Ada Lake Association Volume XXIX Number 2. Summer In this issue: President s Letter. Loon Warning Notice. Look for Special Insert!

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1 Volume XXIX Number 2 Summer 2011 President s Letter Aha, summer is finally here! I would like to take this opportunity to thank two special people. Keith Benjamin director on the Board is retiring. He has also been a faithful Association member and has served as treasurer for many years. Doug Dagenais - vice-president - is resigning from the position. He has been a dedicated member and director, as well as past president. Grateful thanks to both of you for your wonderful service! Be sure you put it on your calendar to attend the Ada Membership Meeting and Picnic on Saturday, July 30 th at 4 pm. Bring a dish to share and enjoy a great afternoon with your neighbors and meet new folks around the lake. It is also a good time to pay your membership dues if you have not already done so. We need everyone s participation! The loons are hatching later this season, so please watch out for them and give them a wide berth when you are out boating. We don't want an incident to mar the life of these beautiful birds. This is my last president's letter, as my term of office will be expiring. I have enjoyed sharing my love of Lake Ada with you through my service as your president for the past four years. See you at the picnic! And enjoy your summer on Lake Ada! Kathleen Benz Loon Warning Notice Boater Alert!!! Bird hatches are very late this year Please be on the lookout for baby loons and ducks In this issue: President s Letter Monitoring Station Walleye Stocking Board Retirees Lake Finder Pull the Plug Electronics Recycling In Memory Art Crawl AdaWear Minutes 5/28 & 6/11 Calendar s Inserts: Picnic Notice Membership Fform Resorts and Area History Insert s Send DockPost items to the editors: Jon Hansen: jon.hansen@uni.edu Tom Sorensen: wave2000@aol.com Submission deadlines: Spring issue: April 1 Summer: June 13 Fall: September 1 Visit the Association Website Link it to your favorite places! g/group/ada-lakeassociation INVEST IN THE FUTURE Look for Special Insert! David Sohn has just completed a wonderful piece of work: Lake Ada Resorts and Area History A very special insert indeed! RELEASE YOUR CATCH Endorsed by the

2 From the Monitoring Station Karen Benjamin, lake water levels Keith Benjamin, rainfall Jon Hansen, water clarity (CLMP) Lake Ada s 2011 water monitoring season began Monday April 25, when the last ice disappeared from the lake. Although ice-out seemed late compared with 2010 s early thaw, April 25 is only one week later than our long-term average of April 18. Rainfall monitoring began April 30. At this writing, total is 6.8 inches. Deep winter snow and abundant spring rain contributed to initial high water levels. The Lake Ada water level gauge was installed May 8 and calibrated by the DNR May 17. Our first official reading of 2011, taken May 17, was ft. MSL, 3.84 inches above the reading taken on the same date in This level was 4.04 inches above the past five-year spring average of By May 23 the lake had risen to a high of Although boaters may enjoy the elevated water levels, high winds, high water and high waves have contributed to beach erosion in several locations. On June 8 the lake stood at ft. Although lake level remains above the outlet dam, little water is flowing. Beavers have apparently blocked Ada Brook downstream from Lake Ada. Citizen s Lake Monitoring Program (CLMP) water clarity monitoring officially began May 5, with initial clarity readings of 7 feet in the North Bay and 13 feet in the main lake. By May 20 both areas had cleared significantly to a north bay reading of 13 and a main lake reading of 16 ft. Lake Ada responded to the extremely hot weather in early June with murky water. June 9 observations were: North Bay, 10; main lake, 12. The poor early May water clarity observed in the North Bay was likely a combination of spring turn-over and stained meltwater runoff from upper Ada Brook. All collected water data is shared with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Minnesota DNR s Lake Level Minnesota. Walleye Record: Lake Ada Walleye Stocking In late May DNR Walker Fisheries added 430,000 baby walleyes (fry) to Lake Ada s existing population. Walleye stocking at Lake Ada has been an on-going DNR project, dating back as far as Lake Ada s Ten-Year Walleye Stocking Record: ,000 fry ,260 fingerlings ,000 fry ,000 fry; 9,836 fingerlings ,000 fry; 2,869 fingerlings; 529 yearlings; 216 adults ,000 fry; 12,573 fingerlings; 226 adults ,000 fry; 8,146 fingerlings; 762 yearlings ,000 fry; 30,284 fingerlings; 160 yearlings ,160 fingerlings; 188 yearlings; 155 adults Key: Fry: Fish stocked in lakes shortly after hatching from eggs. Fingerling: Fish harvested from rearing ponds after one summer of growth. Yearling: Fish that are a year old at the time of stocking. Adult: Fish more than 1 year old, usually transferred from other waters.

