Newsletter - Rice Lake of Stearns County

RICE LAKE ASSOCIATION, www.ricelakemn.org
Check RLA website
for the 2015 membership listing on the
membership page at
www.ricelakemn.org
RLA BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
RLA BOARD OF
Please contact board members for
DIRECTORS
questions or
any concerns about
Rice Lake.
Please
Newsletter
V O L U M E
1 6 ,
I S S U E
S U M M E R
1
Stearns County Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
Update
contact board
members for questions
President
or any
concerns about
Rice
Lake.
Susan
Anderson
The state bill that was passed last year provides funding over time of $10 million to
Minnesota Counties for the fight against the
spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). $4
[email protected]
President
million of funding was provided to the state
Susan Anderson
this year. In order to support the management
[email protected]
of these funds for the counties, individuals
Vice President
from Lake Associates , COLAs, and EnvironRalph Klassen
mental Services were involved in developing
Vice President
[email protected]
a County wide AIS Plan. The AIS Plan inRalph Klassen
cludes the creation of three on-going [email protected]
tees with specify responsibilities.
 County AIS Committee, who is responsiTreasurer
Treasurer
ble for the oversight management and imMary
Jo Jo
Wieseler
Mary
Wieseler
plementation of the plan.
[email protected]
[email protected]
 AIS Request For Proposal Evaluation
od.mn.us
n.us
Committee, who is responsible for the reviewing and ranking of the applications or
Board Member
RFPs for local funding.
Henry
 AIS RFP Award Panel, who is responsiBoardDeb
Member
[email protected]
ble for assuring the selection process of
Deb Henry
Newsletter Editor and
applicants is fair.
[email protected]
Membership
The Stearns County Environmental Services
Newsletter Editor and
has oversight to the complete program.
Membership
Board Member
Tim Keane
I N SI D E
T HI S
I S SU E :
[email protected]
MLR Member2
Board
Advocates
Tim Keane
Board Member
Water
3
[email protected]
Jeff Blankenheim
Monitoring
[email protected]
Treasurer’s
4
What’s News
5
Board
ReportMember
Member
Jeff Board
Blankenheim
Peter
Anton5
Board
Review
[email protected]
[email protected]
Membership
Board
Member6
List
Peter Anton
[email protected]
2 0 1 5
Stearns and Meeker County AIS Plans were
approved by the Board of Commissioners in
first quarter of this year. Since the approval,
funds were distributed to Stearns County of
over $240,000 and Meeker County $111,500
to continue the fight against the spread of
AIS. The NFCRWD applied to Stearns
County earlier this year for a grant and was
awarded $35,000 for the inspection program
and other initiatives for Rice and Koronis
Lakes.
The AIS Plan address seven key areas for the
program:
1. AIS Program Management: the AIS Committee will review the Plan annually for
effectiveness and Lake Associations,
Stearns COLA and Environmental Service
will have responsibility for different com-
ponents of the AIS Program Management.
2. Education and Awareness: will focus on
 Boat launch signage will be verified and improved at launches.
 Private launches - through specially designed AIS risk training.
 Awareness for private parties &
Businesses purchasing/selling
docks and lifts.
 Plan development for roadside
signage to address AIS.
 Development of both child and
adult learning opportunities.
 Review if fines can be increased
for AIS violations.
 Promote additional Lake Associates where practical to assist
with sharing AIS knowledge and
the County wide AIS Plan.
3. Inspection/Decontamination: focus on developing a decontamination unit within the
county and inspection programs.
4. Population Assessment and Management: focus will be on conducting baseline of vegetation and animals and managing efforts for waters with new small
infestations that can yield big results in
control.
5. Rapid Response Time: Lake Associations
will be encouraged to develop an individual plan for reporting incidents of invasive species
6. Enforcement: develop plan to increase
enforcement capacity in the County
7. Risk Reduction Opportunity: plan includes several ideas that can be reviewed
for implementation that could reduce the
overall risk to AIS infestation within the
County.
More details regarding the AIS Plan are
available at: http://www.co,stearns.mn.us/
Environment/Waterresources/
AquaticInvasiveSpecies
PAGE
2
2014 AIS Boat Inspections Recap
The North Fork Crow River Watershed District (NFCRWD) employed
5 Level 1 watercraft inspectors during 2014. The inspectors were
trained by the MN DNR to inspect
boats entering and exiting public
boat accesses on the District’s recreational lakes. Contributors to the
project included the MN DNR,
Koronis Lake Association,
Rice Lake Association, Grove Lake
Association, City of Paynesville,
Meeker County, Paynesville TWP,
Union Grove TWP and the NFCRWD.
