IMPORTANT NEWS from Otter Tail County Coalition of Lake Associations | | |
E-Newsletter
August 2024
SUBSCRIBE
Someone forward this Newsletter to you?
Go to the link above to subscribe to the monthly E-Newsletter
| | | |
In This Issue:
- From The President
- Upcoming Events
- OTC COLA Annual Meeting- Nick Kludt Speaker
- Jeff Forester, July OTC COLA Meeting Speaker
- Speaker Team Completes 2024 Presentations
- Watch For OTC COLA In Your Paper
- MAISRC Research Showcase
- Shape The Future Of MAISRC
- MN COLA- MN Sea Grant Survey
- MLR June 2024 Newsletter
- DNR Updates Infested Waters List
- Zebra Mussels Confirmed In First Silver Lake
- MORE Funding Includes Dam Modifications
- AIS Prevention 2023 Report
- AIS Handbooks - Now Available
- AIS Task Force Minutes
- OTC Board Of Commissioners Minutes
-
www.lakeadmin.org - Featured Posts
- Instant Access Links-
Newsletter Article Index
Water Quality Analysis Reports (2023 Samples)
Lake Property Owner Directories (2019)
| | |
From The President- Sylvia Soeth
We all wonder how the summer could go by so fast! Here we are at our last member meeting of the season for COLA. The Board appreciates the complimentary comments about our meetings. We’ve had three good ones on a variety of topics of interest to lake property owners, as well as timely updates on Emergency Medical Services from the Perham Area EMS Director Becca Huebsch and OTC Commissioner Dan Bucholz. It’s always a good sign when people ask questions too.
This Annual Meeting will be about a hot topic in lakes country - fishing. DNR Fisheries. Specialist Nick Kludt brings expertise and experience about Sturgeon, Walleyes and smaller species, their spawning habits and what’s being done for the future. Have you seen the rock arch dams along the Otter Tail River?
Come for coffee, brownies and sharing on Thursday, August 15.
Sylvia Soeth, OTC COLA President
| |
Upcoming Events For 2024
Currently scheduled events.
Meeting events are scheduled to be held at the Ottertail Community Center in Ottertail, MN on 3rd Thursdays, May, June, July and August.
- August 15- OTC COLA Annual Meeting and lake property owners meeting.
- Featured speaker: Nicholas Kludt, MN DNR Fisheries- DNR rock rapids
| Nicholas Kludt, DNR Red River Fisheries Specialist | |
Nicholas Kludt To Speak At OTC COLA Annual Meeting
Nick Kludt, Red River Fisheries Specialist for the Minnesota DNR, will speak at OTC COLA's Annual Meeting at the Ottertail Community Center in Ottertail, MN on August 15, 2024. His work area covers the Red River of the North and its Minnesota tributaries, where he works on a wide array of river and fish management issues. Additionally, Nick guest-lectures at several local universities and is the American Chair of the International Red River Watershed Board’s Aquatic Ecosystem Committee. Outside of work, Nick and his family are avid hunters and fishers, and headquarter their adventures out of Perham.
Nick’s presentation will tell the story of local fish management within the larger context of Northwest Minnesota. River systems are managed at a landscape-level, and the interconnection of lake and river habitats is critical for long-term system function. Nick will discuss topics including regional history, fish reproduction & migrations, habitat management, and how current actions create positive outcomes for rivers and local lakes, now and in the future.
The OTC COLA Meeting will be held on August 15, 2024 at the Ottertail Community Center, 93 Lake Avenue South, Ottertail MN 56571. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for coffee and bars and a time of socializing and networking. All Otter tail County lake property owners are invited to attend.
John Kruse, OTC COLA Administrative Assistant
| Jeff Forester, MLR Executive Director | |
Forester Featured Speaker at OTC COLA July Meeting
Jeff Forester, Executive Director of Minnesota Lakes and Rivers (MLR) was the featured speaker at the July 2024 meeting of Ottertail County lake property owners. Jeff has been an advocate for Minnesota lakes seeking to protect Minnesota’s lake and river heritage for current and future generations. He has done this by forging powerful links between lakes, lake advocates and policy makers.
MORE
| Lizzie Lake Association Annual Meeting | |
OTC COLA Speaker Team Completes
Scheduled Presentations
OTC COLA Board Members have been busy reaching out to Member Lake Associations. Early this year we put the word out offering speakers for Lake Association Annual Meetings as well as for any meeting of interest to lake property owners. Six presentations were performed. Subject matter for the presentations ranged from a review of the benefits of COLA programs to in-depth analysis of the OTC COLA water quality analysis reports.
Saturday July 13, 2024 Jeff Stabnow, OTC COLA Director, gave his presentation to the Clitherall Lake Association. It was well received by over 80 Members in attendance.
Saturday July 27, 2024 John Kruse, OTC COLA Administrative Assistant, spoke at the Lake Lizzie Association Annual Meeting. It was an outside venue. The weather was great and the crowd was fun. The complimentary breakfast was delicious and much appreciated. It is energizing to see the enthusiasm of people who are really interested in the protection and preservation of Otter Tail County Lakes.
John Kruse, OTC COLA Administrative Assistant
| | |
Watch For OTC COLA In Your Paper
OTC COLA is placing ads in several regional newspapers promoting the monthly meetings, events other news items. We would like to know if you see them. Please drop us an email and tell us which paper you found us in.
