2014 - Greater Lake Sylvia Association

Loon Calls
www.lakesylvia.org
G R E A T E R
L A K E
S Y L V I A
Spring 2014
A S S O C I A T I O N
Public Access Monitoring Program 2014
by Chris Hector
n 2013,
GLSA
contracted with
Anchor Dock
& Lift to
have DNR
trained monitors check
the rigs of
boaters and
anglers
entering the
Lake Sylvia
public access
7 days per
week from
mid May
through the
end of September. Although this project was very expensive, the GLSA board
felt it was a sound investment for several reasons. First, it provided a level of
protection to the lake that GLSA had
not attained in previous years. Second,
it provided GLSA with a wealth of information about where incoming boats are
from, when the access gets heaviest use
and just how many rigs enter the Lake
Sylvia access. Over 2100 boats and
trailers were monitored entering the
access last summer!
I
For 2014,
GLSA has
again contracted with
Anchor Dock
and Lift for
1400 hours
of monitoring at the
boat ramp.
The monitors
will start on
May 10th
and will provide coverage through
September.
The inspectors are trained by the DNR and will be
looking for aquatic plants, zebra mussels, and other prohibited invasive
species on watercraft or trailers. They
will also be reminding boaters to pull
their plug, properly dispose of unused
bait and drain their live wells.
Remember that if you are stopped for
transporting aquatic plants or forgetting
to pull that bilge plug it can cost you
$100.
Monitoring Program
continued on page 7
Calling All Lake Sylvia Golfers!
Golf Tournament Fundraiser July 19
by Russ Fortner
On Saturday, July 19, the GLSA is hosting
our first ever golf tournament fundraiser.
This event will raise funds for protection of
our lake. The annual cost of contracting for
DNR trained inspectors at the Lake Sylvia
public access necessitates raising monies for
our war chest to protect against new invasive species such as Zebra Mussels entering
our lake on contaminated boats or trailers.
Golf Tournament
continued on page 3
Inside this issue:
Executive Board . . . . . .2
A Word From Your
President . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Membership Report . . .3
Fishing Contest . . . . . . .3
Advertisers . . . . . . .4 & 5
Loon Report . . . . . . . . .6
Stranded
Boat Assistance . . . . . . 7
Al’s Almanac . . . . . . . .7
EVENT Calendar 2014
May 10
Fishing Contest Begins!
Visit lakesylvia.org
for details!
June 1
Golf Tournament
Entry Deadline
See entry form for details!
June 7
GLSA Annual Meeting
9-11 a.m.
South Haven City Hall
July 4
Boat Parade
Visit lakesylvia.org
for details
July 19
GLSA Golf Tournament
Southbrook Golf Course
10:30 a.m. - Team
registration begins,
Noon - Shotgun start
July 25
Picnic Registration
Deadline
RSVP at lakesylvia.org
or by mail
August 9
GLSA Annual Picnic
4-8 p.m.
Camp Chi Rho
Page 2
Loon Calls
Executive Board
June 1, 2013-June 7, 2014
President
Chris Hector 952-239-8103
[email protected]
Vice President
Kent Davidson 320-274-6448
[email protected]
Treasurer
Chuck Lingen 763-416-5062
[email protected]
Secretary
Allison Barkley 320-815-9916
[email protected]
Board of Directors
Jerry Dock
[email protected]
Jerry Euteneuer
[email protected]
Russ Fortner
[email protected]
Tom Hansen
[email protected]
Don Holm
[email protected]
Steve Holmstoen
[email protected]
Mike McNellis
[email protected]
Lisa Peery
[email protected]
Jim Struble
[email protected]
Carl Swanson
[email protected]
Harry Wahlquist
[email protected]
Visit lakesyliva.org/board
for additional contact information
GLSA Board Calendar 2014
May 17, GLSA Board Meeting
9-11 a.m., Southbrook Clubhouse
June 7, GLSA Annual Meeting
9-11 a.m., South Haven City Hall
July 12, GLSA Board Meeting
9-11 a.m., Southside Town Hall
August 16, GLSA Board Meeting
9-11 a.m., Southside Town Hall
September 13, GLSA Board Meeting
9-11 a.m., Southside Town Hall
October 11, GLSA Board Meeting
9-11 a.m., Southside Town Hall
Spring 2014
A Few Words
From Your President
Chris Hector
Getting
Back on
the Water
It has been a long hard winter, and if you are like me –
the only thing that keeps me
going is thinking about getting
back on the water. As I write
this letter, the ice has melted,
the loons are back, and I’ve
already dipped the kayak in
the water for the first time.
