Loon Calls Spring 2013 GREATER LAKE SYLVIA ASSOCIATION Inside this issue: Executive Board . . . . . .2 A Word From Your President . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Spring Loon Report . . .3 Advertisers . . . . . . .4 & 5 Help Wanted . . . . . . . .6 Al’s Almanac . . . . . . . .6 Membership Report . . .6 GLSA Calendar 2013 May 11 Board Meeting 9 to 11 a.m. Southside Town Hall County Rd. 3 June 1 ANNUAL MEETING NEW LOCATION! ANNANDALE HIGH SCHOOL 8:30 a.m. Social 9 to 11 a.m. Meeting June 1 Board Meeting 11 a.m. Immediately Following Annual Meeting BOARD MEETINGS 9 to 11 a.m. Southside Town Hall County Rd. 3 July 13, August 10, September 14, October 12 July 4 BOAT PARADE 2 p.m., Meet at Channel July 6 LIGHT UP LAKE SYLVIA 9 p.m. August 10 ANNUAL PICNIC Camp Chi Rho 4 to 8 p.m. See Enclosed Flyer! A IS is shorthand for aquatic invasive species. Globalization has brought these invaders into our country. Purple Loosestrife, Curly leaf Pondweed and Eurasian Water Milfoil are for- eign in origin. We had a mod- erate influx of Purple Loosestrife. This was wiped out by beetles released by the Clear- water Watershed Dis- trict. We have dealt with and practically eradicated Curly Leaf Pondweed. This has been by property owners raking the plant and chemical treat- ment by GLSA. GLSA volunteers continue to search for and chemically treat areas of Eurasian Water Milfoil. The jury is still out on eradication of Eurasian Water Milfoil. In spite of the difficulty involved, there are ways of dealing with these inva- sive species. Zebra Mussels and Quagga Mussels are a different story. To date there is no magic bullet to control or eradicate either of these invasive species. Science has been working on this problem for decades, but with no satisfac- tory results to date. Zebra Mussels have entered Minnesota lakes by hitchhiking on boats, trailers, and other water gear. The key is not to let them in the lake. GLSA has a small corps of volunteer monitors. Lake Sylvia property owners did not buy lake property to spend the day monitoring the public access. For two years running we have applied for cost sharing grants with the DNR. We have not been success- ful in our applications for grant funds. AIS and Lake Sylvia by Carl Swanson ‘To preserve the lake we love, it’s obvious we are going to have to pay for protection.’ AIS continued on page 7 GLSA Contracts for Public Access Monitoring for 2013 Season by Carl Swanson I am not going into reasons for monitor- ing the Lake Sylvia public access. You all know about AIS and hitch hikers. The fact is that our public access is an open gate to Sylvia. After our application for a grant was denied, GLSA asked the DNR what other options were available to GLSA to better protect our public access. The DNR sug- gested that GLSA consider using paid access monitors. After exploring several options, GLSA has decided to contract with a private firm in Annandale – Anchor Dock & Lift will provide DNR trained monitors. Monitors continued on page 7 Avoid These Zebra Mussel Infested Waters by Joe Lepley Zebra Mussels continue to spread across Minnesota. Many popular recre- ation and fishing lakes across the state are now infested with Zebra Mussels. The best way to protect Lake Sylvia is to avoid infested waters altogether. If you have friends or guests that want to bring a boat along, please be sure to check with them and ask where they have been boating or fishing. If you rent your cabin out dur- ing the summer, please ask your ten- ants if they intend to bring a boat and ask them about where they have been boating or fishing. Zebra Mussels continued on page 7
Transcript
Loon CallsSpring 2013
G R E A T E R L A K E S Y L V I A A S S O C I A T I O N
Inside this issue:Executive Board . . . . . .2
A Word From YourPresident . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Spring Loon Report . . .3
Advertisers . . . . . . .4 & 5
Help Wanted . . . . . . . .6
Al’s Almanac . . . . . . . .6
Membership Report . . .6
GLSA Calendar 2013May 11
Board Meeting9 to 11 a.m.
Southside Town HallCounty Rd. 3
June 1ANNUAL MEETINGNEW LOCATION!
ANNANDALE HIGHSCHOOL
8:30 a.m. Social9 to 11 a.m. Meeting
June 1Board Meeting
11 a.m.Immediately Following
Annual Meeting
BOARD MEETINGS9 to 11 a.m.
Southside Town HallCounty Rd. 3
July 13, August 10,September 14, October 12
July 4BOAT PARADE
2 p.m., Meet at Channel
July 6LIGHT UP LAKE SYLVIA
9 p.m.
