News

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.  

LLIA would like to thank Dan Olson, Deputy Director of Public Safety, and Charlie Prasek, City Public Works Department, for their assistance with LLIA requests.  They installed a flashing beacon on the No Wake sign for when the high water, no wake rule is in effect.  They also installed a large flag pole they will raise a flag on when the high water, no wake rule is in effect, so anyone on that side of the lake can see it and know the rule is in effect.

We appreciate your patience as we learn the process for the first time, but we're happy to announce that a plan has been finalized.  

We have contracted with Lake Restoration Inc (LRI) and will determine a treatment date contingent on the approval of our Invasive Aquatic Plant Management (IAPM) Permit, which will likely be the first half of July. Submitting this email to our members is part of the due diligence required to obtain a signature waiver per the DNR permit approval requirements.  

LRI will be using a product called "2-4-D", which is the most commonly used herbicide in Minnesota to control Milfoil and is DNR approved.  

The lake will be treated based on the 2017 EWM Delineation Map. LLIA will file a group permit.  If you desire treatment there's nothing for you to do.  However, if you do not want treatment please email us with your name and address by July 1, 2017 and we'll remove your property from the treatment plan.  

We'll be in contact once we have treatment dates locked in.  

Thanks for your ongoing support!  

RCWD surveyed the lake for EWM on June 6th and created the 2017 EWM Delineation Map.  The first thing to note, is that it's a bit different from the 2016 EWM Delineation Map and some homeowners have experienced a reduction in EWM.  Also, the water was still quite high on June 6 and EWM may have still been emerging. 

Per RCWD, aquatic plants can change from year to year based on many factors.  In Long Lake, those factors include water clarity, common carp, and management with herbicides.  Water clarity can vary in Long Lake dependent on seasonal rainfall and temperature.  When high rainfall and hot weather generate algae, there is less sunlight for plants, and you'll see less milfoil.  Common carp are excellent "ecosystem engineers" - they change their environment through their behavior.  Their feeding behavior decreases water clarity, and uproots plants.  Long Lake is known to have a very high carp population, especially in the winter, and we have an ongoing plan for carp control.

We are working with LRI regarding treatment options, but in the meantime want feedback from homeowners regarding the delineation map.  If you feel you have an EWM issue that isn't referenced on the map, please add a comment to this news article with your address so we can note it. 

RCWD has communicated that they will be performing their delineation mapping either this week or next week.  We'll keep you posted on their results.  

Through our recent door knocking activity, several residents expressed concerns about what can be done about lake algae blooms in the summer.  

Some of you may be aware of the Long Lake Targeted Water Demonstration Project being facilitated by RCWD.  Out of the $7.2M budget, $4.8M has been allocated to the Hanson Park Water Management Project.  Along with providing flood control, this project will also improve water quality with the construction of an iron-enhanced sand filter which will reduce phosphorous loading downstream to Pike Like and Long Lake by 150-250 pounds annually ~ this is estimated to 20-50 tons of algae growth eliminated!

The Hanson Park Pond collects water from Silver Lake, Mirror Lake, and stormwater runoff that ultimately runs into Pike and Long Lake on it's way to the Mississippi. 

The Iron-Enhanced Sand Filter will be completed this summer, but won't be operational until 2018.  

Please visit the RCWD link above for the latest updates and more info.