3 Board Retirements Keith Benjamin has made the decision to retire from the Ada Association Board of s following 15 years of dedicated service. Keith joined the Board in 1996, serving as treasurer until He has served as a Lake Ada water monitor for many seasons. We all thank Keith for his years of service and wish him well in the future. Doug Dagenais will be ending his Board of s tenure this fall. Doug joined the Board in He has served the Association as both vice president and president. Doug s leadership skills and dedication will be greatly missed. We thank him for nine years of faithful service. Marker Buoys A big thanks to Grant Robbins, David Morgan and Grayson Robbins, all members of the Robbins Marker Buoy Team, for putting the channel markers and hazard markers in place for the 2011 boating season. Thanks again, marker buoy team! Conservationist s Corner: DNR Lake Finder Many folks still seem unaware of MN DNR s Lake Finder. Located on the DNR website, it is a fast, simple way to locate a wealth of information on many Minnesota lakes. Lake Finder contains data for over 4,500 lakes and rivers including: lake surveys, depth maps, water levels, water quality and clarity data (from MPCA), satellite-based water clarity information (from U of M), lake notes, and fish consumption advice (from Department of Health). It also includes a list of lakes infested with invasive species and fish stocking reports from DNR Fisheries. Access the DNR Lake Finder at Pull the Plug With the 2011 fishing season well underway and the threat of aquatic invasive species an evergrowing threat, it is important for anglers to take all possible actions to control the spread of AIS while transporting boats between waterbodies. Minnesota state law requires: Remove visible aquatic plants and animals from boats and trailers before leaving a water access. Drain water from boat, livewell, bilge and impeller by removing drain plugs and open all water-draining devices before leaving a water access. Drain portable bait containers when leaving any water of the state. These regulations are particularly important whenever accessing or departing an infested lake or river. Please pay your 2011 membership dues

4 Electronic Recycling Program The electronic recycling drop-off program will be run again this year on Saturday, July 16, 2011, from 9 am to 4 pm. This involves the following area lakes: Ada, Hattie, Hand, Hay, and Ponto, together with Cass County Recycling. The two drop-off sites will be the same, on Hwy 84 at the Back Forty Corner and across from the Harriet Club. Please Recycle Reuse In Memory Elizabeth Liz Mary Clodfelder, passed away Tuesday, May 24, at her Smith Estates home on Lake Ada. She was born February 2, 1945, daughter of Archie and Elene Shamp. She is survived by her husband, Lynn, children, Michele, Rhonda, Kelly and Brian, seven grandchildren, three greatgrandchildren and sisters, Isabel Carlson, Agnus Farnum and Patricia Melby. Lynn and Liz lived in Rhode Island and Florida while Lynn served in the U.S. Navy. Upon returning to Pine River her dream of living on Lake Ada came true in Services were held Saturday, May 28, at Our Lady of Lourdes church, Pine River. Muriel G. Berglund, age 74, of Rocky Glen passed away May 12, 2011 in Bloomington. She was preceded in death by her husband, David, in She is survived by three children, Gail, Katharine and Chris; six grandchildren, and a sister, Jan Nelson. Muriel and David were longtime residents of Lake Ada. Funeral services were held Monday, May 16 at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Bloomington, with Interment at Fort Snelling. 4th Annual Arts Off 84 Art Crawl Please join us for a fun family friendly event over Labor Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, September 3-4, along Highway 84 between Pine River and North of Longville. Watch for the Art Crawl signs the days of the event to guide you to the artist locations. The Artist y/map will be available on our new website by mid-june. You can view the artists and their work at This event is open to the public and free. AdaWear is Good New items! New colors! New mugs! Doris Montgomery, of the Lake Ada Store, is ready to outfit you with your summer clothing needs. Reach her at: or at pdmonty@tds.net Mailing Label Notice DockPost Mailing Labels Please check the mailing label on your DockPost. The first line is this year s ( 11) and last year s ( 10) Association membership status. Your status is indicated as (R)egular, (C)ontributor, (S)ustainer, (B)enefactor or (I)nactive. Please inform us of any errors or address updates. This is our best method of maintaining accurate membership records.