August 10ANNUAL PICNICCamp Chi Rho
4 to 8 p.m.See Enclosed Flyer!
AIS is shorthand for aquatic invasivespecies. Globalization has broughtthese invaders into our country.
Purple Loosestrife, Curly leaf Pondweedand Eurasian Water Milfoil are for-eign in origin. We had a mod-erate influx of PurpleLoosestrife. This waswiped out by beetlesreleased by the Clear-water Watershed Dis-trict. We have dealt withand practically eradicatedCurly Leaf Pondweed. Thishas been by property ownersraking the plant and chemical treat-ment by GLSA. GLSA volunteers continueto search for and chemically treat areas ofEurasian Water Milfoil. The jury is stillout on eradication of Eurasian WaterMilfoil. In spite of the difficulty involved,there are ways of dealing with these inva-sive species.
Zebra Mussels and Quagga Mussels area different story. To date there is no magicbullet to control or eradicate either ofthese invasive species. Science has been
working on this problem fordecades, but with no satisfac-
tory results to date. ZebraMussels have enteredMinnesota lakes byhitchhiking on boats,trailers, and other watergear. The key is not to let
them in the lake.GLSA has a small corps of
volunteer monitors. LakeSylvia property owners did not buy
lake property to spend the day monitoringthe public access. For two years runningwe have applied for cost sharing grantswith the DNR. We have not been success-ful in our applications for grant funds.
AIS and Lake Sylviaby Carl Swanson
‘To preservethe lake we love,
it’s obvious we aregoing to have to pay
for protection.’
AIS continued on page 7
GLSA Contracts for Public Access Monitoringfor 2013 Seasonby Carl Swanson
I am not going into reasons for monitor-ing the Lake Sylvia public access. You allknow about AIS and hitch hikers. The factis that our public access is an open gate toSylvia.
After our application for a grant wasdenied, GLSA asked the DNR what otheroptions were available to GLSA to betterprotect our public access. The DNR sug-gested that GLSA consider using paidaccess monitors. After exploring severaloptions, GLSA has decided to contractwith a private firm in Annandale –Anchor Dock & Lift will provide DNRtrained monitors.
Monitorscontinued on page 7
Avoid These Zebra MusselInfested Watersby Joe Lepley
Zebra Mussels continue to spreadacross Minnesota. Many popular recre-ation and fishing lakes across thestate are now infested with ZebraMussels. The best way to protectLake Sylvia is to avoid infested watersaltogether. If you have friends orguests that want to bring a boat along,please be sure to check with them andask where they have been boating orfishing. If you rent your cabin out dur-ing the summer, please ask your ten-ants if they intend to bring a boat andask them about where they have beenboating or fishing.
Zebra Musselscontinued on page 7
It’s Time for a Change!
When my term onthe board ends onJune 1, I will be step-ping down asPresident of GLSA.
It’s hard to believethat I have served asthe president for thelast ten years. It’sbeen both a challenging andrewarding experience and I amvery glad to have had this oppor-tunity. Fortunately, the rewardingparts of the job far outweigh thechallenging parts … I have metmany wonderful “lake folks” that Imight not have met had I notserved. I have learned a tremen-dous amount about our lakes andcome to understand that our beau-tiful lakes are both fragile andconstantly changing; not just stat-ic pools of water to be used at ourwhim. If we remain good stewardsof our lakes the changes we seeover time will generally be for thebetter as they have been sinceGLSA was formed over 30 yearsago.
The biggest challenge we havefaced during my tenure on theboard has been the discovery ofEurasian Water Milfoil in 2008.In the era before “Milfoil,” theGLSA board had the time to workon a wide variety of initiatives.Since the discovery of Milfoil, theboard has had to become muchmore focused on understanding,identifying and combating bothMilfoil and Curly Leaf Pondweed– the other invasive plant thatwas discovered in the lake a yearor two before Milfoil was found. Iam pleased to report that through
GLSA’s volunteer efforts to com-bat Milfoil and CLP, both of thesethreats are being kept in check.In 2012, the total area of infesta-tion for these invasives was signif-icantly reduced versus previousyears.
Lake Sylvia remains vulnerableto a new challenge that is spread-ing across the state – the intro-duction of Zebra Mussels throughour public access. For the last cou-ple years, GLSA has tried to useour volunteer inspector force toalert incoming boaters and fisher-men to the threat of ZebraMussels. Although we are appre-ciative of the time and effort pro-vided by our volunteer inspectors,the board has concluded that amore comprehensive effort isneeded if we are to effectivelyreduce the potential for the intro-duction of Zebra Mussels. TheGLSA public access committee hasbeen working with the MinnesotaDNR, Wright County and areacontractors to have DNR trainedpublic access monitors at the LakeSylvia access throughout the 2013season. This program will be amajor expense for GLSA and isthe reason why dues wereincreased from $30 to $50 for2013.
