2013 Fall Scuttlebut

FALL 2013
THE SCUTTLEBUT
Center Lakes Association
FALL 2013 NEWSLETTER
HEALTHY SHORELINES
HEALTHY LAKES
High –impact lakefront landscaping with lawn to the
water’s edge, creates problems for the lake ecosystems
and for waterfront property owners and property
resale value. Rainwater carries lawn fertilizers,
pesticides, and pet waste and grass clippings into the
lakes. According to the Minnesota DNR one pound of
phosphorus can lead to the growth of 500 pounds of
algae! These pollutants promote nuisance aquatic
plant growth such as curly leaf pond weed and
invasive water milfoil which create serious water
quality concerns. Plants with shallow roots, such as
turf grass, cannot withstand wave and ice action that
allow the shoreline to erode. Vertical sea wall and
heavy rock riprap destroy sensitive shoreline and fish
spawning habitat. Perfectly manicured lawns attract
nuisance wildlife species, such as geese.
Alternative landscaping solutions can create
attractive waterfronts that provide access to the lake
while providing the ecosystem services or an
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FALL MEETING
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2013
SWEDISH VILLAGE FAMILY RESTAURANT
IN CENTER CITY, MN
ROLLS AND COFFEE
(While they last)
9:30AM - 11: 30AM
Keynote speaker:
Jay Michels
Topic: Raging Runoff
undeveloped, natural shoreline; these services include
improved fish and wildlife habitat (including song
birds and butterflies).reduced run off and shoreline
erosion control.
Emmons & Oliver Resources, Inc.
Water and Environmental Consultant Engineers
Please join us and learn about the solutions to help
clean up our valuable lakes.
Check out CLA Lakeshore Owners Handbook for
solutions www.centerlakesassociation.org
“Unless someone like you cares a whole lot.” “Nothing is going to get better”
“It’s not” Dr. Seuss, the Lorax. Become a member of CLA. Be the solution to the
pollution!
FALL 2013
VOL. ONE ISSUE #1
Due to the increasing cost of printing and
postage the spring newsletter will be sent to
members electronicly via e-mail.
Members who do not have a computer or
e-mail. Please inform CLA how you want to
recieve the newsletter.
Mail your request to;
CLA
PO Box568
Lindstrom, MN 55045.
Property Resale Values
vs
Lakes Water Clarity
Parsons and Patrick Welle, at Bemidji State University
(BSU) professor of economics and environmental studies,
co authored a study titled “Lakeshore Property Values and
Water Quality,” the findings were released in May 2003. The
study examined 1,205 residential properties from 1996 to 2001.
.
The study concluded; the better the water clarity in a lake the
higher the value of the land around that lake.
Get the connection?
You are connected to a lake
Your rooftop is connected to your gutter
Your gutter is connected to your downspout
Your downspout is connected to your
driveway
Your driveway is connected to your street
Your street is connected to your storm drain
Your storm drain is connected to your
wetland
Your wetland is connected to your lake.
The study also calculated and put a dollar amount on how much
a property value would rise and fall depending on how deep you
can see into the lake.
Welle’s study determined that lakeshore owners can figure 1
meter (a little more than 3 feet) of improving in clarity is worth
$50 to$60 per frontage foot of lakeshore. Frontage foot is
common way to measure lakeshore properly Welle, said that the
number varies greatly from lake to lake, for example Leach
Lake near Walker, Minnesota is clear about 10 feet the study
projected that if clarity improved to 13 feet, the lake’s property
value would rise $423 for each foot of frontage! For 50 feet of
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Website
lakeshore, that’s an increase in value of more than $20,000!
What can you do to protect your lakeshore property values?

www.centerlakesassociation.org
E-Mail
on land ends up in the lake. Consider shore restoration.

[email protected]
Mailing address
Practice lakeshore stewardship every day. What you do
Become an active member of Center Lakes
Association.