During each watercraft inspection,
the inspectors completed a DNR survey, discussed MN AIS laws and
completed a visual and physical inspection of boats entering or exiting
our waterways. Completing these
processes with boaters increases the
knowledge of AIS and selfinspection techniques, reducing the
AIS risk for the District’s waters.
The boat inspections went well
and most boaters were very cooperative with the inspection
and survey. Most inspections/
surveys took less than 5 minuets, unless there was a issue
with the boat, i.e. weeds on the
boat, plug in the boat, water in
the live well. The NFCRWD
will be continuing the AIS inspections program in 2015. The
graphs in this report are the results from the DNR survey that
boaters completed.
VOLUME
16,
ISSUE
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PAGE
3
2014 AIS Boat Inspections Recap Continued
What was learned from Inspections
Zebra Mussels are transferred when attached to boats, trailers or other equipment that are
placed in water. The juvenile mussels can be transferred from lake to lake in a very small
amount of water. Having a drain plug in a boat can greatly increase the spread of zebra
mussels. Zebra Mussels can also survive out of a lake on boats for 5‐21 days, depending
on weather conditions. A boat coming from a contaminated lake that is not dry for 5‐21
days or decontaminated (high pressure wash with 140o F water) can spread zebra mussels.
Findings During
Incoming Inspections
Yes (Plants)
85
Yes (Water)
21
Yes (Mud)
No
1
3854
What’s New
JULY 4th BOAT PARADE
ANNUAL BREAKFAST MEETING
Boat Parade Rice Lake, Sat, July 4th.
Starting from Fisher’s Resort.
Boats participating in the parade can start gathering in front of Fisher’s Resort
at 12:30 PM. Parade will start
at 1:00 PM.
Boats will be judged and
cash prizes will be awarded
immediately after the parade
back at the starting point in
front of Fisher’s.
Rice Lake Association Annual Breakfast Meeting
Saturday, August 8th—Rain or Shine
Camp Ojibway—178087 TTT Road
8:30 AM Breakfast Buffet
9:00 to 10:00 AM Business Meeting
 Aquatic Invasive Species Update
 Legislature and Water Quality Updates
 Door Prize drawings.
Membership sign up available at breakfast meeting.
Breakfast is $8.00 for Non-Members attending.
Rice Lake Association is Online—check out website and Facebook
Our website is www.ricelakemn.org Visit us online and find Membership information, Newsletters, Meeting
Information, and articles of interest for lake property owners. Our Facebook page is also a great way for the
RLA Board and members to communicate. This is a great forum for members to communicate with each
other, ask questions or make suggestions by posting. Look for Rice Lake Association- Stearns County’ on
Facebook. Like us on Facebook and post information and photos you would like to share.
PAGE
4
2015 RLA Scholarship
Awarded
The RLA Scholarship was
presented to Jacob Stetzel at
Eden Valley/Watkins High
School. Jacob will be attending Minnesota State Community & Technology College in
Wadena. Jacob currently
works at Scherber Dairy Farm
in Richmond. He is an avid
fisherman, duck and deer
hunter and lives on Cedar Island Lake in Richmond. Congratulations Jacob!
We Did It!
Thank you RLA Members!!
Thanks to all of you who wrote to
your State Representative and
Senators asking them to VOTE
NO on the bills that would have
repealed the County AIS Prevention Aid. Close to 2,500 emails
were received by the Legislature
from Lake Associations, COLAs
and Minnesota Lakes and
Rivers Advocates on this
matter. Our voices were
heard and the effort paid off.
The bills to repeal the funds
for fighting AIS were
dropped and did not reach the
house or senate committees
for vote.
Opener Fishing
Rough start to spring this
year for our boat ramps,
damaged by the winter ice
jams and spring thaw. The
DNR was able to repair both
public access ramps before
the fishing opener.
A big THANK YOU to those RLA members who were at the boat
launches on Fishing Opener, Sat. May 9th. While the NFCRWD inspector checked the boats, the RLA members greeted the boat ownRLA members who helped at the boat launches: ers, gathered information about other lakes
they were at and provided information about
AIS regulations in an effort to increase awareJohn Hanson
Ed Bies
ness for boaters.