We have been busy this winter getting ready for the 2014
lake season.
Here are some of the
highlights:
We have moved membership
renewals to the spring to make
it easier to contact those people
who winter out of state, and
because this is the time of the
year that everyone is thinking
about the lake. We have sent
the annual letter by US post
and by email, and can take
your renewal online or by
check. Please send in your
renewal soon if you have not
already done so. Your membership and donations are vital to
protecting Lake Sylvia.
The annual meeting will be
held on June 7 in South Haven
this year at the new City Hall
building. We will have rolls and
coffee starting at 8:30 followed
by our business meeting.
GLSA teams working to eradicate Eurasian Water Milfoil
(EWM) and Curly Leaf
Pondweed (CLP) have plans in
place to continue their efforts
this spring. We have been
working with the DNR to
secure the necessary permits.
Carl Swanson’s CLP team will
do treatments early in the sea-
son, based on water temperature. Kent Davidson and the
milfoil team will be scouting
and treating EWM early in the
summer. Updates on the efforts
of these teams will be featured
in the summer edition of Loon
Calls.
We have contracted with
Anchor Dock and Lift for 1400
hours of monitoring at the boat
ramp. The article on ramp
inspections also discusses the
work we are doing with Wright
County to improve the inspection process.
We are planning the Fourth
of July Boat Parade and this
year will have prizes for the
best entries. Watch
lakesylvia.org for details.
The 2014 GLSA Picnic will be
held on August 9th at Camp
Chi Rho. Mark your calendars
for this fun event
We are adding a Golf Outing
fundraiser on July 19 with proceeds going to support GLSA’s
efforts to prevent the spread of
invasives.
Directories will be available
for pick up this year at the
Annual Meeting, the Picnic,
and Golf event or by contacting
me at [email protected].
You can also go online to
lakesylvia.org.
Loon Calls
Spring 2014
Membership Update
by Nancy Hector
Just a friendly reminder from
membership that you may pay
dues online at lakesylvia.org Dues
are $50 annually and due June 1.
Directories are available to all
who are members and may be
picked up at the GLSA Annual
Meeting on June 7 or at the picnic
on August 9. Directories will not
be delivered this year. If you
would like a directory and will not
be attending the Annual Meeting
or the picnic, please contact me at
[email protected], and make
arrangements to pick up your
copy.
I am still trying to find someone
to take over the membership chair
position. I volunteered five years
ago to do this and really want to
move on to other areas. Please consider helping out and volunteering.
It’s a great way to meet others on
the lake!
Catch a Fish - Win a Prize!
Announcing the 2014
Lake Sylvia Fishing Contest
by Russ Fortner
In conjunction with the
GLSA picnic,
there will be
a presentation to the
winners of
the third
annual fishing contest.
This is an
annual event
for all family
members of
GLSA. There
are three age
divisions with
each receiving trophies for sunfish, crappy,
walleye, northern, and bass:
• KIDS - up to 9 years
of age
• YOUTH - 10 to 17 years
of age
• ADULTS – Anyone 18
years of age or older. You
can be as old as Dick
Anderson and still participate!
