Friday, December 17, 2021

Long Lake Loon Monitoring from Your Dock Anyone? Sharon Natzel

When you are at the lake, do you take time to enjoy watching and listening for the loons from your dock with your favorite beverage in the morning, noon or night?

Have you used binoculars to view the MN State Bird, the Common Loon, from your dock in your bay on Long Lake? Does this short recording of Loons call out to you to consider being part of our Long Lake loon input team?

Recording of Loons on Big Mantrap, courtesy of KARE 11 at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw1D92_ZNtE.

We invite you to consider providing input on Long Lake’s Common Loons to the LLAA Planning Team working on the Long Lake Loon Management Plan. We have specific areas of focus where we could use your input to reduce mortality, increase reproductive success, and promote stewardship.
Dive in – email LLAA loon liaison: sharonnatzel@gmail.com.

The Long Lake Loon Management Plan is one of the several goals that our LLAA needs to achieve in the journey to be part of the MN Loon Friendly Lake Registry before the MN DNR Loon Restoration Program (MLRP) is completed by the end of 2023.

On Nov 3, 2021, members of the LLAA Planning Team learned more about MLRP in a Zoom meeting with that DNR program’s coordinator, Rob Rabasco. You may recall that in April 2010 one of British Petroleum’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico exploded, causing a catastrophic oil spill that killed great numbers of wintering loons and other wildlife. In 2016 BP agreed to pay $8.1 billion for the oil spill damage over 15 years. The state of Minnesota was awarded $7,520,00 under two grants by the Deepwater Horizon Open Ocean Trustee Technical Implementation Group (TIG) to reduce mortality and increase reproductive success of common loons in Minnesota.  MLRP is supported from this money.

 MLRP Goals:

• To reduce mortality and increase reproductive success of common loons in Minnesota.
• To increase loon productivity by about 5% on registered lakes.

Restoration Activities Include:

• Permanent protection of targeted lake shorelines facilitating direct protection      of loons and ensuring future availability of habitat.
• Augmenting natural nesting habitat with Artificial Nesting Platforms (ANP).
• Promoting stewardship of lakes with loons by encouraging lake associations
   within an eight-county area to register as Loon-Friendly Lakes: Hubbard,
   Becker, Clearwater, Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Aitkin, and Itasca.
• Promoting a Loon-Friendly Lake Registry (LFLR) program for lake associations
   within the Restoration of Common

Loons in Minnesota Project (RCLMP) area:

  • Establishing a Loon Liaison Training lake association members as volunteers to assist with loon monitoring 
  • Integrating loon conservation information into lake association management plans, newsletters, websites,and as agenda items in meetings 
  • Providing loon conservation information at key lake accesses 
  • Inviting Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) staff to speak about the Get the Lead Out (GTLO) program at lake association meetings. The Get the Lead Out program addresses the serious problem of loons being poisoned when they accidentally swallow lead tackle. 

The Minnesota DNR is urging lake associations to encourage their members to dispose of lead tackle at household hazardous waste sites and to host a lead tackle drop-off event. To support these goals the LLAA will have a lead tackle drop-off table at its Annual Meeting at the Hubbard Community Center on Sat June 25, 2022. After the meeting, the lead tackle collected will be weighed by the LLAA Loon Liaison and taken to the Hubbard County South Transfer Station for Household Hazardous Waste Disposal.

In addition, LLAA will encourage members to "Get the Lead Out" by checking their ice fishing  and summer tackle boxes, give lead-free tackle as gifts, and inculcate good practices in future generations by providing children and grandchildren with lead-free tackle. It is partly by encouraging such lake stewardship that the LLAA Planning Team hopes to earn Long Lake a place on the MN Loon Friendly Lake Registry.

LLAA has invited a special guest speaker for our LLAA Annual Meeting on Saturday morning, June 25, 2022. Steve Maanum, wildlife photographer and master storyteller, will share his loon experiences and fantastic loon photography.  Steve volunteers as part of the Big Mantrap loon team, checking the success rates of natural nests and artificial nesting platforms. You will come away with an even greater understanding of just how special the loons are and some unique behaviors too!

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

President’s message: October 24, 2021

 

( I wrote this a month ago for the newsletter...today's picture is very different. Some snow on the ground and a temperature of 29 degrees..but not ice on the lake yet)   Hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving.


The Fall colors have come and gone. The temperature has turned cooler but the sunshine is strong, making the lake and sky very blue. Even though so many people have left for the winter, this is still a beautiful time to live on Long Lake.

