News

After a cold winter and the April 14th blizzard, the ice came of the lake after a warm week with some help from the wind. 

The Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center and University of Minnesota Extension has opened registration for the 2018 season of the AIS Detectors program.

Participants in the AIS Detectors program receive expert training on identifying and reporting AIS as well as base aquatic ecology, prevention, MN rules and regulations training and more. Upon completion of the training, participants are asked to provide 25 hours of annual service in the field of aquatic invasive species. This service can take many forms that we generally categorize as Citizen Science, Stewardship, Outreach/Education, and Program Support. This may include activities specific to your lake or lake area such as monitoring for AIS and local outreach/education. Participants choose what form of service suits them best and are free to create grassroots projects or service. You can find more information at www.aisdetectors.org.  I also encourage you to check out this issue of Source magazine which features our program and some of our volunteers from last year.

We hope this is an opportunity that may interest you and your members.  This year we are hosting 6 in-person workshops. These workshops can be found at:

• Arden Hills (April 20)
  
• Victoria (April 27)
  
• Owatonna (May 4)
  
• Willmar (May 11)
  
• Brainerd (May 18)
  
• Duluth (June 1)

Our site has been updated to include Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) management plans for LLIA as an organization and for individual home and easement owners seeking additional treatment options:

• LLIA AIS Treatment
  
• Individual AIS Treatment
  

For 2018, LLIA will treat large scale invasive weed outbreaks, primarily Curly Leaf Pondweed and Milfiol, based on RCWD Delineation Maps, but home and easement owners may need to seek a permit for self treatment if not covered within the delineation map and/or for ongoing treatment.  The pages referenced above provide the details, but please let us know if you have any questions or start a Forum entry to voice your constructive feedback where we can all follow along. 

Thanks for your ongoing support!

After a few attempts at freeze overs that opened up with warmer weather, the lake froze over for the winter on December 12.

Just want to share a thank you letter that LLIA sent to the City of New Brighton today for their financial support in combating Aquatic Invasive Species.   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 6, 2017 Mayor Val Johnson City Manager Dean Lotter Councilmember Mary Burg Councilmember Gina Bauman Councilmember Paul Jacobsen Councilmember Brian Strub To All Above: Thank you all for your time, consideration and support in providing funding for treatment of Aquatic Invasive Species in Long Lake for the summer of 2017. Our association was very pleased to hear your positive views on the value and importance Long Lake brings to the City of New Brighton and community. One of our association’s goals is to maintain and improve the water quality for all who use the lake to boat, kayak, canoe, fish & swim. Without your generous funding, we would not be able to treat for invasive species of weeds we treated this summer. Mayor Val Johnson and City Manager Lotter both went above and beyond their respective duties to further assist our fund seeking & sharing efforts. They were able to schedule us to meet with Ramsey County Commissioners, House of Representative Connie Bernardy as well as the opportunity to address both the MN House and Senate regarding funding for Aquatic Invasive Species. It was our pleasure working with you all for the betterment of the City of New Brighton and Long Lake. I’m proud to say our City’s elected officials really stepped up to support such an important issue and asset for everyone in the city. Sincerely, Rich Kusick President Long Lake Improvement Association of New Brighton

Thanks to those who were able to attend and share their opinions.  For those that missed it, meeting minutes can be found here:  2017-10-18 LLIA Meeting Minutes.PDF

Some of you may have seen the Box Nets installed on both the north and south basins of the lake. This is the beginning of the implementation strategy for Carp Management. We've updated our website at Water Quality > Carp Control with more information and links to a report and 40 minute video presented by Matt Kocian regarding the state of carp in Long Lake and management plan moving forward.

Big thanks to Matt and RCWD for their leadership in this area. We are breaking new ground and if successful this plan may be used for other lakes across the State.

Big thanks to our 15 member crew that volunteered to pickup trash from the park and boat landing lake shore areas.  As one would suspect, the most common items were bottles, cans, and plastic bags.  However, other interesting items were found as well.  

Not only does this help clean up the park shoreline, but also helps to prevent trash from getting back in the lake during high water periods.  

We are evaluating spring Clean Up Day dates.  We are considering Earth Day weekend April 21, but the water may be too high and cold at this time.  Please stay tuned and watch for event notifications.  

Thanks to: Amal Dimian, the Kolasa's, the Kohler's, Rich Kusick, the Erickson's, the entire Scott family, Leon Kline, and John Broghammer (photographer).

Per our previous update, Lake Restoration Inc will be treating the lake for milfoil based on the 2017 EWM Delineation Map the week of July 24th, wind and weather permitting.