2nd Saturday of each month, exceptJune 1, 9 a.m., April through SeptemberSouthside Township Hall, County Rd. 3
All GLSA members are welcome to attend.
GLSA Website - Check it Out!www.lakesylvia.org
A Few Words From Your PresidentJoe Lepley
From Your President continued on page 7
Idon’t know how many of you getthe Minnesota ConservationMagazine, but I would suggest
getting a subscription. There arealways many well written and time-ly articles pertaining to our stateand, of course, our Loons. In the lastissue they had a great story onLoons; this is not going to be a bookreport so borrow a copy from afriend and read it yourself. For theteachers that live on the lake, pleasedon’t get too critical of my style orformat. I’m not trying for an A incomposition; I’m just trying to relaya message.
Here are some interesting num-bers compiled from several articles.
• A Loon can live up to 30 yearsold but several studies say the aver-age survival age is between 21 and24, not all agree.
• Loons don’t start reproducinguntil around the age of 5.
• A pair of nesting loons will typi-cally have 1 or 2 chicks, and aswe’ve learned from the nesting pairson Lake Sylvia, just around 10% ofthe time they will fail to produceany egg or the egg they do producedoes not hatch.
• Of the chicks that do hatch, 1/3will not survive the summer tomigrate south.
• The Minnesota study indicatedonly 3 or 4 of the young they pro-duce will ever reach adulthood.
These aren’t good numbers, to saythe least. The Loons have a hard lifeboth here in Minnesota and in theirwintering range in the Gulf. This iswhy you don’t see the loons repro-
ducing and out numbering Ducks orGeese.
The Minnesota study is monitoringwhat the effects the 2010 Gulf OilSpill will have on the Loon population.The study will include not just the oilspill contaminates themselves but alsothe chemicals use to clean up and dis-perse the oil. The study will researchthe ripple effect the chemicals have onthe next generation of Loons. The2013 study will be testing loon eggs togain insight into the “GenerationContaminant Links”.
Many of the Loons returning thissummer have been feeding in the Gulfsince the 2010 spill. They have beenfeeding on prey fish, which have beenfeeding on the contaminated microor-ganisms. These contaminated linkstudies are well documented in otherstudies. Take the Eagle, for example,and the link to DDT used as a pesti-cide.
Will we see a decline in Loon repro-duction from these 3 to 5 year oldbirds that have been in the gulf thelast 3 years? I strongly feel we will.On Page 18 of the January-February2013 MCV it states what research hasidentified. “Once the number of adults(Loon) lost reaches 3 Percent of thetotal Population, the losses aremore than what Loon reproductioncan make up.
What part can we as hosts to thesummering Loons play to support ourLake Sylvia loon population?
• Do Not Disturb Nesting Loons. • Do Not Fish in the Area of a
Nesting Loon. • Do Not Boat in a Nesting Loon
Area. That means NO Kayak, Canoe,Paddle Boat, Ski Boat, Fishing Boat,Pontoon, Life Raft, or Noodle Float inthe Loon Nesting Area.
EVERY LITTLE BIT WE DO WILLHELP.
Loon CallsSpring 2013 Page 3
Spring Loon Report 2013by Mike McNellis, the Old Loon Ranger
Zumba is a fun fitness class for anyone who can stand up and move! People ofall ages, shapes and sizes are welcome and encouraged to attend. Wear clothing that is moveable and supportive tennis shoes. Bring a towel, water bottle and a FRIEND! Please arrive a few minutes early.
Fee: $5/person per class. Questions??? Allison Barkley 320-815-9916
• Lakeshore Restoration • Retaining Walls• Paver Patios & Driveways • Water Features
Designing Landscapes that Reflect your Style!
Off Oak Ave. Studio25 Cedar St. W., Annandale, MN 55302
Elizabeth Hood Anderson & Kathy Wenngatz
Come in and see our new worksFor an appointment call: 32027403742
HEDLUND PLUMBING & HEATING, INC.
• Septic & holding tank pumping
• Portable toilets & sewer cleaning
320-286-2368MPCAL818
Master Lic#058290PM
Timothy L. Young Sheldon R. Brown
Matthew B. Brown
“BEFORE YOU SIGN”call
320-274-8221
Young & Brown, LLPAttorneys at Law
Wills Real EstateTrusts Boundary IssuesEstates For Sale by Owner
annandalelaw.com
Jefferson BishopOwnerOffice 320.274.6500Cell [email protected], Minnesota
www.anchor-dock.com
In Hot WaterCoffee & Tea House
(320) 274-682825 East CedarAnnandale, MN 55302Located next to City Hall
www.inhotwatercoffee.net
Since 1974
www.oakrealtymn.comAnnandale 274-5737 | Maple Lake 963-2088
Summerfest PartyAt Chi Rho Event Center Aug. 17th
3 bands playing from 1 till 9 p.m.
