Links to Hubbard County Community 2017 AIS Prevention Event - Held on 3/20/17

Local news sources, organizations, and churches helped promote the Hubbard County Community Interdenominational event held Monday evening 3-20-17 Riverside United Methodist Church hosted for the 2nd year by Pastor Chip Nielsen.

1)  Introduction and Welcome – Pastor Chip Nielsen, Riverside United Methodist Church, Park Rapids

• YouTube Link:    https://youtu.be/TudT1DRTnaY

2)  Short video produced by Wildlife Forever on the Clean Drain Dry Initiative. (Leaders in the fight against invasive species.)

• YouTube Link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS2frO0QWHI&feature=youtu.be

3)  New Challenges and Responses to AIS by Nicole Kovar, MN DNR Invasive Species Specialist.

• YouTube Link:  https://youtu.be/snn5TQmiQYk

4)  Hubbard County’s AIS Prevention Program by Bill DonCarlos, Hubbard County AIS Program Coordinator.

• YouTube Link:  https://youtu.be/whnwklqzP_A

5)  Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates, Jeff Forrester, speaking on Statewide Challenge, Legislation & Policy at Capital.

• YouTube Link:  https://youtu.be/TZLBGj5n95g

6)  The Value of Clean Water – Shared Resource and Responsibility, by Dan Kittilson, Hubbard County Coalition of Lake Associations (HC COLA).

•  YouTube Link:  https://youtu.be/Lie58eLrnG8

7)  Hubbard County COLA has posted a page with links to each power point presentation.  Click this link to see each power point.

• HC COLA's Links page on AIS Presentations from 2017 Event

8)  Park Rapids Enterprise Articles:

•  Before the event:
  http://www.parkrapidsenterprise.com/outdoors/4237180-about-fishing-ais-prevention-2017-challenges-facing-hubbard-count

• Following the event:
  http://www.parkrapidsenterprise.com/news/4240612-preventing-spread-ais-infestations

Remember to Clean, Drain, Dry 

your watercraft and equipment  plus  Decontaminate

• More info here and a map for MN DNR courtesy decontaminations

DNR Needs Our Help to Maintain Services for Our Lakes

At the HC COLA meeting held the evening of March 23rd, Doug Kingsley, MN DNR Area Fisheries Supervisor, spoke about the need for the proposed increase in hunting and fishing license fees.

The DNR's request for a license fee increase is part of the governor's budget.  Become informed about what is at stake for our lakes - and let your representative know how you feel about the proposed license increase ..

The proposal should keep the Game Fish Fund solvent until 2021. The last time there was an increase only half of it was approved so the Fund is running out of money. These programs which include research, enforcing, and managing fish and wild life are meant to be funded through these fees not from other sources.

Please use this link www.mndnr.gov/licensedollarsatwork to learn more about the proposal yourself.  You can even learn about the current resources right here in our local area!  Please get the word out to your lake association members to inform them about this important opportunity.  Consider speaking to your legislators regarding your own viewpoint.  Find your legislators here: http://www.gis.leg.mn/iMaps/districts/

It is an important part of the economy in our area and one in which we, as citizens, can have our say.

Ice Out Guesses

Statement from Lou Schultz:

"The data shows that the mean (or average) ice out date for Long Lake is April 20 with normal variation extending from March 20 to May 20.  Only three years out of a thousand could it fall outside those dates.  The exceptions, due to special causes outside the system, could be from global warming, earthquakes, a satellite controlled mirror reflecting the sunlight down on a GPS coordinate of our lake, forest fire around the lake, etc.  All we can say with some assurance is that the ice will go out on Long Lake between March 20 and May 20.  In between there is anyone’s guess."
Click here to see charts and graphs of all collected data

So what is your guess?  Join in this yearly guessing game:  Email us at longlakeliving@gmail.com with your guess as to when you think Long Lake will be completely free of ice. The definition of Ice Out on Long Lake is when there is no ice anywhere on the lake.

Everyone that enters the contest will have their name put into a "hat" for a drawing.  The prize will be a quilt, donated by Monika Wilkins, LLAA President. (Photo below)

The person who guesses the actual date of ice out or comes the closest, will win fame and bragging rights on Facebook and the website until next Spring.

Two Ways You Can Help fight AIS!

Attend This event: 

Monday, March 20th, 7 pm, Riverside United Methodist Church, Park Rapids.

Hubbard County is now surrounded by infested lakes.  Are we doing enough?

Speakers will be:

• Nicole Kover – Park Rapids DNR
• Bill DonCarlos - Hubbard Co AIS Prevention
• Jeff Forester – Minn. Lakes and Rivers Advocacy Assoc.
• Dan Kittilson – Hubbard Co COLA

Be There!

Click here for a link to more information about the event.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 Here is another way you can help Long Lake:

Please plan to attend your Township Annual Meeting 

on Tuesday, March  14, 7 PM:

Henrietta Town Hall

• Henrietta Township, 19401 State 226  (on the road to Dorset)
• Hubbard Township at the Hubbard Community Center, 12141 County 6  (between Hilltop & the Long Lake Theater in the town of Hubbard, MN)

Hubbard Town Hall

 

Also, please plan to attend and support the AIS Watercraft Inspection Funding for 2018!