LLPOA to apply for AIS funds In January LLPOA will submit an application for a grant to combat invasive species in Lone Lake.

An Aquatic Invasive Species task force within Aitkin County will be administering the program, which is part of a larger state AIS effort. Funds will be used for lakes throughout the county for AIS education and prevention, to purchase high-temperature boat and trailer washers, and for treatments to respond quickly if an infestation occurs.

Among other items, LLPOA’s application will request financial support to hire public boat launch inspectors to supplement our volunteer efforts throughout the summer.

NEWS BRIEFSo much to be grateful for this holiday

Steve Frazier, LLPOA President:!

We are so fortunate to be part of the Lone Lake community – to experience the beauty of our surroundings and to be neighbors of the wonderful people who call it their cabin or permanent home. Thanks to your stewardship of Lone Lake, we are able to enjoy one of the clearest, most pristine lakes in Minnesota. We appreciate all the time and effort volunteers have contributed to the community this past year, and the conservation practices carried out by all to keep our water quality high and our environment healthy. #

We have a wonderful program planned for 2015 and invite you to become more involved than ever in the Lone Lake association. On behalf of the LLPOA board, I wish you a happy holiday and a terrific new year. We’ll see you on the lake! - Steve#

NEWS BRIEFs are produced and distributed by the Lone Lake Property Owners Association for its members and friends. Please visit our web site at www.lonelake.org or our Facebook page at Lone Lake POA.

Lone Lake officially turned from liquid to solid on Friday, November 21.

No. 7, Vol. 26 www.lonelake.org December 16, 2014

Editor: Jennifer O’Neill, lonelakepoa@gmail.com www.lonelake.org �1

Beginning July 1, 2015 a new trailer decal requirement is scheduled to start. The new law requires anyone who transports watercraft or water-related equipment like docks and lifts with a trailer in Minnesota to complete an online aquatic-invasive-species training course. The decal must be displayed after July 1.

The training course will be available starting in January 2015 so people can get their training and decal before the law goes into effect. Paper home-study training packets will also be available in January 2015 by calling 651-351-2000. After completing the course, you will receive a decal that must be displayed on your trailer.

For more about the program, go to http://trailers.mndnr.gov/

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Lake water level had its ups And downs over season

New trailer decal requirement starts in 2015

There are many excellent resources on the internet about invasive species in Minnesota, including the Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Council at

www.mda.state.mn.us/misac.

Lone Lake experienced high lake levels during the summer of 2014. In fact, the lake was above the Ordinary High Water (OHW) mark from May through July. Lots of snow last winter, plentiful rains, and a sluggish lake outlet have all been given as reasons for the extra water. For most of the summer, boaters were asked to keep wakes low to prevent shoreline erosion. #

However, readings taken Oct. 31 showed the lake level had dropped 9.6” from the June 20th reading, and 6.6” below the OHW mark. #

In September several individuals donned their waders and took up shovels to tackle the dirty job to open the culvert and ditch, and keep the water running between Lone and Ripple lakes. The last time the ditch was cleaned was ten

years ago so the growth had become a huge obstacle.  #

With property owners’ permission, volunteers cleared growth and debris

in the half mile-long ditch. LLPOA thanks Bob Kosloski, Jerry Nelson,

Dave Scott, Marty Cook, Ward Olson, Zint Kics, Mustafa Bulut and Walt Weisser. Applause also goes to Walt, Bob, Jerry and Dave who monitored the outlet culvert weekly all summer. They removed debris from a screen, which a trapper suggested be used in front of the culvert to prevent beavers from entering the culvert to build a dams.  #

No. 7, Vol. 26 www.lonelake.org December 16, 2014

Editor: Jennifer O’Neill, lonelakepoa@gmail.com www.lonelake.org �2

Rutted 297th Lane caused debris, sediment to run into lake!

Neighbors, county join together to keep lake clean; road fixed, run-off sent to new holding pondSometimes nature needs a nudge to right its course. That’s what happened when 23 Lone Lake residents teamed up with Aitkin County and a local excavator. Because of their efforts, polluting run-off from badly rutted 297th Lane is now being diverted into a new sedimentation pond rather than spilling directly into Lone Lake. Improvements to the road, were completed this fall after five years of neighborhood discussions, fundraising and finally, design and construction.#

It was “a high priority project,” #

said Steve Hughes, District Manager, Aitkin County Soil and Water Conservation District (SCWD). “Lone Lake is one of the nicest lakes in the county.” The unimproved road acted as a ditch with water carrying dirt and debris from surrounding hills, especially after big spring thaws and heavy rain storms. “To quantify the environmental impact is hard to say, but the improvements will stop sediment and they will not go into the lake. It is significant,” Hughes said.#

During rapid thaws, water spread across lawns and flowed directly into the lake. Below, water carved deep gashes into the lane making travel difficult.

No. 7, Vol. 26 www.lonelake.org December 16, 2014

Editor: Jennifer O’Neill, lonelakepoa@gmail.com www.lonelake.org �3

New road (cont.)