5 Board Meeting Minutes 5/28/2011 President Kathleen Benz called the meeting to order at 9:05 am. She thanked David and Priscilla Sohn for hosting the meeting and for providing refreshments. s in attendance were: Kathleen Benz, Al Anderson, Paul Bork, Stan Bormann, Doug Dagenais, Jon Hansen, Laura LaBerge, Phil Lilja, Doris Montgomery, David Sohn and Merle Weaver. The minutes of the August 28, 2010 meeting that were printed in the fall 2010 DockPost were approved. Treasurer s Report: Paul Bork reported as of May 28, the had total funds of $18,922. Reserves for Fish Habitat, Invasive Species Emergency Fund and Bouy Maintenance Fund total $5,974 leaving a balance of available funds of $12,948. We have 58 paid members as of May 28. Paul Bork reported the CD rates are still very low and following a discussion, it was decided to keep funds in the money market savings account until CD rates improve. The Treasurer s Report was approved. Walleye Stocking: Jon Hansen reported that the DNR stocked Lake Ada with 43,000 walleye fry this spring. The walleye fry were released near the public landing and around the island. No fingerlings were released this year but walleye fingerlings may be stocked next year by the DNR. Water Reports: Jon Hansen reported that the ice went out on 4/ 25, which is a week later than average. The water level gauge was put in on 5/8. The 5/15 water level was , which is 3.84 above the 5/15/10 level and 4.04 above the five year May 15 th average. On 5/26 the water level was up an additional 0.7 because of the rain. Water clarity measured on 5/15/11 was 16 in the main lake and 13 in the North Bay. The channel and Little Ada No Wake markers were put out in early May. The Hazard markers have not been put in yet because of the higher water level. Loon Report: The loon nesting platforms were put in on 4/27 and 28. Jon Hansen reported the first loon egg was seen on May 12. The loons were chased off their nests by an infestation of black flies and the loons were unable to incubate their eggs. There were 16 loons on the lake on May 26. Ada Merchandise: Doris Montgomery reported that we have new Lake Ada coffee cups for $6 and women s T-shirts with a new logo for $10. Lake Ada merchandise can be seen and ordered at the members annual Business Meeting on June 11, at the members picnic on July 30 or by calling Doris Montgomery at her home (218) New Business: The Board will recommend the following amendment to the By-Laws, to be voted on by the membership at the 6/11/11 Business Meeting: The Board of s, by majority vote, may extend office term limitations in cases of unusual or specialized need. President Kathleen Benz reported that Keith Benjamin has retired from the Board of s due to health issues. Keith has been a very dedicated and faithful member of the Board and was involved in many Board activities. He served as the Treasurer for eight years. We thank Keith for his many years of service. The Board will recommend the following as officers and directors to be nominated at the business meeting on June 11: President Joan Olson; Treasurer - Paul Bork; Secretary Laura LaBerge; s Al Anderson, Kathleen Benz, Stan Bormann, Doug Dagenais, Jon Hansen, David Heegard, Phil Lilja, Doris Montgomery, Jim Olson, David Sohn, Ron Ubben and Merle Weaver. Additional nominations may be made on June 11. The nominations will be voted on at the annual Membership Meeting and Picnic on July 30. Laura LaBerge recommended that information about the purpose and mission of the be given to lakeshore owners to create more interest in the Association. It is especially important to welcome and get information to new lakeshore owners. David Sohn suggested that we expand our electronic messaging to better communicate