Food games open beach family fun
Fundraiser for camp improvements
Pancake Breakfast Aug. 18th, 8-noonCome by car 5750 Porter Ave.
By boat - Straight across from boat access
Loon CallsPage 6 Spring 2013
HELP WANTED!Remember: All Positions Within GLSA Are Volunteers!
PLEASE CONSIDER WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR LAKE!
Social Committee ChairResponsibilities include organizing arrangements for annualmeeting, July 4 boat parade and assist picnic committee.Contact Joe Lepley 320-274-2632 or [email protected]
July 4 Boat Parade Organizer!!Let’s not let this great tradition disappear! GLSA is looking fora volunteer to organize the Annual 4th of July Boat Parade.Contact Joe Lepley 320-274-2632 or [email protected]
Area CoordinatorsArea representatives needed in Area 7, Area 9, & Area 17.Contact Nancy Hector at [email protected]
Membership & Database CoordinatorCurrent volunteer would like to find a replacement for 2013.Please contact Nancy Hector at [email protected]
Welcome back to the lake! It’sbeen a very long winter and weare more than ready and deserv-ing of nicer weather.
Last year was very busy for theGLSA. We planned and had agreat picnic and are moving for-ward on our fight against AIS.We have a new membership data-base and website. A record num-ber of people joined the GLSAand paid dues. That says you careabout our lake and its future. Weare hoping you will remain com-mitted to the GLSA and pay yourdues for 2013 so we can continueto “maintain and improve thequality” of our beautiful lake.Dues for 2013 are $50. You arenow able to pay dues online; isn’ttechnology great? Log on towww.lakesylvia.org. If computersaren’t your thing, you can stillmail in your dues along with any
contact changes to GLSA, P.O.Box 41, Annandale MN 55302.
We have just over 500 proper-ties around the lake and we areconstantly updating contact infor-mation. The new database makesthese updates easy. Any membercan log on to www.lakesylvia.organd update their contact informa-tion.
We are again printing anupdated membership directorythis spring. The new directorieswill be available at the annualmeeting on June 1 for all paidmembers.
We are still in need of AreaCoordinators for Area 7 (QuinlarAve), Area 9 (Quimby, Quiner &Porter) on the West Lake, andArea 17 (64th St & Osborn) onthe East Lake. Please considerrepresenting your area by becom-ing your Area Coordinator.
Responsibilities include distribu-tion of directories, occasionallycontacting your neighbors withinformation about GLSA and wel-coming new neighbors to LakeSylvia.
We have come a long way in the2 years I have been membershipcoordinator. My term is up inJune and it will be so much easi-er for the next person to takeover. If you would like to volun-teer as a neighborhood coordina-tor or to replace me as member-ship coordinator, please let meknow. You can contact me [email protected]
See you at the annual meetingon June 1 at the Annandale HighSchool, and just an FYI this yearour very own PAPA TOM is pro-viding the treats. If you haven’thad one of his delicious bakedgoods, attend the annual meetingand the treats are on us!
Lake Ice Freeze Dec. 12, 2013Lake Ice ThawMay 2, 2013(2nd Latest Date on Record)
Loon CallsSpring 2013 Page 7
Some of you know that I have apassion for old wooden boats.Minnesota has a very active antiqueboating community and I plan tospend more of my weekends this sum-mer visiting the many antique boatshows held across the state. I alsohave an old wooden runabout in mybasement that I plan to spend moretime restoring and hopefully will getin the lake someday. Although I’velearned to be careful about raising myhand, I might consider volunteeringto help with a boat show or two orperhaps offer to write an occasionalarticle for the antique boating maga-zine published by the MinnesotaChapter.
In closing, I want to thank all whohave served with me on the GLSAboard and served on GLSA’s commit-tees over the years. I also want to
thank the many people who have pro-vided encouragement and expressedappreciation for my contributions toGLSA. I look forward to continuingto serve on various GLSA committeesin the future and wish the new presi-dent continued success in accomplish-ing GLSA’s mission of “Protecting andImproving East and West LakeSylvia.” – unfortunately, the DNR hasnot deemed our lake to be a high pri-ority. We are re-doubling our effortsto find a way to get DNR approvedinspectors at our public access fornext summer.