To participate all one has to
do is measure the fish, send in
the picture with your name and
what length you determined to
be the accurate length of your
entry. If you have a ruler next
Page 3
Join Your
Lake Sylvia
Neighbors on
Nextdoor.com
by Joe Lepley
There is a new social networking
site that specializes in building
networks at the neighborhood and
community level. It is called
Nextdoor.com. Over the winter, a
group of Lake Sylvia residents
decided to create a network just
for Lake Sylvia residents and
property owners. Currently, just
over 100 people have joined. The
web address is:
http://lakesylvia.nextdoor.com
It is a great way to keep
informed on lake news and communicate with neighbors on the
lake. The Lake Sylvia Nextdoor
site is not affiliated with GLSA,
but does provide a nice complement to the GLSA website
(LakeSylvia.org). Check it out!
Golf Tournament from page 1
The golf fundraiser is an opportunity for families and friends to
come, have fun, and support this
effort. Randy Shaver, KARE-11
anchor will be our tournament
guest host.
to the fish, that helps also.
Your entries can be submitted
by going to lakesylvia.org and
opening the tab for “fishing.”
The tournament runs from
the opening of fishing season
and closes August 1. Trophies
will be awarded to first, second
and third place for size at the
GLSA Annual Picnic to be held
on August 9 at Camp Chi Rho.
From past trophy presentations,
it seems like the east lake has
better fisher people that the
west side, so all you “Westies”
lets get going!
Deadline for Sign Up
Sunday, June 1
Cost
$50/player
Guest Host
Randy Shaver
Cost is $50/player which includes
18 holes of golf, cart and 19th hole
barbecue. Details are provided on
the flyer enclosed in this newsletter. Please get a foursome together
and sign up today! The deadline
for sign up is Sunday, June 1.
Come join in the fun!
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Cell 612.384.4192
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Page 6
Loon Calls
Spring 2014
Spring Loon Report 2014
by Mike McNellis, the Old Loon Ranger
es, the Loons are back! I
hope by now everyone has
had a chance to stop, listen
and watch the birds of summer.
The Loons arrival each spring
always puts a smile on the face of
anyone that sees or hears them.
It’s the universal sign that the
summer of 2014 is on the way and
the winter of 2013-2014 will now
be a memory. I also get the same
feeling when the frogs and toads
start their calling from the marsh
out back, for me the Fireflies and
the Cicadae are the final sign of
summer.
Here are some facts about the
returning Loons. Normally the
males are the first to return in
order to stake claim to a nesting
site. They will return to the same
lake and area of a lake that they
nested on the year before or
attempted to nest on. Once they
establish a nesting site, they claim
a nesting territory on the lake.
Females are close to follow the
male. Most often they arrive in one
to seven days after the males.
After a pair arrives at a nesting
area you have probably noticed a
rite of spring when three Loons
bicker over the nesting site or the
female. This is nature’s way for
the strong to survive. The weaker
of the two males will be evicted by
the stronger one, winning the nesting site and a bride. Sometimes
this bickering will cause the death
Y
of one of the Loons. I have also
read that sometimes a successful
mating has already occurred before
the bickering and eviction of the
weaker male. Note – Loons do not
pair for life. The good news is the
new male will accept and protect
his new family when they hatch
and will help raise the chicks until
the time to migrate in the fall.
My next thought is of the Deep
Horizon oil spill back in April
2010. There were several reports of
dead Loons found soaked with oil
after the
spill through
the winter of
2010-2011. It
wasn’t a
large number
but I couldn’t
find any estimates of the
total Loons
lost in my
research.
What has
been confirmed is the
small fish
Loons have
been feeding
on since the oil spill are carrying
chemicals and toxins that can and
will weaken a baby Loons egg
shell. These chemicals will also
weaken the chicks themselves once
they hatch, affecting survival rates
for the next couple of years.
Ongoing studies may take years to
determine to what extent this has
affected the Loon population. Like
the DDT usage that affected a
wide range of birds during the last
half of the 20th century we won’t
know the outcome for years to
come.