A chain of conversations and plans began after particularly drenching rains in 2009, when Dave Scott, LLPOA board member, saw a delta of sand and debris in the lake. It was obvious that it had come from up the hill and across the road. Scott takes regular water clarity readings and reports them to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. “Being the water quality guy,” he said, “I knew we wanted to keep silt out of the lake.” Neighbors met and talked about design options, and, importantly, how to pay for the work, recalled Jerry and Julie Nelson, two of the project organizers.#

In September, armed with a design from John Welle, Aitkin County highway engineer, Larry Liljenquist, Liljenquist Sewer and Excavating, re-shaped and re-surfaced the 1,000 ft. gravel track. They created a rock-filled spillway adjacent to it and planted grass to prevent erosion. Now when water runs, it will stop first in a small pond, which is made to let the sediment settle and to allow only clean water to enter the lake. #

The next phase of the project is planned for next spring. Lone Lake volunteers will work with (continued on next page)

The view up 297th Lane shows the rip-rap alongside the road, which will significantly slow down the flow of the water. Grasses are planted under the cloth to further stablize the hillside. The retaining pond is designed to filter the water so that leaves and other organic matter stay on the pond floor. A rain garden and meadow will be planted in the spring.

No. 7, Vol. 26 www.lonelake.org December 16, 2014

Editor: Jennifer O’Neill, lonelakepoa@gmail.com www.lonelake.org �4

Jim Ravis, Minnesota Master Gardener, and SWCD to plant deep-rooted, rain-garden plants in the pond and native, bird and pollinator-friendly plants further up the hill where the environment is drier. “The plants take up the water through their roots and it transpires into the atmosphere. It won’t go directly into the lake.“ Hughes explained. #

The first phase of the project cost $33,650 with the state and county providing 75 percent of the funding, and local residents funding the remainder. Aitkin County officials and Mille Lacs Electric also donated labor and expertise. #

With the new road and pond graded and surfaced, organizers met to check how the newly planted seedlings along the pond edge and hillside were faring. (L to r) Jerry Nelson, Larry Liljenquist, Steve Hughes, Elaine Palthe (who owns the land with the holding pond) and Dave Scott.

New road (cont.)

Thirty Lone Lakers Take to the Road on Clean-Up Day, Sept. 13

Participants included (not in order shown) Jerry Baker, Edna Baker, Roy Carlson, Jane Carlson, Ron Wilkinson, Fred Lane, Mustafa Bulut, Zint Kics, Linda Kics, Steve Frazier, Karen Frazier, Gay Van Slooten, Elaine Palthe, Ward Olson, Dick Preiner, JoAnn Preiner, Ed Hoeve, Mary Hoeve, Lee Poppe, Sandi Poppe, Walt Weisser, Dianne Weisser, Jim Benda, Bob Kosloski, Roberta Kosloski, Julian Grev, Julie Nelson, Jerry Nelson, Dave Scott, Jennifer O’Neill and Hunter.

No. 7, Vol. 26 www.lonelake.org December 16, 2014

Editor: Jennifer O’Neill, lonelakepoa@gmail.com www.lonelake.org �5

Our mission is to enhance, protect and preserve the beauty of Lone Lake

2015  Program  Calendar                        The  Lone  Lake  Property  Owners  Associa5on  invites  you  to  take  part  in  all  of  the  ac5vi5es  planned  for  the  summer  of  2015.    The  associa5on  is  also  seeking  member  par5cipa5on  to  help  with  our  programs,  projects  and  teams.    Together  we  can  preserve  and  protect  our  beau5ful  lake  and  also  have  fun  as  a  lake  community.    Listed  below  are  the  year’s  events:  

!April  25   The  Future  of  Loan  Lake  Planning  Session  –  Bethlehem  Lutheran  Church,  9  a.m.  –  12  p.m.  

Lunch  is  served.  !May  8-­‐10     Opening  of  Fishing  Boat  InspecHons  at  Public  Access  !May  9th     Spring  Road  Cleanup  –9  a.m.  at  the  Swimming  Beach.  Coffee  and  rolls  served.    !May  22-­‐25     Memorial  Weekend  Boat  InspecHons  at  Public  Access  !May  25th     2014  LLPOA  Membership  Drive  begins  with  Memorial  Day  Weekend  !June  20th       Rivers  and  Lakes  Fair  –  Loca>on  TBD  in  Aitkin  from  9  a.m.  to  2  p.m.  !July  3-­‐5th   Independence  Weekend  Boat  InspecHons  at  Public  Access      July  4th         Annual  Boat  Parade  –  Meet  at  noon  at  the  Public  Access  Bay  for  the  parade  of  pontoons,       runabouts  and  dock  contests.    Post  your  Lot  #  on  the  front  of  your  boat  and/or  dock.  !July    4th       Lone  Lake  Triathlon  –  Friday,  July  4th  with  a  Star>ng  Time  at  8:30am  at  the  Swimming  Beach.      

No  prior  registra>on  required  and  teams  of  2  &  3  are  welcome.    !July  25th      Annual  Picnic  and  MeeHng  –  11  a.m.  at  the  Preiner  storage  facility  at  30353  Oak  Avenue.    

Look  for  the  LLPOA  Sign!    !August  28-­‐31   Labor  Day  Weekend  Boat  InspecHons  at  Public  Access  !Sept.  12th     Fall  Road  Cleanup  –  Meet  at  9  a.m.  for  coffee  and  rolls  at  the  Swimming  Beach.  !

***DNR  Boat  Inspec0on  training  dates  have  not  yet  been  determined.  ***  !Visit our website at www.lonelake.org or Facebook at Lone Lake POA

Contact us at lonelakepoa@gmail.com !Join Us In Enhancing, Protecting and Preserving the Environmental Beauty of Lone Lake

No. 7, Vol. 26 www.lonelake.org December 16, 2014

Editor: Jennifer O’Neill, lonelakepoa@gmail.com www.lonelake.org �6