Harlan Meints Reports on DNR Meeting
at Monticello MN on August 15, 2019
On August 15th I attended a meeting, hosted by the DNR, to address usage of public accesses and controlling the spread of invasive species (AIS). The meeting was attended by about 75 people. Groups represented were: lake associations, DNR, fishing groups and lake property owners. Wee, as a group, came up with 4 main questions about these 2 main topic areas. We then divided into 4 groups. Each group rotated between 4 rooms with one of the questions eing discussed. Each group had a chance to discuss and state his or her opinion on the topic. We then met back as a group and determined what we considered to be our most important points on the 2 main topics.
Matters discussed were:
* Quarantine lakes that have AIS to prevent their spreading. Boat in, no boat out.
* Centrally located decontamination stations to be open 7/24 to serve all lakes in an area.
* Raising the cost of fishing licenses and boat registration $5 each, with the money going to combat AIS.
* Better educational programs.
* Mandatory boat inspection and decontamination when leaving infected waters.
* Closing lakes that have starry stonewort (Lake Koronis, one of 15 lakes that have infection) to all boat and equiment movement.
* Monies from DNR and legislature to fund studies to find treatment for AIS.
* Better enforcement nad higher fines on the laws we now have.
* Some way to mark crafts that have been in infected waters.
These ideas will be passed onto the DNR for further discussion hopefully with some action.
Problems we also discussed were: Where are the funds to pay for these ideas to come from. The waters of Minnesota are owned by the state and the legislature is not going to close off public waters. Most lakes are only patrolled a few hours a day or week. Distances you need to drive to get to decontamination stations. Poor quality of inspection at boat ramps, some lakes only have inspectors a few hours per week.
This will probably not result in much new action, but it allowed the group to voice their opinions. We also found that most Minnesotans feel the same and are frustrated by the lack of action by those in charge until it is too late.
Missle Lane
From the last newsletter issue: The 2018 Aquatic Invasive Species Research and Management Showcase, Wed. Sept. 12, is taking registrations now. “Interact with faculty over lunch, get an inside-peek into our newly renovated lab, hear from MAISRC’s newest researchers who are launching projects this summer, and enjoy a post session reception.” If you want to go, let me know and I will buy a ticket for you (robm@harvestbankmn.com).
Is there anybody who will advocate for jet skis that can do 65 mph? Should they, and can they, be banned from Diamond Lake? As a jet skier myself I find these super speedy toys to be a serious accident waiting to happen.
One of the highpoints of the year for the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center is their Prairie Stars fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 6th at the PWELC pavilion. The evening begins at 5:30 with a social hour and fun silent auction followed by a local foods mean and music from the Harrison Street Band. Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.prairiestars.com or by calling 320 354-5894. Early reservations are encouraged as the evening typically sells out.
An interesting Farmer-led Conversation was held at the Atwater Community Center on July 23 sponsored by the Middle Fork Crow River Watershed District, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Center, Houston Engineering Inc., and Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center. The gist of the presentations were that by planting cover crops and reducing tillage farmers can enhance their bottom line and reduce soil and nutrient run off into the water shed. For further information contact Margaret Johnson, margaret@mfcrow.org.
Dancing With the Stars, doors open @ 6:30pm, performance @7:30, Sept. 21 at the ACGC Senior High Auditorium in Grove City. Tickets “only” $35/$45 advanced/door, $15/$25 students, available from a dance couple or at the AAHFS office (874-8737), all for a very worthy cause (Atwater Help for Seniors). You might even recognized some Diamond Lakers on the stage.
Doozie: added to the list of dues payers are the following Diamond Lake Heroes: Geoffrey & Pamela Ballisteri, Denny Kohout, Lonnie & Lanny Lenzen, Jane Haugen, Larry & Connie Marquardt.
Found: 2 ft blue “Nautical” cushion pillow. Can be picked up at Harlan Meints’ house at 14249 Breezy Point Road.
Invasive Alert
Thus far Diamond Lake has been lucky enough to avoid zebra mussels and starry stonewort infestations. However, that can easily change. If you are used buying (or selling) docks, rafts or other associated equipment they must be set on dry land for at least 21 days before transporting or placing back in the water (MN Statutes 84d.10 subd 4f). Unfortunately this rule does not apply to watercraft and trailers but to keep the lake safe these rules can be followed.
There is a decontamination unit located on Salisbury Beach in Spicer from late April until mid-September. It is free but does not set aside the 21 day requirement for equipment cited above.
Aquatic Plant Survey
Limnopro Aquatic Science, St. Cloud
By Dr. Dan McEwen June, 2019
[Your lake association commissioned an aquatic plant survey around the lake as a preliminary to addressing water quality issues and applying for permits and grants. The survey, which cost $5,073, has 10 pages of text and 9 pages of color coded maps and excellent vegetation photos. It is available at www.diamondlakemn.com “2019 lake survey. The following is a shortened version of the Executive Summary.]
A point intercept aquatic vegetation survey of Diamond Lake, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota was conducted over seven days between June 11-28 for the primary purpose of mapping curlyleaf pondweed (CLP). Secondarily, we describe here the early spring plant community. We found CLP to cover 44% (or 282 acres) of the littoral zone [i.e. the shoreline out to 15’ of water). At present CLP is distributed randomly around the entire lake with a few high density areas, particularly at the southern lobe of the lake. Aquatic plants, in general, covered 95% of all points sampled. Plants could be detected at the deepest sampled depth of approximately 19 feet. The community consisted of 21 species, and included, in order of abundance, CLP, muskgrass, flatstem pondweed, coontail, northern watermilfoil, star duckweed….While early spring is the best time to survey for CLP, it is not a good time to get an accurate view of the true plant community as most native species and some invasives such as Eurasian watermilfoil or starry stonewort, will not have started to grow….Current goals would be to manage CLP with chemical in targeted areas where lake users are either likely to continue to spread the plant or where it is a nuisance. Repeat mapping of curlyleaf is recommended every 2-3 years to check treatment effectiveness an further spreading. We recommend annual searches at boat launches for detection of pioneering populations of Eurasian watermilfoil and starry stonewort….
Editor: CLP has been our biggest nuisance and can be mitigated within limits by areas as a whole and also individual properties, both with DNR permitting. However another major nuisance, coontail, is not considered a nuisance and can only be addressed on a limited individual basis.
