Lower South Long Lake Improvement Association

Lower South
Long Lake
Association

Crow Wing Cty, MN

Online Newsletter

Lower South Long Lake

Improvement Association

Newsletter

http://lowersouthlonglake.com

JULY 2010 Edition

Lower South Long Lake Improvement Association General Meeting

May 29, 2010 Minutes

Mike introduced the officers

Mike asked that all members introduce themselves and say where they live on the lake. A hearty welcome to anyone who is joining us for the first time. We then observed a moment of silence to remember lake friends who had passed away over the winter.   Mike introduced Tim Brastrup from the DNR. He came to explain the proposal for stocking our lake with Muskies. Lakes are ranked using certain criteria:

·    Must have adequate justification -Lake must be > 500 acres - Soft grade species of fish must be present such as ciscoes and carp

·    Water clarity must be good as the Muskies are sight feeders - Public acceptance -Have to be able to produce trophy fishery

It is not true that muskies wipe out other game fish. Walleyes, northern pike, and bass can all live in the same lake. The process is that there will be news releases. There will be signs at the public accesses. There will be a public meeting in the Fall. The meeting will allow the public to come and express their views.   The meeting will be in an Open House type of format. Tim passed around paper to get email addresses of those here who wish to get communication about this issue. Once the DNR has gotten public comments they will look at the issue. They are looking at the public in general and do not focus on just lake residents. The meetings will be in late August or early September. Tim brought some actual copies of the proposal. The DNR used this process when trying to get muskies into Gull Lake. It did not move through. DNR commissioner, Mark Olson, makes the final decision. Tim said that people need to give specific reasons why they do not want the muskies in LSLL.

Mike then introduced Greg Kvale and Jeff Young from Muskies Inc. Greg offered to take anyone who is opposed to Muskie stocking on a day of Muskie fishing. He personally feels it is a great experience. He feels it will improve our property values. He encouraged people to type “Muskie stock” into their computer search engine and read the study. Greg listened to the concerns of the members. People are concerned about the additional boat traffic and with that the greater chance of exotic weeds or zebra mussels being brought into the lake. Greg said that Muskies Inc. is very concerned about invasive species entering into the lake. He brought brochures for us to read and also showed us a short video.

Treasurer report: Checking: $4921.66 Savings: $1792.93 CD: $5700.69 at 1.79% and the LID still owes us $9000.

Membership: 104 members presently plus a couple of donations last year. As of May 25 we had 62 applications and $590 in donations. We need to work on a new membership book. If you are interested in helping please speak to Scott Wineberg.

Water Quality: Paul Grimsby has been doing the secci readings. He had reported to Mike that 2 weeks ago the clarity was at 10.5 feet, 1 week ago it was at 2 feet and yesterday it was at 14 feet.   We are seeing improvement every year.

Mike applied for three grants over the winter, but we did not get any of them.

Mike is trying to negotiate with the new Lakeside owners to see if they will allow the Kids fishing contest and picnic. We thought we could invite them to a meeting.

The county has taken a new stance on LIDs. For example to keep it you must do a new petition every 5 years, do a lake study every year, plus numerous other things. Mike is trying to get an opinion from the states Attorney General’s office to see if what they are doing is legal. Mike encouraged all members to call or write people on the list that he sent out on the Yahoo group.

Social Events: Kiddies Parade will be July 3 and all should meet at Hiawatha at 1130 AM

The Kids Sun fishing Contest will be on July 17. If you can help with the Sun fishing contest please contact Dale Spaulding. The picnic will be the same day after the contest is completed. We need to let Dorothy Sunberg know where the picnic will be held.

Bingo will be Sept. 5 at Jack’s House. It was suggested that we get new Bingo Cards.

Garage Sale: Please contact Dorothy Gatlin if you want to do this again.

Mike passed out the map of where the lake was sprayed this Spring to combat the Curlyleaf Pondweed. We have one year left on our LID. There was much discussion about what we need to do to get reapproved. Mike would like the LID board to meet with the County Board to see exactly what they want.

Bill Shook reported on propane pricing. It will probably go up about 50 cents a gallon over last year. At this time Bob Virnig is who to contact at Federated. Ferrell-gas had not given a price as yet. Bill encouraged people to do what was best for them. Lisa Sahr has been the contact at Ferrell. Watch your email. Bill will send out pricing from Ferrell when he gets it. He will get this info to Dorothy Sunberg and people without email will be called.

John Bosquez asked if anyone had talked to the Upper lake association board. Are they for or against Muskie stocking? Mike said they are undecided and want more information. John is very concerned about this issue. There was more discussion regarding this.

Our next meeting will be July 3 at 9AM. Respectfully Submitted, Arlyce Shook

NOTICE!

The Lower South Long Lake Improvement District (LID) will hold its Annual Meeting at the Long Lake Town Hall on Hwy 25 on Saturday, August 7th, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

Children's Sunfish Contest

Saturday, July 17th, 2010 - 9:00 a.m Registration

County Park off of Hwy 25 Association Picnic will follow the fishing contest

Please bring a dish to share--- Brats & Buns will be provided

Lake Association Propane Price

Here is the Propane price for 2010/2011 from Ferrell. Read the email carefully and take note of the date to notify Ferrell. Share this information with your neighbors, especially those w/o email. LET FERRELL KNOW THAT YOU ARE USING THEM ASAP. Lisa Sahr is the contact person at Ferrell:

“ I have spoke to Cory and we are able to offer a fixed price of $1.799 this year. Unfortunately the market is much higher than last year, but less than years past.   Because the market is so unstable, we will need to act on this pricing quickly. If you could get back to me by June 25th that would be great. If you should have any questions or concerns, please drop me a line.   I really appreciate your business and look forward to many more years together. Have a great day and I look forward to hearing from you.” Lisa Sahr - 800-450-5703 - Bill Shook

Association Meeting 9:00 a.m. Saturday, July 3^rd

Kiddie Parade will be July 3rd and all should meet at Hiawatha Ave at 1130 AM

Boat Parade – Noon on July 4th

Everyone who uses a lake or river needs to be aware of how to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. The following article by local fishing guide Walleyedan appeared in the Northland Press on May 4, 2010. (Reprinted with Walleydan’s permission.)

