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IMPORTANT NEWS from Otter Tail County Coalition of Lake Associations
E-Newsletter
March 2023

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In This Issue:
Upcoming Events 2023

OTC COLA has scheduled events and activities for the 2023 season. The Water Sampling Program Kickoff where samplers pick up their sample coolers will be held on April 20 at the Ottertail Community Center. Otter Tail County lake property owner meetings are scheduled for the third Thursdays of May, June, July and August. Watch future OTC COLA E-Newsletters for updates.

  • Water Sampling Kickoff
  • April 20, 2023
  • Water Sampling Kickoff - Ottertail Community Center
  • Lake Property Owner Meetings
  • May 18, 2023
  • Otter Tail County Drainage Ditch Inspection
  • Colby Palmersheim
  • Featured Lake Association- First Silver- Jeff Vansteenburg
  • June 15, 2023
  • Featured speaker- DNR Fisheries- Jim Wolters
  • Featured Lake Association- David Helgerson- West McDonald
  • July 20, 2023
  • Lake property owner property taxes- Kevin Scheidecker, OTC Assessor
  • Featured Lake Association- Spitzer Lake
  • August 17, 2023
  • OTC COLA Annual Meeting
  • Featured Speaker- East Otter Tail Soil & Water Conservation District- Darren Newville
  • September, 2023
  • Bus Tour- rain gardens and shoreland restoration
OTC COLA Lake Monitoring Program Kick Off

The distribution of the sample storage coolers, bottles and data sheets to sampler volunteers will take place Thursday, April 20 from 5:00 to 7:00 at the Ottertail Community Center parking lot, Ottertail, MN.
 
The OTC COLA water quality sampling and analysis program has
provided valuable data to lake property owners for over 20 years. Over
50 Otter Tail County lakes are included in the program covering over
70% of Otter Tail County lake acreage. Volunteers from the lakes are
an important component of the program collecting the samples and
ensuring that the samples get delivered to RMB Laboratories (RMB) in
Detroit Lakes, MN.

Water samples are collected once a month for May, June, July, August
and September. Activities for the season begin with a kickoff event in
April each year. At this event coolers and sample containers are
distributed to volunteers.

If you have questions contact:
 
OTC COLA Environmental Director
 641-420-0928
Shelter Removal Deadlines

Dark houses, fish houses and portables must be off the ice no later than 11:59 p.m. (end of the day); dates published for northern or southern Minnesota regions. County sheriffs may prohibit or restrict the use of motorized vehicles if dangerous ice conditions are present. If shelters are not removed, owners may be cited. A conservation officer also may confiscate, remove or destroy any ice structure and its contents if not removed by the deadline.

MLR Action Alert- Ice House Waste Bill

The availability of large trailered ice fishing houses has greatly increased the number of people that go ice fishing, and the amount of time they spend out on the ice. Increased use has also created increase waste left on the ice at the end of the season. Minnesota House Bill HF 2745/SF 2789 will require anglers to keep all garbage and sewage inside the ice house, or in a container that is attached to the outside of the ice house.
Remember When Crystal Lake Was Clear Lake?

How many of our area lakes changed names over the years? 

There have been many, and reader Harold Holt called our attention to one lake right in our neighborhood. Holt is a retired coach-educator at Pelican Rapids schools and a local history enthusiast. 

And, he found an image of a Lake Lida plat map, circa 1884, to prove it.
 
Note that Crystal Lake, just east of Lizzie and north of Lida, was named “Clear Lake” nearly 140 years ago. 
RMB February 2023 Newsletter

  • 2023 Lakes Monitoring Program
  • OTC COLA Water Monitoring Program will be unchanged from previous years
  • Where Does Our Water Come From?
  • Summer Internships


Emelia Thielman, Lakes Program Coordinator
Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment

The Clean Water Funds are distributed through the Board of Soil and Water Resources (BWSR). BWSR grants provide the funding to local units of government to deliver soil and water conservation services to their communities. Grant funds support and increase local capacity to implement programs and provide cost-share to landowners who install conservation practices on the land to benefit state water and soil resource.