Thank you
John Kruse, otccola2@gmail.com
| | |
AIS Research and Management Showcase
We are excited to announce the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center's AIS Research and Management Showcase returns to in-person on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. This event is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet our researchers and learn about the latest tools, information, and technologies being developed at MAISRC.
-
Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2024
-
Time: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
-
Location: St. Paul Student Center, University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus (Google map)
-
Parking: Hourly parking available in the Gortner Parking Ramp and daily rate parking available in lot #S101 and #S106. Accessible parking is available on Buford Ave. There are also some metered parking spots available on this campus. Visit Parking and Transportation Services for rates and maps.
-
Tickets: $50; discount codes will be available (more to come).
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details!
|
Shape the Future of MAISRC: Share Your Insights
You are invited to participate in an important initiative that will guide the future of the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC). With our original 10 year strategic plan set to expire at the end of 2024, MAISRC has the opportunity to reassess its goals and strategies through a comprehensive strategic planning process. Although we have come a long way, there is still important work to do.
MORE
| |
MN Sea Grant Survey
MN Sea Grant has named a new Water Resources Extension Educator who can be a valuable resource to help lake and river stewards. Her name is Hilarie Sorenson, and her focus will be developing programming related to Minnesota's water resources and then making that content available through outreach activities.
Hilarie provided a bit of an introduction of herself and her mission in MN Sea Grant at our MN COLA Annual Membership meeting in June.
MN COLA offered to help Hilarie better identify our needs as lake and river stewards by canvassing our members and friends.
To that end, we are asking that you please take the time to fill this 3 question survey to help identify YOUR priority areas for MN Sea Grant’s Extension Education program.
If you missed it, you can watch Hilarie Sorenson's presentation at the MN COLA Annual meeting HERE
You can also contact Hilarie directly via email at soren360@d.umn.edu
Joe Shneider
President, MN COLA
president@mncola.org
| |
Go HERE for a review of the benefits of joining MN COLA
MNCOLA.ORG
Subscribe to the MN COLA E-Newsletter
David Helgerson, OTC COLA Director Liaison with MN COLA
| |
Minnesota Lakes & Rivers June 2024 Newsletter
Lakes and rivers are central to Minnesota's identity and they're the cornerstone of our tourism-based economy. Tourism in Minnesota is estimated to be around $16 billion a year. Minnesota lakes and rivers rival agriculture in importance in terms of industry. They are also the center of our way of life. Most every Minnesotan spends time on water. It brings people to the area and encourages them to stay. When our lakes are threatened with degradation we are motivated to respond. People are invested. When aquatic invasive species threaten the utility of our lakes they lower property values, they impact fishing, they impact tourism, they impact our ability to enjoy the water.
Minnesota Lakes & Rivers June, 2024 Newsletter
Jeff Forester, MLR Executive Director
| |
DNR Infested Waters List - Update
What’s new in the July 15, 2024 update?
- Starry stonewort was confirmed in Pokegama (Itasca County)
- Zebra mussels were confirmed in Leon (Otter Tail County)
- and Ringo (Kandiyohi county)
What is the infested waters list?
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regularly updates the state infested waters list, which includes Minnesota lakes and rivers containing certain aquatic invasive species.
If you harvest bait, fish commercially, or divert or take water from lakes or rivers on this list, you may need to follow special regulations.
- The most complete and up-to-date list of infested waters is an Excel spreadsheet available on the DNR website.
- Using the Excel spreadsheet, you can sort, search or filter the list by water body name, county, species, or year. If you have questions about what the information means, see the tab called “Column descriptions”.
Questions about aquatic invasive species? Contact us
| |
Zebra Mussels Confirmed
in OTC's First Silver and Heilberger Lakes
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Union Lake, near Erskine in Polk County; First Silver Lake, near the town of Battle Lake in Otter Tail County; and Heilberger Lake, near Erhard in Otter Tail County.
A lake property owner contacted the DNR after finding a zebra mussel attached to a native mussel in Union Lake. DNR staff found more than 15 zebra mussels near the public water access, which is more than a mile from the location of the initial discovery.
MORE
| |
MORE Funding Includes Dam Modification
Dam modification projects are a key component of Get Out MORE (Modernize Outdoor Recreation Experiences) funding that improves habitat, recreational opportunities, climate resilience, and safety across Minnesota. Dam projects are especially notable in a year when flooding impacts have tested dams in several parts of the state.
MORE
| | |
AIS Handbooks Now Available
The enthusiastically acclaimed AIS Handbook sponsored by the Otter Tail County AIS Task Force is now available. The Handbook will be distributed to lake property owners, resort owners, and civic organizations in Otter Tail County. Quantities can be reserved from Otter Tail County Land & Resource 218-998-8095. Besides disseminating AIS prevention best practices in the Handbooks, the AIS prevention information will also be published in area newspapers and included in social media posts.
AIS Handbook for Visitors and Residents
AIS Handbook for Visitors and Residents Cover
Spencer McGrew, Otter Tail County AIS Specialist
| |
OTC Board Of Commissioner Minutes
| | |
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 ∙ Buchanan 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 ∙ Lida Lakes Improvement District ∙ 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 Lakeshore 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 ∙ Wymer Lake Association
| | | | |