GLSA Articles of Incorporationand By-Laws Update - GLSAbecame a non-profit 501 (c) (3) in1999. The association articles andby-laws have not been revised sincethen and are in need of some updat-ing. The Board is fortunate to have
attorney Pat Beithon as a director.Pat has graciously agreed to reviewthese governing documents andadvise the board on the changes andupdates needed to ensure thatGLSA complies with all applicableregulations. The updated docu-ments will be shared with the GLSAmembership once the board hascompleted their work. The revisedArticles of Incorporation will requirereview and approval by GLSA mem-bership at the 2013 Annual Meetingon June 1.
We are all very fortunate to havean army of volunteers who con-tribute many hours of their time toour Association. Through our com-bined efforts, GLSA is fulfilling itsmission “to protect and improve thequality of Lake Sylvia.”
From Your President from page 2
One of the keys is lack of statefunding. To preserve the lake welove, it’s obvious we are going to haveto pay for protection. As a non-profitvolunteer organization, hiring, moni-toring and training inspectors is notpractical. So we have gone to a localfirm which has the infrastructure todo this. We have selected AnchorDock &Lift. This protection is goingto be expensive.
What we are hoping for is legisla-tion which will provide the DNR withthe financial resources to aid lakeassociations. GLSA recently sent outa letter encouraging you to contactyour legislators. Contacting yourrepresentative to show your supportfor the increased boat tab fees is vitalto the fight against AIS. It’s impor-tant, they need your guidance.
AIS from page 1
This will be a large expense forGLSA, but, it’s chump change com-pared with damage that would becaused by an infestation of zebra mus-sels. The $25,000 cost of contract mon-itoring for 2013 will be paid for by theincrease in GLSA dues implementedfor 2013 and GLSA’s AIS reservefunds.
Anchor Dock & Lift will have asmall team of DNR trained monitors.The plan is to have these contractmonitors present at the Lake Sylviaaccess from May 24 throughSeptember 9 during the hours whenthe access gets greatest use. In addi-tion to monitoring every watercraftthat enters the Lake Sylvia publicaccess, they will gather data that willgive GLSA insight into how much thepublic access is used. This informa-tion will be valuable when GLSAapplies for future DNR grants. Onereason our previous grant applicationswere turned down is the DNR regard-ed the Lake Sylvia access as low traf-fic. This was armchair speculation inSt. Paul. In fact we have the largestpublic access in Wright County.
Is this going to make a difference?We hope so. It is the best optionavailable to GLSA for the 2013 sea-son. The DNR is not adequatelyfunded to effectively prevent thespread of invasives. Our membershave told us that doing nothing andhoping Zebra Mussels stay elsewhereis not a satisfactory option.
Monitors from page 1 Zebra Mussels from page 1If your friends, guests or tenants
have used infested waters, pleasepolitely ask them to leave theirboat home OR be sure they havetaken all necessary steps to decon-taminate their boat before puttingit in Lake Sylvia. This may soundharsh, but we have to take everyprecaution to avoid contaminatingour lake.
Here is a list of the wellknown lakes and rivers infestedwith Zebra Mussels accordingto the DNR:
Metro Area:• Lake Minnetonka• Prior Lake• Mississippi River• Lake Pepin• St. Croix River
Outstate: • Alexandria chain of lakes
which includes Carlos, Darling,Ida, Le Homme Dieu
• Gull Lake chain• Lake Ossawinnamakee,
Crow Wing County• Pelican Lake, Crow Wing
County (Breezy Point Resort)• Lake Mille Lacs• Lake Superior
The DNR list of Zebra Musselinfested waters in Minnesotaincludes over 100 bodies of waterand is four pages long. The com-plete list for all AIS infested watersin Minnesota is nineteen pageslong. Please check the DNR website(www.dnr.state.mn.us) for the com-plete and up to date list beforegoing boating or fishing in anotherlake.
G R E A T E R L A K E S Y LV I A A S S O C I A T I O N
PO Box 41Annandale, MN 55302
Editor: Kathy LepleyAdvertising:
Carole GertgenLayout & Design:
Annandale Advocate
Mission Statement:To Maintain and Improve
Lake Sylvia
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No. 5
Annandale, MN
55302
Deliver to addressee or current resident.
GLSA ANNUAL MEETING REMINDERJune 1, 2013
Annandale High SchoolNOTE: NEW LOCATION!
Social 8:30-9 a.m., Business Meeting 9-11 a.m.Guest Speaker: Brian Mies, Minnesota Conservation Officer
Agenda Items: •Election of New GLSA Board Members
•Review and Approval of Revised Articles of Incorporation•Invasives Update •Public Access Monitoring Update