Ray Van Brunt
Ted Durkees
YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Al Schmidtbauer
Donella Schmidtbauer
Ralph Klassen
Tim Keane
Susan Anderson
Kent Anderson
Peter Anton
VOLUME
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5
BOARD Minutes
April 11, 2015: Board
members reviewed 2014
AIS inspection reports from
NFCRWD. RLA board has
committed $3,000 to the
2015 AIS NFCRWD inspection program. Chris
Lundeen of NFCRWD and
Kevin Farnum of KLA are
working on the schedule.
DNR to also assist with
inspection program. RLA
committed to a $1,800
contract with DNR for inspectors. RLA will be present at the ramps for
opener fishing. Henry to
call volunteers to cover
shifts. Anderson will
pickup AIS materials and
check on NFCRWD inspector. A second lake
level measuring stake was
requested from the DNR, if
no response, RLA will pur-
chase a second stake to be put at Fisher’s Resort.
Board discuss TMDL Implementation plan and possibly doing another survey of our vegetation. Boat
Parade and timing was discussed. Blankenheim volunteered to line up judges and take names of boat
participants at the start of the parade. Henry to
check if parade start can be moved to Fisher’s.
Greg Berg has been contacting property owners
about the shoreline restorations project and grant
money available. Discussed property tax values and
some property owners saw double digit valuation
increases from Sterns County. Wieseler to send out
email to property owners on steps to appeal. Reviewed Treasury report. May 16, 2015 : AIS Inspection Program. Anderson received contract
from DNR for inspectors, Anderson will give DNR
inspector schedule to Chris Lundeen of NFCRWD,
so he can schedule NFCRWD inspectors on days
not covered by DNR. Anderson discussed a Plant
Survey this year with Chris Lundeen The Board
decided to put off a survey to a future year. Board
members will do informal identification of weeds in
their area. Boat parade will start from Fisher’s this
year. Wieseler gave update on Treasury report.
Henry and Wieseler brought printed membership
materials and supplies for
mailing. Board members prepare membership drive information for mailing. Keane
delivered to post office.
Anderson secured Camp
Ojibway for the annual meeting August 8th. Board discussed topics and speakers
for annual meeting. Several
board members’ terms are
ending. Will need to be reelected. Anderson, Wieseler, Henry and Klassen
confirmed their intention to
run again. Newsletter will go
out by end of June. Wieseler
and Blankenheim gave update
on pricing for RLA apparel.
Board discussed attending
Stearns County Board Meeting to raise awareness of
lakeshore property owners’
issues. Anderson to bring
schedule to next meeting.
North Fork Crow River Watershed Review
By Chris Lundeen
Early season rainfall of 5+ inches in the watershed contributed to high lake levels for most of the summer. It
also brought nutrients and sediment down the NFCR into Rice and Koronis Lakes, increasing the amount of
algae and decreasing the water clarity (observed from monthly lake samples) during the 2014 summer. The
NFCRWD is continually working with landowners to install agricultural BMP’s (Best Management Practices)
including alternative intake rock inlets and volume control boxes. These practices slow the flow of water from
the field, which help to control fluctuations in water levels downstream. These practices are also designed to
decrease the amount of sediment and nutrients entering local waterways. The NFCRWD is also working on a
number of wetland restoration and enhancement projects in the upper end of the watershed, which are intended
to reduce flooding downstream and provide some nutrient removal. The NFCRWD worked with project partners to install BMP projects around the Rice and Koronis during 2014.These projects are intended to reduce
nutrient runoff that may enter lakes.
In the summer of 2014, the NFCRWD AIS Inspection and Prevention program inspected incoming and outgoing boats from local boat accesses on Rice, Koronis and Grove. More information about the 2014 inspection
program can be found on page 2 and 3 of the newsletter. The NFCRWD will continue the inspection program
during the 2015 season.
PAGE
6
Lake Property Value Increases
2016 Property Valuation. There was feedback from lake property owners, stating that they are experiencing
double digit percentage increases in their property value over prior year. If you have any concerns regarding
your value, here are some recommended steps to follow:
First, contact the Stearns County Assessor's Office at 320-656-3680. If your questions or concerns are
not resolved, you have 2 formal appeals options.