with our younger members. A motion was made by Sohn and seconded by Dagenais that the Ada Lake Association go with a link to Face Book, update our electronic media and consider creating a blog. The motion was approved. A motion was made by Bork and seconded by Montgomery to recommend a donation of $350 to the Pine River Fire Department and a donation of $350 to the Backus First Responders. The donations will be voted on by the members at the annual Business Meeting on 6/11. The motion was approved. Annual expenses for insurance, Minnesota Waters, Association of Cass County Lakes (ACCL), and the post office box were approved to be paid. The annual Business Meeting for Ada Lake Association members will be held at the Ponto Township Hall at 10 am on June 11, The agenda will include nomination of officers and directors, approval of donations and a vote on the proposed amendment to the By-Laws. Also, there will be an announcement that the picnic will be held on July 30 at Old Point Comfort and a video with Marian Bender, former Executive of Minnesota Waters, that discusses current issues threatening the health of our lakes and rivers. Stan Bormann reported that no property owners have signed up for a Conservation Easement. The proposed Aquatic Management Area for Lake Ada has not been passed by the Legislature. Stan suggested that we try to get a Resource Protection District designation for the State owned lakeshore. Jon Hansen requested that we have a representative of Lake Ada attend the monthly meetings of the Association of Cass County Lakes (ACCL) that are held on the fourth Friday of the month at 9:30 am in Hackensack. Stan Bormann, Jon Hansen and David Sohn voluntered to be representatives for the Ada Lake Association. The meeting was adjourned at 11 am. Respectfully submitted, Al Anderson, Acting Secretary Annual Business Meeting 6/11/ 2011 Attending: Al Anderson, Joyce Anderson, Loren Benz, Kathleen Benz, Keith Benjamin, Karen Benjamin, Shirley Bormann, Stan Bormann, Doug Dagenais, Mary Kaye Davis, Jon Hansen, Marilyn Hansen, Laura LaBerge, Phil Lilja, Brad McDonald, Doris Montgomery, Porter Montgomery, Jim Olson, Phyllis Olson, Joan Olson, David Sohn, Ron Ubben, Merle Weaver. Call to Order: President Benz called the meeting to order at 10 am. She noted that the minutes from the 6/28/11 meeting will be available in the summer DockPost. Financial Report: Dave Sohn reported for Treasurer Bork that as of 6/11/11, the Association had total funds of $18,746. Reserves established for buoy maintenance, fish habitat and invasive species emergency total $5,974, leaving available funds of $12,772. The Association has 69 paid members and 12 pre-paid members, slightly ahead of previous years in both number of members and total funds received. Porter Montgomery moved and Shirley Bormann seconded approval of Treasurer s Report. The motion passed. Loon and Water Report: Jon Hansen reported the following dates for the lake this year: 4/ 25 ice out, 4/27 the first loon nest was in, 5/1 the No Wake markers were installed in Little Ada, 5/12 the first loon egg was spotted. Subsequently, swarms of flies chased the loons off the nests and the eggs died and had to be removed. Eventually, the loons came back and nested again. Currently 3 nests are active and the eggs are expected to hatch around June 27, approximately 3 weeks later than normal. There is some concern about loon health because of the Gulf oil spill; approximately ½ of Lake Ada s loons winter on the Gulf coast. Negative effects on health can take a number of years to become apparent, so we should monitor the flock closely in the coming years. Currently, the counts seem to be down: approximately loons compared to 20 in previous years.