With things slowing down, I had time to look at our history page for Long Lake. I have said many times that we should take time to read the abstracts/titles that we have on our lake property. I got mine out of the safe deposit box at the bank. The oldest date on my property here on Chippewa Loop was 1885. I read several notices about the county commissioners visiting lot sites to help assess the potential damages to lake lots because of the dam proposed by Joe Delaney, Joseph Replogle and W.S. Steele to be built at Hubbard. The next date was December 13, 1911, when James H. Burdick homesteaded this section. Then parts of the section went back and forth between several people: The Burdicks, Edith Vanderpool, Dolly & Sophia Story and N.B Donovan and eventually the Recreation Sites & Farm Company (a Minnesota corporation). Finally on March 15, 1930, the land was registered to my grandfather, H.J. White. The language in the old abstract is difficult to read, but it is certainly fun to see some of the old names. Find out what your abstract says before we lose these historical memories.

Anyway please enjoy the newsletter, enjoy your winter adventures and keep in touch on Facebook or the website. (Remember you can always email or call anyone on the board with questions, comments, and concerns)

Carolynne (CC) White

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

7/4/2021 Flotilla Pictures

The weather cooperated and 20 to 30 families turned out in their decorated boats to celebrate the 4th of July. Thank you to all the families that participated this year.

Below is a link to a slide show of all the pictures we gathered. Thank you to Barb Roberts, CC White and Sharon Natzel for taking pictures.

Link to 2021 Flotilla Slides

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Summary of Annual Meeting 6/26/2021

This summary page includes: 

1. Keith Manlove's presentation: video and pdf of slides.

2. Video of second part of the business meeting which has the reports and announcements.

3. The Board of Directors' election results for neighborhoods 2, 4, and 6.

4. The Officers for the Association 2021 Board. 

5. Winners of the drawings for "door" prizes and Ice Out drawing.

Here is the YouTube link to Keith's presentation:  Keith Manlove's Presentation

Here is the link to pdf of Keith's slides:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JcEfutDaJU93wN60TcCiiFhZU1h1YOgQ/view?usp=sharing

Here is the link to the Business  and announcements section of the Annual Meeting:
Annual Meeting Part II

#####################################################################

Current Board of Directors 2021-2022.

(To see bios of our directors: See Board Members page/tab )

At Large:  Pam Petersen and Sam Oliver
Neighborhood 1:  Fred Rickers and Alternate James Alseth
Neighborhood 2:  Keith Manlove and Alternate Robert Nelson
Neighborhood 3:  Jaimie Beretta and Alternate Sharon Natzel
Neighborhood 4:  Mary Leadbetter and Alternate Cheryl Scholz
Neighborhood 5:  Kari Christen Richards and Alternate Carolynne C. White
Neighborhood 6:  Jim Seifert and Alternate Dawn Hammerschmidt

The follow were elected by the board members to be Officers for 2021-22



#######################################################################

Winners of Door Prizes and Ice Out:

The three contestants, Katy, Mae, & Nancy, of the "So You Want To Protect The Lake" game and game show host, Keith, are being mailed $25 "Thank You" Gifts for "Gardening Lake Friendly" shore-land improvements.

The two $25 Door Prize Gifts were drawn at the end of the meeting and are being mailed to Kari Christen Richards and Cheryl Scholz.

The quilt for "Ice Out Guesses" from Monika Wilkins goes to the drawing winner Mark Stenzel.  Mark is to pick up the prize quilt "Gardening Lake Friendly" at Monika's Quilt Shop in Park Rapids. 

Ice Out was April 7th this year.  No one guessed the exact date but Michael Stenzel (4/5) and Kari Richards (4/10) were close.

Saturday, June 26, 2021

4th of July Flotilla 2021 Information

Our 2021 Long Lake 4th of July Flotilla will be held on Sunday, July 4th.  We will gather at New Frontier Resort on the west side of the lake starting at 9:20 am. Follow the North or South Leaders as they lead off at 9:30 am.  If there is inclement weather (high winds, rain, thunderstorms) at 8:30 am on that day, the Flotilla will be cancelled.

Thursday, June 3, 2021

NOTICE: Annual Meeting of the Long Lake Area Association (Hubbard County) Inc

Meeting Date:  June 26, 2021 at 10 A.M.

Location:  Via ZOOM and Teleconference.