Lakes Area Fishing Report by Walleyedan It’s boating time, it’s fishing time and it’s time to step up the efforts to control the spread of aquatic invasive species. We live in a special place here with all of the surrounding water and it is very important that all of us realize how ugly things could potentially get if we don’t educate and try to eliminate the nasty little things. I just finished taking a look at the Pelican Lakes Association spring newsletter and it reminded me once again how important this subject is.

The funding from the state is being spread out which means we will have to count on volunteers to do a lot more in the future. The funding from the state is being spread out which means we will have to count on volunteers to do a lot more in the future. I was at the MPCA the other day thanks to an invite from Reid Larson and I was glad I cut my son’s turkey hunt short to get there for the bulk of the info. Eurasian Milfoil, Zebra Mussels, Spiny Water Fleas, Curly Leaf Pondweed are just some of the little nasty’s that can potentially spoil our “special place” if we don’t get aggressive and help out where we can!

Clean your boats, trailers, empty your bait away from the lake, don’t launch into a clean lake just after being in an infested lake unless you take measures to clean your rig.I know this isn’t fun stuff but this is real stuff and we have to do our part because if this world keeps on keeping on we will want the lakes clean for our kids and their kids. Whether you use a public or a private landing to access a body of water, you are responsible for doing what Walleyedan says. The laws of Minnesota require the actions he highlights in his article.

For more information see the 2010 Minnesota Fishing Regulations, the 2010 Minnesota Boating Regulations, or go to the DNR web site, www.dnr.state.mn.us and search “preventing aquatic invasives”.

Crow Wing County’s infested waters (as of April 27, 2010) include: Eurasian Watermilfoil Lakes: Bay, Kimball, Louise Mine Pit, Lower Mission, Ossawinnamakee, Ruth, Upper Mission Rivers: Ripple (Bay Lake to Tame Fish Lake) Zebra Mussels Lakes: Black Bear, Boom, Half-Moon, Little Rabbit, Miller, Ossawinnamakee, Pickerel, Rice Rivers: Pelican Brook, Pine (Pelican Brook to the Mississippi River)

In addition, at least 51 Crow Wing County lakes are known to be infested with Curlyleaf Pondweed. Prepared by the Crow Wing County Lakes and Rivers Alliance (LARA) in May, 2010.

law

Swimmer's itch
There are actions you can take to help reduce the odds of getting swimmer's itch. To understand which actions make sense it is important to look at the organism's biology. The organism which causes swimmer's itch has a complicated life history. However, an important fact to consider is that the critter starts out in the intestinal lining of waterfowl, mostly ducks. So if you, or maybe your neighbors, are currently feeding waterfowl (ducks and geese) from your dock, stop. If ducks like to loaf on your dock do what you can to discourage them. You can try an owl wind sock, or statue. Place the wind sock or statue on your dock and move it around every other day or so, so the ducks do not become accustom to it. If ducks don't hang out around your property then the source of the problem may be elsewhere in the lake and this strategy won't help much.

If ducks do not congregate around your dock the swimmer's itch organism may originate somewhere else in the lake and is being brought to your shoreline wave action or currents. The life stage that causes swimmer's itch is called a "cercaria" which is an immature stage of a blood fluke common in waterfowl. The cercaria only lives for a day or so and typically inhabits the upper few inches of water which increases its chances of coming into contact with a duck (its definitive host). This behavior makes it easy for them to be moved around the lake, and tends to concentrate their numbers along the shoreline. Strategy number 2, avoidance, swim from a raft or boat farther out from shore where you are less likely to come into contact with the cercaria. This strategy may not be practical if you don't swim or have young children who want to play in the water near shore.

Although the cercaria can enter your skin while you are wading or swimming you can also carry the critters out of the water with you. If swimmer's itch is a problem in the lake you live on it is important to towel off immediately after getting out of the water. The organism in the droplets of water on your skin will look for somewhere to go as the droplet of water evaporates, into your skin is their next refuge. So, if you did not pick up an infection in the water you can further reduce the odds of getting swimmer's itch by drying off with a towel. Solution number 3, dry off with a towel soon after getting out of the water.

If these strategies don't work for you there is the option of getting a permit from the DNR to use copper sulfate to kill the snails which are an intermediate host of the parasite. Infected snails release the life stage (cercaria) that actually causes swimmer's itch. The copper sulfate will only kill the snails present at the time of application, any snails which enter the area afterwards will not be effected. The relief provided may be temporary and more than one treatment may be required. Usually only a small percent of the snails in a lake carry the infection, and they may not be the ones around your dock.

The good news is the blood fluke which causes swimmer's itch cannot complete its life history in the human body. Your body's immune system detects the cercaria as a foreign protein, attacks and kills it shortly after it penetrates your skin. The severe itch and accompanying welt is an allergic reaction to the infection. There are several over the counter remedies your pharmacist can recommend to help relieve the discomfort, but please see your physician to get a definitive diagnosis.

Not everyone is sensitive to swimmer's itch. You may have noticed that some people show no symptoms of swimmer's itch even though others swimming at the same time and place break out severely. The literature indicates that only about 30 to 40 percent of the population is sensitive to swimmer's itch infection. But, much like poison ivy, your sensitivity to swimmer's itch will increase with each exposure.

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