6 The water is high this year, 3.8 above the same time last year and 4 above the 5-year average. Recent readings for water clarity indicated 12 in the main lake and 10 in the North Bay. Three weeks ago, the DNR released 437,000 walleye fry into the lake. Lake Ada Merchandise: Doris Montgomery reported that this year s new designs and merchandize have arrived, including T-shirts, mugs, caps, and hoodies. Merchandize can be purchased from Doris directly, and will be available at the July picnic. New Business: Stan Bormann addressed the group on the topic of protecting the undeveloped areas of Lake Ada. This issue had emerged as a top priority of the Association in a recent visioning meeting and over the past several years, the Association has been working on a three-part plan to protect areas around Little Ada and the North Bay. The DNR suggested that the Association work to have these areas designated an Aquatic Management Area. This would need to go through the Minnesota Legislature, and such a bill was introduced in the last session, but did not pass. This year, the bill was not introduced since the Legislature is so involved in budgetary issues. This strategy does not seem practical given the current political climate. A second strategy was to work with individual landowners to promote a conservation easement on their land, which would restrict future development of the land in exchange for certain tax advantages. Several landowners are considering such an easement, but none have formally taken this step to date. A third strategy is to have the areas designated as a Resource Protection District. This designation would change the zoning for any future development. Instead Board of s Name Office Kathleen Benz Doug Dagenais Paul Bork Joan Olson Jon Hansen Al Anderson Keith Benjamin Stan Bormann David Heegaard Laura LaBerge Phil Lilja Doris Montgomery Jim Olson David Sohn Merle Weaver President VP Treasurer Secretary Ex. & Township Rep of the standard lot width of 100, lots in this district would need to be 200. Setback of the property from the lake would increase from the standard 100 to 150. Stan Bormann suggested to the group that he believes the Association should move forward to seek the Resource Protection District designation, which would mean working through Ponto Lake Township and eventually the County Board. Laura LaBerge made a resolution that the Ada Lake Association support the designation by Ponto Lake Township to place a Resource Protection District designation on undeveloped areas surrounding Little Ada. Porter Montgomery seconded. Motion passed. President Benz proposed a change to the Association by-laws, the addition of the following language relative to board terms: The Board of s, by majority vote, may extend office term limitations in cases of unusual or specialized need. Brad McDonald made a motion that the language be added to the Association by-laws. Al Anderson seconded. The motion passed. President Benz thanked two board members who are concluding their service to the Association: Doug Dagenais, whose term has ended, and Keith Benjamin, who is retiring from the board. President Benz also introduced two new nominees for the board: Brad McDonald and Ron Ubben. The slate of officers and board members were presented for the coming year: Joan Olson-President, Dave Sohn- Vice President, Paul Bork-Treasurer, Laura LaBerge-Secretary, Board Members: Al Anderson, Kathleen Benz, Stan Bormann, Jon Hansen, Dave Heegaard, Phil Lilja, Brad McDonald, Doris Montgomery, Jim Olson, Dave Sohn, Ron Ubben, Merle Weaver. There were no nominations from the floor. Porter Montgomery made a motion to approve the slate of board members and officers. Shirley Bormann seconded. The motion passed. Election will take place with the full membership at the annual picnic on July 30. Marilyn Hansen made a motion to approve customary donations from the Association to local fire departments - $250 to the Pine River Fire Department and 250 to Backus Fire Department. Phyllis Olson seconded. The motion passed. President Benz noted that the July 16 meeting of the Association to plan the annual picnic has been changed to July 23 at the Montgomery s. She also announced that the annual membership meeting and picnic will be held at Old Point Comfort. Jim Olson voiced a concern about invasive species, and urged the Association to take action to keep Eurasian water milfoil and zebra mussels off the lake. The group discussed various options which are very expensive and do not guarantee that the species will not enter Lake Ada. The most certain form of protection is for each individual boater being responsible about cleaning off their boat before moving to a new lake. The Association will do everything it can to educate lake owners about this issue. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 and Jon Hansen introduced the program, a recorded interview with Marion Bender, Executive of Minnesota Waters. In her presentation, Bender noted the three main threats to Minnesota lakes and rivers: Land development and shoreland alterations, invasive species, inadequate septic systems Respectfully submitted, Joan Olson, Secretary 2011 Calendar July 16 Electronics Recycling Day 9:00 to 4:00 See locations in this DockPost July 23 Board Meeting 9:00 am Montgomery s July 30 Annual Membership Meeting & Picnic 4:00 pm Old Point Comfort Aug 27 Board Meeting 9:00 am Bork s