Whitefish Area Property Owners Association Winter Newsletter PRESIDENT S NEWS and NOTES By Tom Watson Happy New Year 2015 to our members and friends from your Board of Directors of the Whitefish Area P r o p e r t y O w n e r s A s s o c i a t i o n (WAPOA). I thought this would be a good time to review 2014 and reflect on 2015. WAPOA 2014 in Review 2014 was a year during which we successfully completed numerous events, including: Conducted our annual meeting, elected directors, and heard presentations on the new AIS Research program at the University of Minnesota and an update on the 2014 legislative session; initiated and completed our annual shoreland restoration contest with 8 projects approved and completed; implemented our 2014 watercraft inspection and information program at the 7 public accesses on the Whitefish Chain involving over 1300 hours through state aid grants; conducted Grandpa s Run for the Walleye 5K race with about 500 participants in 5K and kids races raising funds for walleye stocking and habitat improvement; launched our new AIS theme Think Zero! Zero Weeds + Zero Water = Zero AIS focusing on water quality issues and the threat of non-native aquatic plants and animals (zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, hydrilla, spiny water fleas, and other unwanted invaders); CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>>> The Cross dam in Crosslake lit up for the holiday season. Winning photo in the Light Up the Dam contest. Ryer Mulder of Chicago won first place. The PAL Foundation benefited. IN THIS ISSUE President s Message.... 1-2 Ice creating shoreline damage... 3 What does WAPOA do in winter?..4 Watercraft inspector class...5 Sandpiper pipeline map...6 Become a WAPOA volunteer..7 Zebra mussel status on Whitefish.. 8 Zebra mussel map....9 Arranging for 2015 access inspection 10 Decal or no decal, that is the question..11
Presidents Message continued.. completed grant applications and received funds for boat inspection program and shoreland restoration; partnered with a coalition of Whitefish area members in appealing Crow Wing County decisions denying an EAW and approving a conditional use permit for an area private camp based incomplete environmental review and no EAW; participated with other lake associations in north central Minnesota regarding the proposed Enbridge Sandpiper pipeline advocating for a thorough environmental review and not opposing the use of pipelines to transport oil; organized and conducted a county AIS forum last fall for lake associations and interested parties; and increased membership business and family members (thank you!). WAPOA 2015 Focus We anticipate 2015 will be another year for continuing to serve our Mission of Stewardship of the natural world throughout the Whitefish Area and the Pine River Watershed. Our efforts toward protecting the waters of the greater Whitefish Lakes area should include: increasing watercraft inspections this summer at our 7 public accesses; more weekends and weekdays; providing more resources for AIS prevention education and communication; seeking new initiatives for preventing the introduction and spread of AIS continuing monthly water quality testing on 39 area lakes about and including the Whitefish Chain; continue to monitor and advocate for environmental review of the proposed and alternate routes for Enbridge Sandpiper and next proposed oil pipelines; cooperate with the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with their lake trout and Big Trout Lake study; completing a natural resources plan for the Whitefish Chain of Lakes, in cooperation with the DNR, local governments; consistently advocate for effective land use planning as it impacts sensitive shoreland, and water quality and encourage protection; and hosting the Run for the Walleye (July 4) 5K with possibly additional race distances. Considering the quality of the area, we are committed to these priorities and others that arise during the year. Volunteer! Renew Membership! The Whitefish Chain, the 8 th largest lake in Minnesota with 14,400 acres of surface water, and the Whitefish catchment area of about 30,000 acres of lakes, streams, creeks and wetlands is threatened by careless persons launching AIS infested watercraft, lifts and docks, home owners making poor decisions about shorelines, and drainage practices. Thanks for the support of our members. Please renew your membership and support the work of WAPOA. We are also seeking members to volunteer to participate in our services and functions. Check our website for details and contacts. Continuing the quality of our lakes depends on the support and care of all of us. Our lakes are a major asset and a vital element in the local economy. Thanks for your continued support and together we will continue to protect the waters of the greater Whitefish Lakes area. Happy New Year and thanks. Tom Watson WAPOA President Page 2 1 of 1