 You may appear before the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization
 If still not resolved, you may bring your case to the County Board of Appeal & Equalization.
This information is printed on the 2016 Valuation Notice. Keep in mind that it will be too late to appeal when
it is time to make your tax payment. So act this year if you plan to appeal.
Fishing Statistics
Minnesota’s May 9 fishing opener was expected to draw 500,000 people into
state waters for the start of the walleye and northern pike seasons.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources estimates 1.5 million licensed anglers live in the state.


The DNR manages about 5,400 of the state’s 11,842 lakes

Minnesota waters contain 162 species of fish.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Around the Lake….Triple Crown Event
Lake residents gathered at Fisher’s
Resort to
watch the
last of 3
horse races
this year.
Did you
know….
American
Pharoah won the Belmont race and
is the 12th horse to win the Triple
Crown. It’s been 37 years since the
Triple Crown was won.
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7
GOT WEEDS
This year it seems lakeshore property owners of Rice Lake are experiencing an abundance of vegetation, particularly
the littoral zone (shore area where sunlight penetrates all the way to the sediment), where we swim, fish and boat. The
significant growth of aquatic vegetation we are seeing, including invasive curly-leaf pondweed, is primarily due to the
limited amount of snow cover this winter and the good water clarity this spring.
What should you do if you want to remove some or all of this vegetation to make it easier for your family to enjoy water activities?
1. Review the DNR regulations regarding aquatic plant removal, and consider the affect it might have on the lake and
on your neighbors.
2. Know the appropriate amount to remove. It is ok to remove aquatic vegetation in an area up to 50 feet or half the
length of your property’s shoreline, (keeping it less than 2,500 square feet in total).
3. Understand the right way to do weed management and avoid incorrect removal.
 Pulling the plants including the roots without causing shredding of the plants is the recommended approach for removal. After you have pulled aquatic plants, you need to dispose of them on land to prevent
them from drifting onto your neighbor's property or washing back into the lake
 Don’t leave the vegetation in the water, it decreases the water clarity, adds phosphorus to the water and
potentially results in more plants
 Cutting versus pulling the plants may cause weeds to grow back thicker.
 Use of draglines, hydraulic jets, and automated aquatic plant control devices is illegal.
4. DNR Permit is required if you are planning:
 Removing emergent vegetation like bulrush, cattails, or wild rice; removing floating vegetation, like water
lilies, in an area larger than a 15 foot channel. The DNR will help determine the best location for the channel.
 Pulling or using other means to remove vegetation from an area larger than 2,500 square feet or wider than
50 feet.
 Installing or operating an automatic plant control devise (such as a Crary Weed Roller, Beachgroomer, or
Lake Sweeper).
 Using herbicides, algaecides or other chemicals to control aquatic plants..
5. Permits are issued by Regional Fisheries Managers. All four DNR regions are staffed by Aquatic Plant Management Specialists. Permit application can be made at a Fisheries Management Office or online at the DNR website at
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/apm/index.html .
AIS Monitoring on Rice Lake
Sauk River Watershed District (SRWD) is monitoring select lakes within the county this summer. They will be monitoring for both adult and larval zebra mussels to obtain baseline data for the county. Many of the lakes within the
county have never been monitored for zebra mussels presence. Rice Lake, Koronis Lake and a number of other lakes
in the surrounding area are on the list to be monitored. The SRWD has asked for support from community residents
and Lake Association members to volunteer as boat drivers. This allows for more efficient means of taking the samples on selected lakes, reduces the cost of the equipment needs and minimizes transferring boats to different sites.
Ralph Klassen, Vice President of Rice Lake Association, has volunteered to work with Adam Hjelm, SRWD, on this
program, and will drive his boat while the SRWD collects sample from Rice Lake. Each lake will be sampled twice,
once in early July and once at the end of August.
Rice Lake Association
PO Box 288
Paynesville, MN 56362
www.ricelakemn.org
Welcome New Lakeshore Property Owners
OUR MISSION





Improve the water and recreational quality of our Lake through promotion
of sound lake management practices;
Educate our members regarding issues that affect their lakeshore;
Advocate our members' interests before governmental bodies in matters
involving our lake;
Promote research and appropriate standards for proper management of
our Lake , the North Fork of the Crow River and other surrounding tributaries;
Seek enforcement of laws that affect Minnesota lakes and watershed.