The Scuttlebut - Minnesota Waters

Spring 2016
THE SCUTTLEBUT
Center Lakes Association
SPRING 2016
ING 2013 NEWSLETTER
Chisago Lakes Lake
Improvement District
Protecting and restoring the surface water
resources of the Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes
Watershed
The Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement
District (LID) was the first LID established in
Minnesota and is the largest. The LID was
formed in 1976 in response to high water in
area lakes and the flooding of shoreland
homes. As a result, the LID installed a system
of channels and weirs designed to drain
excess water during times of high water.
Since its inception, the LID’s role has
expanded to much more than lake water
levels. In 2015, the Chisago County Board
approved expansion and adjustment of the
LID boundary to match the Chisago Lakes
Chain of Lakes Watershed boundary.
Chisago Lakes LID Fast Facts:
 Contains the communities of Center City, Chisago
City, Lindstrom, Shafer, and Chisago Lakes and
Lent Townships.
 Approximately 14,000 people live in the LID.
 There are 19 lakes in the LID, combined there are
over 7,000 acres of surface water.
 The LID is about 10 miles long and 9.3 miles wide.
 Chisago, or Ki Chi Saga to the Native Americans,
means fair and lovely waters.
SPRING MEETING
Saturday, June 11, 2016
9:30 am
Swedish Village Inn
Center City, MN
Business meeting at 9:30 am followed by speaker
Our speaker this year will be a representative of the
Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District (LID)
The LID strives to protect and restore area lakes and
streams by engaging in programs to:

Maintain ditch and weir system

Encourage sound land use practices

Preserve protect and enhance water quality

Promote environmental education, awareness
and stewardship

Promote reduction of aquatic invasive species

Protect, encourage and restore native shoreline

Restore, improve and maintain navigation
channels
 Support safe and balanced recreational use
For more information about the Chisago Lakes LID visit : www.chisagocounty.us/300/Lake-Improvement-District
Spring 2016
ISSUE #5
Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes
Watershed
A watershed is like a funnel – collecting all water within the drainage area and channeling it into a
stream, river or lake. Even if your home is not next to a lake, river or wetland, you still live in a
watershed and the rain and snowmelt from your property flows to area lakes and rivers. In the Chisago
Lakes Chain of Lakes Watershed, runoff water drains through many streams into the lakes. The water
eventually flows from the Watershed into the Sunrise River, then flows north to the St. Croix River.
What we do in the Chisago Lakes area has an effect on the Sunrise and St. Croix Rivers.
Runoff Pollution
In cities and farms, water flows over streets, sidewalks, and fields
into streams, ditches, and storm drains. As the water flows, it
picks up trash or pollutants and carries them, untreated, directly to
the nearest lake or river. This is runoff pollution. Everyone who
lives in the Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes Watershed can have a
positive or negative effect on water quality. It is our responsibility
to ensure that runoff from our properties is as clean as possible.
Over time, many lakes and streams within the Watershed have
become degraded. Degradation of our waters is harmful to fish
habitat and negatively impacts recreational value by making
swimming and boating less desirable.
Impaired Waters
North & South Center, Linn, Little, Ogren, Pioneer, School, and
Wallmark Lakes are impaired, meaning these lakes do not meet
water quality standards established by the State of Minnesota for
lakes in this area.
Rev. 2-2016
Sediment, fertilizers, and
pesticides can run directly off of
agricultural land.
Leaves, grass clippings, and
debris from streets and lawns
often go directly into storm
sewers untreated.
The LID Board of Directors is composed of 5
members representing specific areas of the
LID (see map) and 2 at large Directors:
Area 1: Mike Mergens, Vice Chair
Area 2: Jill Behnke
Area 3: Orris Erlandson
Area 4: Joyce Anastasi, Chair
Area 5: Monica Kinny
At Large Director: Steve Paquay
At Large Director: Gary Schumacher
The LID Board administers an annual budget
and provides policy recommendations to the
Chisago County Board of Commissioners.
Spring 2016
Center Lakes Association
Annual Membership
Application
o New Member
o Renewal Member
o Associate Member
ISSUE #5
Website
www.centerlakesassociation.org
E-Mail
[email protected]
Facebook
www.facebook.com/centerlakesmn
Mailing address
Center Lakes Association
P.O. Box 568
Lindstrom MN, 55045
Annual Dues $25.00
Please print legibly
Name
Address
Center Lakes Association Objectives
City _______________ State ______ Zip

Maintain and improve the water
quality of South and North Center
Lakes

Promote and educate lakeshore
owners and users responsible use of
the lakes

Bring about a spirit of cooperation
among the lakeshore owners and
surronding commmunitites
Telephone
Cell
Email
I PREFER TO RECEIVE THE CLA NEWSLETTER BY;
please circle one
US MAIL (non-computer user only).
E-MAIL
Remove from list
Center Lakes Association expects
members to volunteer.
MY LAKE SHORE PROERTY IS ON
o SOUTH CENTER LAKE
o NORTH CENTER LAKE
Please Renew Your Annual
Membership!
Please check one
o I am a full-time resident
o Seasonal
o Snowbird
*Free will donations of any denomination are accepted for the Aquatic
Invasive Species Fund. Donations are not in place of membership.
o
Please contact me I am interested in volunteer
opportunities.
Mail to: CLA, PO Box 568 Lindstrom, MN 55045
Referral Name_________________________
Cell or land line#_________________________
This page authorized to be reprinted or photocopied for membership
referral contest.
Nkm2014
Delete text and place photo here.
Your Membership Dues:




Help fund aquatic invasive species
control.
Provide educational opportunities to
lakeshore owners and the community
Are due each spring, and last for 1 year
Don’t know if you already paid your
dues? Just email us at
[email protected] to check on
your membership status.
News and Events



Are you interested in helping to monitor for Aquatic Invasive Species?
Please email us at [email protected] or call Nancy Mergens at
651-213-6650 or Lorene Gray at 651-492-3387, we are improving our
volunteer process and need your help!
Center City Parks Department is looking for volunteers to complete a
number of projects. This year the goal is to redo the lakeshore area on the
south side of North Center Lake (near Swensons). Please call Lynne
Karwand at 651-257-8724, Jill Behnke at 651-329-3105 or City Hall at
651-257-5284 for more information.
Planning to slow run off from your property, improve your lakeshore, or
install a rain garden this year? Don’t forget to check with Chisago County
Soil & Water Conservation Department at 651-674-2333 or
www.chisagoswcd.org to see if there is funding or planning services
available to help you with your project.