Section 5.1 ANNUAL MEETINGS. The Membership shall meet at least annually between June 1st and August 31st at such time and place as may be set by the Board of Directors. Such meeting is herein referred to as the Annual Meeting.

NOTICE. Notice of the Annual Meeting shall be given at the direction of the Board, not less than ten (10) or more than sixty (60) days prior to the holding of such meeting in such manner as shall reasonably assure that the Membership of the Association is adequately informed of the time, place and general nature of the meeting. Such notice shall include a tentative agenda or informal statement of topics expected to be considered at the Annual Meeting. The Board shall submit a proposed budget for consideration by the Membership at the meeting and the Treasurer or other authorized representative shall give a financial report.

Section 5.5 PLACE OF MEETINGS. 
 
The Board of Directors may designate any place suitable for the proposed meeting that is within or without the Association Area and within a reasonable distance as the place of meeting. The Board shall make every effort to hold the annual meeting in a physical location. When conditions prevent a physical meeting, then the Board shall be authorized to hold the Annual Meeting by conference telephone or similar communications equipment. All persons participating in the meeting shall be able to hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this provision shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notice is provided that the Annual Meeting of the Long Lake Area Association (LLAA) will be held via ZOOM video conference and telephone conference. The Board of Directors having met and determined that, with reference to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, conditions exist that prevent a physical meeting from being held. While the COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions have been dramatically reduced, because of the preparation and planning required, the decision was made to conduct the annual meeting virtually in 2021. The board is hopeful that the 2022 Annual Meeting will be held in person.

VOTING: 
Members are encouraged to VOTE for open Board Member positions PRIOR TO the annual meeting. Ballots will be distributed via email or by United States Postal Service for members without email capabilities. Completed ballots must be received by LLAA by 6-15-2021 in order to be counted. Instructions are provided with the ballots. Our LLAA emails often go to both spouses and other members of families. Please remember only one vote per paid membership.

RSVP:
 We are requesting that LLAA Members who are planning on attending the Zoom annual meeting register in advance using this link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkmtqzMvH9Bza7_sgOxyhbX_ysjZfMO2

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Zoom meeting.

REVIEW:
The LLAA 2020 Draft Annual Meeting Minutes:  Link to Annual Minutes  

Follow this link to view the The 2020-2021 current Financials with LLAA Board of Director approved Budget for 2021-2022:  Annual Treasurers Report

ATTENDING THE ANNUAL MEETING:
The LLAA Annual Meeting will be held as a Zoom Meeting. A telephone conferencing number will be provided for those members who do not wish to connect to the meeting via computer or tablet.

Members will have the ability to ask questions via “chat” or via telephone during the meeting. Please mute and turn off your video unless you are part of the program at that time.

Because of technology limitations and security concerns, we ask that each Member Family Group limit their attendance to 1 connection per membership. Please do not share any meeting IDs or Passwords other than to other Association Members. A roll call of Members attending will be taken prior to admittance to the meeting. We plan to record the presentation for viewing later through the LLAA website for those unable to attend 6/26.

Long Lake Area Association (Hubbard County) Inc AGENDA:

"Protecting and Preserving Long Lake - How Do We Do It?"

  • Call to Order & Welcome – Carolynne C. White (CC), President 
     
  • Program: Keith Manlove, UMN Master Gardener - “So You Want To Protect The Lake” 

  • Update on Long Lake Area Projects 

  • Update on Events & Winner of the Ice-Out Quilt Contributed by Monika Wilkins 

  • Board Reports 

  • Election Outcomes for “At Large” Board Member & Neighborhoods 2, 4, 6
  • LLAA Foundation Fund Drive Kickoff for 2021-2022
  • Adjournment and door prizes 

Prize Quilt from Monika's
 
 
The Ice Out drawing winner will pick up this quilt from Monika's Shop.

LLAA adds Aquatic Vegetation Removal Stations to North and South Public Accesses

Sharon and Bob Natzel of the Long Lake Area Association (LLAA) have placed an Aquatic Vegetation Removal Station at both the north and south public accesses after receiving permission from the MN DNR, the county, and Hubbard Township. The station has an Aqua Weed Stick secured on a retractable cable to help boaters remove vegetation from under their watercraft and trailer.  Removing the vegetation where zebra mussels hang out (Eurasian watermilfoil or curly leaf pond weed) is important to keep AIS from hitchhiking a ride between lakes.*

Another important tool we have is the free Decontamination Station at the Hubbard County Transfer Station just west of the lake.  It's open 7 days a week.  Simply call ahead for your appointment at 218-252-6738.  The hot water will kill any AIS.  Because the Decon Station is so convenient, we recommend that you decon before you go to any other lake and then decon before you bring your boat back to Long Lake too.  Decon your watercraft between waterbodies!  More information on the Hubbard County AIS Program here: 

http://www.co.hubbard.mn.us/departments/environmental_services/ais/index.php.