BWSR Awards Lawns To Legumes Grants

Individual Support grants reimburse Minnesota residents for up to $350 in costs associated with planting pollinator habitat in their yards. Recipients have access to workshops, coaching opportunities and gardening resources to help ensure project success. Recipients are required to contribute a 25% match in the form of purchasing materials, hiring contractors or as in-kind time spent planting and maintaining their projects.
February 2023 Featured Plant-
Canada Wildrye

BWSR’s monthly Featured Plant includes information on native species identification, range, preferred habitat, uses and planting recommendations. Focusing on plants that are important for conservation projects and native gardens, BWSR’s ecological science conservationist curates the feature with occasional contributions from other experts. If you'd like to check out past editions, you can browse the Featured Plant Archive HERE. 
Subscribe to Featured Plant HERE.

OTC Drivers License and Land & Resource
Return to Remodeled Offices

Otter Tail County Motor Vehicle/Driver’s License and Land & Resource Management Services Return to Remodeled Offices

Otter Tail County completed several building enhancements at the
Government Services Center (GSC) at 500 West Fir Avenue in Fergus Falls. Motor Vehicle/Driver’s License and Land and Resource Management offices will be CLOSED to the public March 16-17 as equipment and supplies are moved to the GSC. Motor Vehicle/Driver’s License and Land and Resource departments resume services to the public in the newly remodeled spaces on March 20, 2023.

AIS Task Force Update March 2023

  • Watercraft inspectors are being installed
  • Education and outreach programs are initiated
  • Handbook for Visitors and Residents in development
OTC Board Of Commissioner Minutes
Instant Access Links
·     
OTC COLA Board of Directors
David Helgerson ∙ Jeff Stabnow ∙ Jeff Vansteenburg
Roger Neitzke ∙ Ronald Christensen ∙ Scott Gaudette ∙ Sylvia Soeth
 
OTC COLA Members
Bass Lake Underwood Association ∙ Berger Lake Association ∙ Big McDonald LID ∙ Boedigheimer Lake Association ∙ Clitherall Lake Association ∙ Dead Lake Association ∙ Devils Lake Association ∙ Eagle Lake Lakeshore Association ∙ East Battle Lake WS Association ∙ Elbow Lake Association ∙ Franklin Lake Association ∙ Hoffman Lake Association ∙ Jewett Lake Association ∙ Lake Lida Property Owners Association ∙ Lake Lizzie Lakeshore Association ∙ Lake Seven Association ∙ Lake Six Association ∙ Leaf Lakes Association ∙ Little McDonald Kerbs and Paul Lakes LID ∙ Long Lake at Vergas Association ∙ Loon Lake Association ∙ Marion Lake Association ∙ McDonald Lake Improvement Association ∙ North Long Lake Association ∙ North Turtle Lake Association ∙ Otter Tail Lakes Property Owners Association ∙ Pebble Lake Association ∙ Pelican Lake Property Owners Association ∙ Pickerel Lake Improvement Association ∙ Pine Lakes LID ∙ Prairie Lake Lakeshore Association ∙ Round Lake 56-214 ∙ Rush Lake Association ∙ Silent Lakes Association ∙ Silver Lake Property Owners Association ∙ South Turtle Lake Improvement District ∙ Spitzer Lake Property Owners Association ∙ Stalker Lake Association ∙ Star Lake Property Owners Association ∙ Stuart Lake Association ∙ Swan Lake Association ∙ Sybil Lake Association ∙ Tamarac Lake Association ∙ Ten Mile Preservation Association ∙ Trowbridge-Leek Lake Association ∙ Wall Lake Association ∙ West Battle Lake Association ∙ West McDonald Lake Association
John Kruse, OTC COLA Administrative Assistant  
 

OTCCOLA | 4302 13th Ave S, Ste 4-333 | Fargo, ND 58103 US

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