IMPORTANT NEWS from Otter Tail County Coalition of Lake Associations

OTC COLA is looking forward to an exciting lake season in 2024. The Board of Directors have been working hard to put together programs and activities to attract and engage Lake Associations and lake property owners. The emphasis this year is to increase OTC COLA awareness and outreach to all lake property owners.

Water monitoring kickoff and meeting events are scheduled to be held at the Ottertail Community Center in Ottertail, MN on 3rd Thursdays, April, May, June, July and August.

Jeff Vansteenburg, OTC COLA Environmental Director, 641-420-0928

The RMB Laboratories 2024 Lakes Monitoring Program has been released. The OTC COLA Members program will be offering the same centralized distribution centers as in previous years. Invoices to Lake Associations for OTC COLA Membership dues and water monitoring fees include the discounted annual per site analysis rate of $335 for the five monthly samples.

If samplers are still using the grab method of collecting samples they are encouraged to look at using the integrated depth sample device method.

The grab method collects samples from only the top six to eight inches of water. It is preferable to get a representative sample that is taken from a larger portion of the water column. Most samplers use an integrated depth sampling device.

Jeff Vansteenburg, OTC COLA Environmental Director, 641-420-0928

Members of the OTC COLA Board of Directors will be available to speak at Lake Association meetings in 2024. OTC COLA is fortunate to have a Board consisting of individuals having a variety of talents, experience and expertise in technical and administrative fields. Supplemental literature and other various handouts are being developed providing valuable take-aways from the events.

To reserve a speaker for your event please contact John Kruse, OTC COLA Administrative Assistant. We will do our best to accommodate scheduling requests.

In 2022, 2.2 billion people lacked safely managed drinking water; 3.5 billion people lacked safely-managed sanitation; and 2 billion people lacked a basic handwashing facility, according to the National Institutes of Health. It is estimated that billions of people will lack access to these basic services by 2030, unless viable and proactive solutions are developed. 

The Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center is excited to share an opportunity to get up close and person with aquatic invasive species: monthly tours in our containment lab!



Join us the last Wednesday of each month from 3:00 - 4:00pm for a guided tour of the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center Containment Lab (MCL), where you'll get an inside look at our state-of-the-art facility and discover the innovative research underway. It's a perfect opportunity for individuals curious about the world of science. Large group or a special occasion? Use the sign up form to request a custom tour!

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has identified more than 40 public water access sites throughout the state for extensive upgrades; smaller-scale improvements to more than 75 additional accesses are also anticipated. The work is part of the once-in-a-generation Get Out MORE (Modernize Outdoor Recreation Experiences) investments approved by the legislature and signed by Governor Tim Walz in 2023.

Many anglers are attracted to muskie because of their potential to get big. That same potential draws concern from others who believe the diets of bigger fish make fewer fish available to anglers. Despite the muskie's potential to attain large sizes, studies of predator diets and fish communities that contain muskie found muskie do not adversely impact gamefish populations.

The online fishing regulations booklet and more information about fishing in Minnesota are available on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/fishing).

Interested in an inside look at MAISRC's state-of-the-art facility and discover the innovative research underway? Register for a lab tour of the MAISRC (Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center) facility.  https://form.asana.com/?k=Ua3KramhzBkS2feUnuWQpw&d=939683240123509

Read about the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory's "Healthy Waters Initiative," researching the potential impacts of boat-generated waves and propeller wash on Minnesota's lakes. https://cse.umn.edu/safl/Healthy_Waters

Go HERE for a review of the benefits of joining MN COLA

David Helgerson, OTC COLA Director Liaison with MN COLA 

Spencer McGrew, OTC AIS Specialist

AIS * Water Quality * Administration * Regulation

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Roger Neitzke ∙ Ronald Christensen ∙ Scott Gaudette ∙ Sylvia Soeth

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 ∙ 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

John Kruse, OTC COLA Administrative Assistant