Friday, August 21, 2015

DNR Will Host Two Public Meetings on August 25, 2015

At our LLAA Annual Meeting, we said we would let you know as soon as we learned about the meeting plans:

The MN DNR is hosting two public meetings regarding the Straight River Groundwater Management Area Plan on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at the Park Rapids Area High School Auditorium, 401 Huntsinger Avenue, Park Rapids.  The times for these two public meetings are below.  Remember that Long Lake is within the boundary of this groundwater area.  Hopefully one of these two meeting times will fit into your schedule so you'll be able to attend.

The DNR has placed the referenced draft plan and survey on the following website:  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gwmp/area-sr.html.  They recommend that the survey respondents take time to adequately review the draft of the Straight River Groundwater Management Area Plan before completing the survey and/or before providing comments via email at StraightRiverGWMA.dnr@state.mn.us.  The survey will remain open until September 24, 2015.
  • Morning Meeting, 8/25 from 9 to 10:30 AM
  • Evening Meeting, 8/25 from 7 to 8:30 PM
Enjoy the rest of August here at Long Lake!

Monday, August 10, 2015

From Runoff to Ruin: The Undoing of Minnesota's Lakes by Ron Way and Steve Berg

From the Star Tribune, August 7, 2015
A very relevant article by Ron Way and Steve Berg published in the Star Tribune on August 7, 2015.

(For the complete article click here)

The article talks about how the water quality of the lakes in Central Minnesota has declined in the last decades.  Way and Berg detail what and how this has happened in the article.  They talk about how reckless shore line development has "killed" some of the lakes.  Lakes can not just keep taking in run off from roads, parking lots, fertilized lawns, and so on without changing.  In recent years many lakes have huge algae blooms by mid summer which affect most water activities and fishing.   There is some discussion on whether a lake can be restored, but Way and Berg are fairly pessimistic about that outcome. They believe  we need to protect the "good" lakes we have now.

In the 8th paragraph they mention the Park Rapids region.  Their solution is that local people and their governments need to step up and plan for development.  The system we have now is not working.

According to Way and Berg, "The damage came less from numbers, however, than from careless design. The real-estate market and local governments treated lake country not as a delicate ecosystem but as an ordinary template for suburban excess. The jarring retail strip along Hwy. 371 between Baxter and Nisswa offers an ironic example. Its lineup of big boxes fronted by barren parking lots replicates the suburban sprawl that vacationers go north to escape."

We can all do our part at keeping Long Lake clear and clean and this is food for thought.

You Can Help our Lake!

This proposed second pipeline will be THE major pipeline into the US for Canadian tar sands oil, equivalent in capacity to the suspended XL pipeline

Speak on Wednesday, August 19th, to the Public Utilities Commission,  Dept. of Commerce, and Enbridge staff at the 11am or the 6 pm meeting to be held at the Park Rapids Century School Cafetorium.

Each meeting starts with a 30 minute presentation, followed by 2 hours 15 minutes time for citizen’s comments. This is the start of the formal process seeking a 36” diameter pipeline to carry Alberta tar sands oil to run beside the proposed Sandpiper pipeline.   For further details visit:
 http://www.friendsoftheheadwaters.org/uploads/3/4/4/2/3442631/initial_line3_meeting_notice_aug_19.pdf

Comments can also be submitted online at:
http://mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities/publicComments.html?projectId=34079
 

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Can You Improve Your Shoreline?

While you and your family are at the lake this summer, it is a good time to do some shore management planning.  Take a good look at your property.  Do you  need any trees or shrubs to keep the soil from washing into the lake?

Browse the information on Shore Management page of this website.  (Page tabs are above.)  Look at the variety of trees and shrubs you can order through the lake association to enhance your property and the lake.  If you have questions ask Sharon Natzel or David Anderson.

Have fun planning this winter and then take pictures as you plant your trees next spring.  Remember trees are a message to your great grandchildren as well as protectors of our lake. 


Restore the Shore Tree Orders for Spring 2016

The 2015 deadline for submitting your "Restore the Shore" Tree Order form and payment for delivery of trees in the Spring 2016 is coming up on Thursday, October 1, 2015.