An Unusual Winter on the Lake Very little snow. Thick ice that is cracking and heaving. right: Ice pushing up more shoreline than usual on Lower Hay Lake. Ice houses large and small. Ice heave blocking access at Lower Hay. photos last week of January 2015 Page 3
So what does WAPOA do in the Winter? Hey, we keep working. It gives us time to assess the previous year and plan for the coming year. We are planning budgets, applying for grants, talking to DNR officials at the local and state levels, and to County officials. It is also a time Below the scientists and biologists from whom we are privileged to learn. to meet with others from throughout the state who are also concerned with aquatic invasive species. The meetings give us an opportunity to listen to solutions that others have found and to talk directly to researchers, grant givers, lawmakers, and DNR officials. We were fortunate to be able to hear from DNR biologists at our Fall Planning Meeting. See photos. We were glad to see Dr. Dan Molloy, the biologist who developed the substance Zequanox that kills zebra mussels. Presently useful in limited scale applications. After the AIS conference he stopped by our Board meeting in January. DNR Research Scientist, Paul Radomski November 2014 all-day Fall Planning Meeting held at Camp Knutson facility. We appreciated the DNR speakers. See photo left adjacent column and photo above that. l-r, Heather Baird, DNR Aquatic Habitat Specialist Paul Radomski, DNR Research Scientist Kevin Woizeschke,DNR Non-game Wildlife Spec. Dr. Daniel Molloy, Emeritus Biologist Famous as discoverer of Zequanox State two-day Aquatic Invasive Species Conference held in January in St. Cloud. Paul Thiede, Crow Wing County Commissioner talks to WAPOA s Dave Fischer. At the table, Marv Erdman, Gary Olsen, and Jim Brandt. January 23, 2015 WAPOA Board meeting at Ideal Community Center. Dr Molloy far left stopped by and as usual was very informative. Page 4
Volunteer Boat Inspector Class Joe Brodil, WAPOA AIS Director, has announced that there will be another Boat Inspection class for volunteers. In 2014 two classes were held and about 70 people were trained. at the access with a friend or neighbor while at the same time helping boaters navigate the intricacies of the DNR inspection process. When the class date and time are announced the information will be put on the WAPOA website: www.wapoa.org Taught by DNR instructors, they are about 2 hours. It is expected that they once again will be at the Ideal Community Center (Fire Hall). The exact date is in the process of being determined. There are still boaters coming to the access with conditions on their boats that could lead to our lakes being infected with invasive species. The most recent announcement we have seen from the MN DNR was that about 1 of every 10 boats is a potential problem. In 2014 WAPOA adopted two online programs for volunteer inspectors. One program allowed inspectors to reserve inspection times at an access, the other allowed online completion of the inspection results. Inspectors can work singly, but many spend a couple of hours IN THE NEWS At a DNR meeting on January 16, 2015 Governor Dayton unexpectedly proposed enforcing 50-foot vegetative buffer strips along Minnesota streams and lakes. There are some requirements now, but enforcement is largely left to local governments who do little or no enforcement. Dayton would instead have the DNR enforce the rules. Buffer strips of vegetation block sediment runoff and absorb nitrogen and phosphorus that contribute to loss of lake water quality. He cited benefits to pheasants, insect pollinators, and better water quality. IN THE NEWS ENBRIDGE, a Canadian company, has proposed a 30-inch pipeline to the north of the Whitefish Chain. The proposed pipeline would cross four streams which eventually empty into the Whitefish Chain. The Minnesota DNR is concerned and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has proposed several southern routes which would not run across sensitive wetlands and near many of the clearest and cleanest lakes in Minnesota. WAPOA has been following the issue. Follow the latest WAPOA comments at www.wapoa.org Page 5
Proposed Sandpiper Pipeline Enbridge, a Canadian company, has proposed a new 30-inch pipeline which will carry crude oil. Their preferred route (uppermost and colored black on the map) runs through the Pine River Watershed. All the water flowing into the Whitefish Chain comes from various streams in the Pine River Watershed. The Enbridge proposal would have the pipeline cross four different streams. Water from those eventually finds its way to the Whitefish Chain. The concern is that the proposed route passes through an area rich with some of Minnesotas most sensitive wetlands, streams, and pristine lakes. The MN DNR and MPCA have concerns. Other more southern routes have been proposed. This proposal is now slowly working its way through the regulatory process. Proponents and opponents are being given opportunities to make their arguments. For more information please go to the WAPOA website: http://www.wapoa.org Page 6