Check out our website for tips and resources.
Remember: Nothing can happen to improve Center
Center Lakes Association
P.O. Box 568
Lindstrom MN, 55045
Lakes Association, your property values and our
valuable waters without you!
Newsletter contributors:
Nancy Moe-Mergens: articles &, graphics
Mailing Committee: Mike & Nancy Mergens, Joy Pringle, Gregg & Nancy
Carlson, Jill Behnke, Larry Houger, Mike & Lorene Gray and Gene
Nelson.
MONTH YEAR
VOL. # ONE ISSUE #1
Center Lakes Association
Membership Application
o New Member
o Renewal Member
Membership Statistics
Between North and South Center Lakes there
are 600 lakeshore residents.
Paid voting members for 2013
North Center 53members
South Center 42 members
Associate Member 1
Annual Dues $20.00
Please print legibly
Total membership is 96 out of 600
Are you a 2013 member?
Name___________________________________
Address_________________________________
City_________________State______Zip________
Telephone_________________________________
Center
Lakes
Association
Objectives
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
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
Cell______________________________________
E-MAIL___________________________________
I PREFER TO RECEIVE THE CLA NEWSLETTER
BY; please circle one
US MAIL. E-MAIL TAKE ME OFF YOUR LIST
MY LAKE SHORE PROERTY IS ON
o SOUTH CENTER LAKE
o NORTH CENTER LAKE
Please check one
o I am a full-time resident
o Seasonal
o Snowbird
o
ASSOCIATE MEMBER IS A NONLAKESHORE PROPERTY OWNER
HAS NO VOTING RIGHTS.
*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
Benefits of Membership
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
Invasive aquatic weed management and
education

Boat and aquatic recreation safety

Shoreline Education-protect your
home resale values
MONTH YEAR
VOL. # ONE ISSUE #1
Invasive Species and Eurasian Milfoil Update
During the winter of 20111 former CLA, President Nancy Moe-Mergens assembled board members to
investigate possibilities for a grant to mitigate the invasive aquatic water milfoil in North and South Center lakes.
Thanks to the committee’s efforts CLA members and users are again experiencing clear sailing within
navigational channels of North and South Center Lakes. Partnering with CLA is the Minnesota DNR and the Chisago
Lakes, Lakes Improvement District. Areas were treated on 7/24/13 by Lakes Management, Inc. The MNDNR
authorized North Center 11.5 acres and for South 7.7 acres. Chemical treatment requests and permits are inspected
and authorized by the MNDNR based on the current condition of the lakes. Once the grant permit is authorized all
parties must comply with the permit and grant contract agreement.
The second part of requesting this grant is to petition the LID Board for a shared grant from the LID. The
condition of receiving the cost share grant from the LID is to submit the permit and grant documents from the MNDNR
along with a summary of effectiveness which was prepared by Lakes Management, Inc. The summary stated that the
2012 EWM (Eurasian water milfoil) control exceeded 90% control in all areas that were treated!
The LID is also requesting CLA members to comment on their visual observation of improved navigational
areas. Check our website for dates and areas treated. A comment card will be available at the fall meeting or you may email [email protected] with your comments. If you don’t have a computer simply mail your comments to CLA’s
address. Your comments are important and will be used along with the 2013 summary of effectiveness to evaluate
future funding for invasive aquatic Eurasian water milfoil control by the LID and CLA. Let CLA know If you like (or
dislike) what the association is doing to control the invasive aquatic Eurasian Milfoil problem. Please thank the invasive
weed committee members for all their many hours of hard work: Mike Mergens (chairman), Gregg Carlson, Tito Elumba,
Gene Nelson, Larry Houger and Nancy Moe- Mergens (documentation specialist).
The aquatic invasive weed program may or may not continue. Please send in your comments! This is
important! It is all up to you. The committee wants to know if they are to continue the grant process for 2014. If no one
responds the grant process will come to an end. More active involvement from membership is needed within the
Association to help improve North and South Center Lakes, lake pollution, and invasive weed problem. Lakeshore
owners are the stake holders of the preservation and integrity of North and South Center lakes. Your active
participation is the solution.
Bring a neighbor
Join CLA!
Center Lakes Association
PO Box 568
Lindstrom, MN 55045
WWW.CENTERLAKESASSOCIATION.ORG