*The placement of these vegetation removal stations required a large amount of preparation, such as gathering needed permissions, and physical labor, pouring concrete, etc. We owe Sharon and Bob Natzel many thanks for undertaking all this work.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Long time Long Lake resident Jon Sams passed away on Monday, February 22, 2021

Written by CC White:

Jon Sams’ family has long ties to the Long Lake, Pine Haven Beach area.  His uncle, Ben Lantz, bought a lot and built the family’s cabin on Chippewa Loop during the 1930s.  (Ben Lantz bought his property with money he made on a paper route when he was just 12 years old, but that's a whole separate story.)  Josephine (Jo) Sams, Ben’s sister, would come with her 2 children, Sally and Jon, to stay for parts of the summer.  When Jon was a teenager he was hired by Harold White (my grandfather and owner of Pine Haven Resort) one summer to help Dick White (my father) deliver blocks of ice along the beach to all the cabins that still used iceboxes.  When Jon was discharged from the Air Force he spent some time at Long Lake.  As I remember it, Jon took myself and my sister, LuAnne, on fishing and rock hunting expeditions.  He also carved us rubber band guns.  He and my parents would go out to Chateau Paulette to eat and dance around the big fire place.  In the 1960s Jo Sams bought the lot next to and north of her brother’s place and built her own cabin. Over the years Jon married and brought his family to Long Lake.  When his mother died he inherited her cabin.  After his retirement Jon and his wife, Linda, spent most summers here.  Besides fishing on his little pontoon (The Lady Bug) every day, he also volunteered to be part of the Lake Association’s water quality monitoring team.  He took Secchi Disk readings at least once a month until he sold the cabin in 2012.  Jon also volunteered to teach a class in Lake Discovery in July of 2011 which showed the kids how to identify the plants and other life forms found in Long Lake.
 
Young Jon with a great northern.
To view Jon's obituary follow this link:  Obituary for Jon Sams (March 26, 1933 ~ February 22, 2021)

Jon with his dog Suzie
Jon with his dog, Suzie, on the power line trail.

A fish story at a Chippewa Loop cookout.

Monday, February 8, 2021

Zebra Mussels May Not End (Lake) Life As We Know It

 Fall Newsletter Article by Jim Blodgett

In the Zoom educational session on Zebra Mussels sponsored by LLAA on Thursday, October 22, Nicole Kovar, MN DNR Invasive Species Specialist, Northwest Region, provided a terrific overview about the life and practices of Zebra Mussels and the potential effects of said life and practices on Long Lake. Then followed an extensive Q & A session, and I’m here to tell you that we need not retreat wailing into the woods or put our cabins up for sale before word of Zebra Mussels in Long Lake gets around.

It is true that Zebra Mussels propagate at insane rates, a single one annually producing hundreds of thousands young, or as they are called, veligers. It is this invisible horde of veligers adrift in the lake that makes it important to eliminate the transportation of water between lakes, whether in bait buckets or fish wells or any other such containers. If moving bait to another body of water, replace the original water with bottled water or some other untainted water.

At four weeks veligers are only one millimeter long. By then they have started attaching themselves to solid surfaces with tiny filaments called byssal threads. These threads form extremely strong bonds to whatever the veliger settles on – rocks, docks, anchors, boat lifts, boat bottoms and motors, rafts, trampolines, the underside of recreational lily pads, native clams, other Zebra Mussels, and even plants. It is the attachment to plants that makes it important to eliminate their transportation between lakes. The first Zebra Mussel found in Long Lake was attached to a pond weed at the South Access.

The maximum length of a Zebra Mussel at the end of its first year is 1/4” to 3/8”. Any longer than that have been around for more than a year. Their presence is not particularly noticeable at the end of their first year in a lake. Following their introduction into a lake comes a lag period during which their numbers grow incrementally. This lag period is followed by a time of exponential increase, and people suddenly notice that the Zebra Mussels “are everywhere.” The length of the lag period varies greatly among lakes. Factors determining this length include the water’s temperature and its chemical makeup. Zebra Mussels do not propagate below 54° F, so a lake’s depth and water sources help determine the length of the breeding season. The amount of calcium in a lake helps to determine how quickly or slowly Zebra Mussel shells grow. Long Lake, unfortunately, has a robust calcium content.