Dear Lake Friends, Many hours of work go into our organization in support of our mission of stewardship of the Whitefish area and the Pine River Watershed. For 43 years, our efforts and commitment to this mission have been successful and ever increasing. That s why we re asking you if you could spare some time to work with us. There s no special expertise required. All you need is the belief that protecting our lakes in the watershed is worth working for, and that volunteers are the most important part of this effort. We could use some help in the following areas: Shoreland Restoration work with governmental agencies to identify potential restoration projects, direct the activities of our annual Shore Restoration Contest DNR Liaison Developing/nurturing a regular dialogue with the MN DNR with an emphasis on fish habitat Communications Committee group effort to publish the newsletter and publicity articles Finance - administrative position to maintain financial records Water Quality organize efforts during summer months to test lake water AIS organize efforts to combat aquatic invasive species through access monitoring, inspections and other strategies Membership - manage membership recruitment and mailings Outreach - coordinate connections with other lake associations We would sincerely welcome some new ideas and leadership. You will always be appreciated and have support from our current volunteer staff. We are planning right now, so your call to us by March 15, 2015 would work well. Let us know what you would like to do. It will be one of the most fulfilling things you have ever done. We look forward to hearing from you. You may contact any one of the following: Sandy Melberg Dave Fischer MJ Schneider Jim Schultz Tom Watson 218-692-4948 218-692-1869 218-821-3775 218-543-4686 218-543-6064 OR info@wapoa.org www.wapoa.org Whitefish Area Property Owners Association Box 342 Crosslake MN 56442 Page 7
Zebra mussels expanding on Whitefish Chain By Marv Erdman You might have spotted recent articles in the Echo and Northland Press concerning Dr. Dan Molloy. He invented Zequanox the product that kills zebra mussels and was tested recently in Christmas Lake to successfully kill zebra mussels in a walled-off area of the lake. Sponsored by WAPOA, Dr. Molloy spoke to a packed audience at the Ideal Community Center in 2011 about Zequanox and zebra mussels, and then went skin diving in the lake looking for zebra mussels. None were found at that time. When zebra mussels were discovered in Cross Lake in 2013 he volunteered his time to WAPOA to re-check some of those 2011 locations (and some new ones) and to look for growth and expansion of zebra mussels in the Chain. The 2011 sites were still clear. DNR AIS Specialist, Dan Swanson, directed us to the sites where zebra mussels were found in 2013, and to the aluminum fishing pier at the US Army Corps of Engineers campground in Crosslake. Those areas did show one to two year old zebra mussels, but not any young ones. Then Dan Swanson received a call to look at a boat that had been in the water in Cross lake all summer. He and the owner counted 531 young-of-the year zebra mussels. Zebra mussels are here and they are expanding! All lake shore property owners need to inspect carefully for zebra mussels when removing docks and any other water equipment from our lakes. Report any sighting to the DNR so we can measure and quantify expansion areas and new growth. Dan Swanson can be reached at 218-833-8645. You may also contact WAPOA at info@wapoa.org and we will contact the DNR. THINK ZERO We all need to be on the lookout for invasive species! Top: 531 zebra mussels counted by DNR s Dan Swanson on hull of boat in Crosslake summer 2014 Middle: Dan Swanson, DNR points to area on Crosslake where zebra mussels were found in 2013. Dr. Molloy, bathing suit observing from WAPOA pontoon Bottom: tiny z.mussel on dock foot plate Lower Hay Page 8
DECEMBER 2014 Reports to MN DNR Office, Brainerd Zebra Mussel Locations Reported by Lake Shore Owners Dan Swanson, MN DNR asked lake shore owners last Fall to notify him at his office at the Brainerd DNR office if they discovered zebra mussels on their docks, lifts, or other waterfront equipment. WAPOA sent out a postcard to every shoreline owner on the Whitefish Chain alerting them to the request. The red dots on the map to the right mark the exact lakeshore location of each zebra mussel report. The boxed yellow text with details for each location usually points in the general direction of the zebra mussel discovery. There were also two locations on Lower Hay that are not on this map. Zebra mussel adult actual size >>>> photo credit: Univ. of Georgia Page 9