As always when on the lake
boating, tubing, fishing, or skiing,
please give the Loon nesting sites
a wide berth. The nesting sites
have changed very little in the last
30 years so there’s little or no reason to say you didn’t know it was
there. Most of the people photographed in Loon nesting areas
are adults, and have been property
owners for several years, so it just
befuddles me why they’re so close.
With over 1500 acres of water on
the two lakes, please go somewhere else!
–The “Befuddled”
Old Loon Ranger
Loon Calls
Spring 2014
Page 7
Al’s
Almanac
Month
Precip.
Snow
Oct. ..................3.26” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.0”
Nov...................0.42” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.5”
Stranded Boat Assistance
Dec. .................1.32” . . . . . . . . . . . . .14.75”
Jan. ..................1.42” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14.0”
by Joe Lepley
Feb. ..................1.60” . . . . . . . . . . . . .10.92”
GLSA volunteers from around the lakes are available to assist stranded
boaters. Consider entering several of these numbers into your cell phone
contacts just in case you find yourself needing some help. This information is also available on the GLSA website at lakesylvia.org
Our thanks to these volunteers for offering their services! If you would
be willing to add your name to the list, please contact Joe Lepley.
Mar. ..................0.60” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.6”
Lake
Name
Phone
East
Russ Fortner
612-867-5470
320-274-6647
Channel
Don Nelson
612-961-1000
320-274-7177
West
Blaine Barkley
763-516-7931
320-274-5804
West
Mike Jonikas
612-801-5462
West
Chris Hector
952-239-8103
Apr......................5.1” . . . . . . . . . . . . .14.50”
Totals..............13.72” . . . . . . . . . . . . .62.27”
Get your
T-shirts,
sweat
shirts, caps
and
anything
else you
want with
the GLSA
logo at
Annandale Embroidery!
Monitoring Program from page 1
The fine for possessing, or transporting a prohibited invasive
species in your boat or on your
trailer $500.
In 2013 we began discussion
with Wright Country officials to
establish a county-wide monitoring
program using Lake Sylvia as a
model. The goals are to improve
the training for inspectors, expand
the number of lakes participating
and increase the funding available
to lake associations for ramp monitoring.
Early this year, Wright County
applied for and received a grant
from the DNR to support monitoring programs. They also signed a
delegation agreement, which
allows GLSA to partner with the
county in our monitoring program.
Through a county program we
would have some advantages:
1) Inspectors will have Level I
classification, meaning they can
require an inspection rather than
simply requesting one. They will
also have the authority to deny a
contaminated boat access to the
lake.
2) We can coordinate schedules
with DNR inspectors to ensure
coverage and eliminate overlaps.
3) Data collected on boat traffic,
boats traveling to Lake Sylvia
from infected waters and boats
failing inspections can be shared
between our organization, the
county and the DNR.
4) We will have the ability to
apply for additional grants –
reducing the cost of monitoring.
With these improvements, the
2014 public access monitoring program will further reduce the
potential for new invasive species
such as Zebra Mussels to be introduced to Lake Sylvia. GLSA will
continue to work with the DNR
and Wright County to protect Lake
Sylvia and all area lakes against
the spread of invasive species to
the best of our ability.
GLSA Annual Meeting Reminder
June 7, 2014
Note
NEW
Location!
South Haven City Hall
521 Oak Ave. N, South Haven
Social 8:30-9 a.m.
Business Meeting 9-11 a.m.
Agena Items:
-Election of New GLSA Board Members
-GLSA Business and Committee Updates Including:
Public Access Contract Inspection Program 2014
GLSA Invasive Species Control Priorities 2014
GLSA Picnic Update
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No. 5
Annandale, MN
55302
G R E AT E R L A K E S Y LV I A
A S S O C I AT I O N
PO Box 41
Annandale, MN 55302
Deliver to addressee or current resident.
Editor: Joe Lepley
Advertising: Lisa Peery
Layout & Design:
Annandale Advocate
Mission Statement:
To Protect and Improve
Lake Sylvia