater runoff that carries pollutants into the lakes – much more effectively than traditional turf grass. Plus, the long roots of the native plants hold the shoreline in place, preventing shore erosion while also providing habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. Barbara Heitkamp is a water resources educator for the East Metro Water Resource Education Program and the Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership. A trained river nerd turned science communicator, Barbara enjoys the outdoors, kayaking, crafting, reading, and hanging with her family and close friends. View all of Barbara Heitkamp's work at knickpoints.blog

The latest newsletter from the Hinckley Area Fisheries Office was published this week. Read the full newsletter below. Highlights include: Matt Ward is the new Hinckley Area Fisheries Supervisor Hinckley staff spawn walleye for the first time in 30 years South Center Lake was one of the few lakes selected in the region for a lake survey to evaluate the fish population. A review of the benefits to our lakes having health shorelines If you haven't taken the lake shore quiz before, now is a great time to complete Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates Score Your Shore Mini Assessment.

***The following is an excerpt written by Lily Carr from MN Lakes & Rivers about our vanishing natural shorelines, please read the entire article in the PDF below*** Many of Minnesota’s lakes are in trouble. About half of Minnesota’s natural shorelines have already been lost, and natural shoreline continues to vanish at an alarming rate. We are degrading our lake water quality. Mowed shorelines allow 7 to 9 times more pollutants to enter the lake than a more naturally vegetated shoreline. These pollutants accumulate in lakes, often creating serious water quality problems while also promoting algal blooms and excessive aquatic vegetation. In addition, we are losing valuable habitat for fish – and loons, frogs, butterflies and more. We are losing the beauty of diverse shorelines and the unique character of Minnesota. It is critical that we act, and act now, to protect our vanishing healthy shoreline and recover what has been lost. We are aware that the status quo is not working. Despite fifty years of state shoreline vegetation standards and local government regulation, the system has failed to adequately protect our natural shorelines. Additional efforts such as education and enforcement have been only marginally successful. For lake water quality, fish and wildlife communities, and to sustain the health of Minnesota lakes for our recreation and enjoyment, a reasonable natural shoreline protection and restoration goal would be that 75% of a shoreline be unmowed with natural vegetation, consisting of forbs, grasses, shrubs, and trees that is at least 25 feet in width landward from the lake. How can such a goal be achieved? After listening to many people and organizations about protecting and restoring shorelines, several reoccurring themes emerged. First, local government staff, at the forefront of property owner interactions, need support and additional technical guidance to promote and facilitate shoreline restoration. Second, there is evidence that community leadership development, including civic engagement approaches1 , can effectively shift social norms towards protecting and restoring natural shorelines. However, it can take time for behavior shifts to successfully establish. Therefore, community leadership development requires continued support and focus to gain and sustain momentum. Third, effective partnerships from neighboring states may provide models to advance protection and restoration of natural shorelines. Specific actions that could be taken include: 1. Strengthen the relationships between the many organizations with interest in protecting and restoring shoreline. These organizations include state government, local government, statewide non-profit organizations (like MLR, Freshwater Society, Metro Blooms, and MN COLA), and local organizations, such as lake associations. Vanishing Natural Shorelines: A Loss that Contributes to Degraded Lake Quality Work to understand the roles each organization plays in shoreline maintenance and seek to align these roles to organization. Make a concerted effort to engage in dialog understand their needs and use this information to improve guidance, tools, and programs. 2. Improve public outreach with a sustained, consistent message from all partner organizations. 3. Provide more training and outreach opportunities for key audiences including lakeshore landowners, landscape contractors and consultants. 4. Increase one-on-one landowner con enhancing the capacity of these efforts. Examples of this include the Lake Steward Minnesota Water Steward 5. Create incentives for shoreland protection and restoration. 6. Enhance funding to support for shoreland protection and restoration programs.

Ready to explore lakes near you for a summer morning on August 19th? Want to help be a part of early detection efforts for new aquatic invasive species populations, like starry stonewort? There's still time to register for Starry Trek! Participate at a local training site near you to learn more about aquatic invasive species and help search for previously unrecorded populations. No experience necessary! Learn more and register by clicking the button below. Participate at one of 23 sites across Minnesota on August 19th! We've added some local training sites since registration first opened and now you can participate at one of TWENTY-THREE locations across Minnesota. Some locations are ones you may recognize from years past and some are brand new for 2023! Come out and enjoy a day exploring your local lakes! ***The closest location is North Branch***

The hazard buoy from Needle Point went missing this week and had to be replaced by the Sheriff's Department. Needle Point is a peninsula that juts out into South Center lake on the westernmost shore. As we have learned in the past, buoys remain expensive to replace, as well as time-consuming for law enforcement. If you have any information on the missing buoy, please contact the Sheriff's Department. The non-emergency phone number is 651-257-4100.