WAPOA Preparing for 2015 Access Inspections lakeshore. It grows in thick mats that entangle swimmers and stop boats from passing. We need inspectors day after day. Our volunteers could not cover all the hours. We have 7 major accesses. WAPOA works in multiple ways to get the message out about the threat of invasive species to the lake. The DNR and WAPOA and other organizations have widely publicized the dangers of aquatic invasive species. However there are still some boaters who come to our lake accesses carrying invasive species on their boat that could infect our lake. One small fragment of stem and leaf of the Eurasian watermilfoil plant floating off a trailer bunk into our lake could take root, and establish the plant in our lake. We would almost certainly not be able to eliminate it at best we would be engaged in perpetual efforts of control. Why bother to stop invasives? We do not want Eurasian watermilfoil. EWM grows in the areas just off our EWM is nearly impossible to remove despite use of manual removal and herbicides in the lake water. Those treatments often must be done yearly and are expensive for the lakeshore owner. Why inspect boats? A boat inspection at the access is the last point to intercept EWM and other invasives. About 9% of the boats coming to accesses have a potential violation. Experienced inspectors know better than most boaters what to look for. They can educate boaters on how and where to look for invasives on their own boats. Why hire inspectors? Getting the inspectors arranged for involves using several sources and working for the most cost effective solution. *DNR inspectors at $8/hour *DNR inspectors at no cost *County LGU inspectors at no cost *County LGU inspectors at $16/hour The no-cost and low-cost hours are limited. We get as many of those as we can and then fill in any gaps with hours costing more. The contributions and membership dollars of our supporters are vital to protecting our accesses. Money spent on prevention now will surely be less than the eventual continuing monetary, aesthetic, and environmental costs that will occur if invasive species get into our lakes. Upper Photos Lower Hay access DNR inspector checks boats. Over 2,200 inspections were done in 2014 at just the L. Hay access Lower Photos Unannouced DNR road check left: mobile decontamination station right: Inspectors + Conservation Officer check boats and trailers Page 10
NEW TRAILER DECAL REQUIREMENT TEMPORARILY POSTPONED DNR postpones AIS training and trailer decal program announced January 28, 2015 The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will postpone the new aquatic invasive species training and trailer decal program that was due to launch at the end of the month while legislators consider changes to the program. Under a law passed by the state Legislature in 2012, anyone trailering a boat or water-related equipment such as docks and lifts in Minnesota is required to take aquatic invasive species training and display a decal on their trailer. The effective date is July 1, 2015. With the legislative interest in this educational program and ongoing discussions about possible changes, we are postponing the launch until we see if the Legislature acts this session to modify the program, said Bob Meier, DNR assistant commissioner. POSTPONED The DNR supports the education that would be provided under this law, but recognizes there are some concerns with the way the law is currently written. For example, people transporting boats on trailers through Minnesota to another destination are required to take the course and display a decal even if they don t put their boat in Minnesota waters. Since the training and decal are currently not required until July 1, the DNR wants to remind people that there will be time to see what happens legislatively and still take the course and receive decals. The agency will post any updates on trailers at www.trailers.mndnr.gov and alert the media if there are any program changes WAPOA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tom Watson, President, Land Use 561-483-6136 218-543-6064 Pat Hecker, Secretary 218-543-6563 Gary Olson, Treasurer 218-692-3021 Jim Brandt, Shoreline Restoration 218-543-6483 cell 612-716-7840 Pamela Vaughan, Publicity 651-253-0004 Fred Strohmeier, Water Quality 218-763-3176 cell218-232-8064 Mike Winkels, Natural Resources, 218-692-1406 Jessica Eide, Business Liaison 612-309-0386 218-692-3575 Joe Brodil, Aquatic Invasive Species 651-895-2734 Ken Neihart, Outreach 651-483-4068 218-763-3100 cell 763-464-2169 Dave Topinka, Membership 218-568-4356 David Fischer, Past President 218-692-1869 Ann Schrupp 612-518-6033 EMAIL WAPOA: info@wapoa.org Page 11