Such differences among lakes result in large differences in the time by which Zebra Mussels’ population growth becomes exponential. Leech Lake took six years before its Zebra Mussel population growth hit overdrive. On the other hand, Cass Lake required only one year. Exponential growth continues until it finally plateaus at the lake’s carrying capacity. Zebra Mussel numbers do not wane significantly since they have few natural predators in Minnesota, unlike in their native Euro-Asian water bodies where predators keep their numbers in check. The few natural predators in our part of the world, such as sheepshank fish and diving ducks, simply cannot control such large numbers.

Mature Zebra Mussels feed by filtering tiny life forms out of the water. One Mussel filters about a quart of water a day. This filtering has great effect: Lake Winnibigoshish doubled in clarity in one year. We usually see clarifying our lake’s water as desirable (and it is), but too much clarification in a short time through removal of tiny life forms can significantly upset a lake’s ecology, upending fish and plant life. The Zebra Mussel shells themselves differ from those of our native crustaceans. The shells of our snails, for example, pulverize when dead, but those of the Zebra Mussels break into shards that can cut peoples’ feet.

The presence of Zebra Mussels in Long Lake will make a difference in the lives of us who live on the lake. Total eradication is not a realistic goal. We will need to keep boats and their motors on lifts, out of the water, when not actually using them. We may need to rake our swimming areas and perhaps take to wearing water shoes. Zebra Mussels will not affect the use of docks and lifts.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota AIS Research Center at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities is conducting many research projects related to Zebra Mussel control. Some promising projects involve the use of copper compounds, and the recently completed decoding of the Zebra Mussel genome allows exploration of genetically based control, perhaps, for example, rendering Zebra Mussels infertile through gene splicing. Such cures, of course, will take years to develop, refine and implement, but in the meantime we can continue to enjoy the pleasures that our lake provides.

To view the video from Nicole Kovar’s presentation, go to:  https://www.longlakeliving.org/2020/10/on-october-22nd-we-welcomed-llaa.html

Monday, February 1, 2021

Ice Out Guesses Due by March 1, 2021

Join the fun! 

Guess the “Ice Out” date for Long Lake this coming spring!  To participate in the fun please send your guess to longlakeliving@gmail.com.  The deadline for guesses is March 1.  All those selecting the winning date will be recognized.  A final drawing from ALL participant names by an unbiased observer will select one participant to receive the prize, donated by Monika Wilkins, which will be awarded at the LLAA Annual Meeting in 2021.  Good Luck to all!

Yes we know it looks like this out on the lake now, but think Spring and submit your best guess.

Thursday, January 21, 2021

Obituary of Long time Long Lake Resident, Evelyn White

Note: Evelyn is the mother of our current LLAA president, Carolynne (CC) White and her sister, LuAnne White.
 

Evelyn R. White passed away at her home on January 16, 2021 at the age of 97.  She fell and broke her hip while trying to dance with the snowflakes a few days before she decided that her body was holding her back from her best steps.  
Evelyn had made all her arrangement decisions several years ago.  Therefore, as per her wish, there will not be a funeral or any formal ceremony.
Evelyn was born in La Crescent, Minnesota, the youngest of 5 siblings.  She attended college at Winona Teachers’ College where she earned her teacher's certificate.  She then joined her older sister, Elizabeth, in Portland, Oregon to work in the shipyards, but was quickly recruited there to teach school.  After WWII she got a teaching job in Bemidji and met Richard M. White of Park Rapids.  They were married in 1946.  Both were teachers.  They lived and taught in Austin, Minnesota until 1984 when they retired to Richard’s family property on Long Lake.
 
Evelyn was a very private person but she did share many stories of times as a Master Gardener, as a member of the Park Rapids Friends of the Library, Library Book Club, Park Rapids League of Women Voters, and a Cat Gramma.  She played piano, sometimes sang in choirs, enjoyed embroidery, and in retirement she learned to do watercolor painting.  Her last kitty, Nutmeg, passed a week before Evelyn.
 
In memory of Evelyn we encourage you to adopt a pet, raise your voices in joyful song at every opportunity, and dance - even if the walker is your only partner. 

 
In lieu of flowers donations would be appreciated to one of the following places:
 
Headwaters Animal Shelter

901 Western Ave S.
Park Rapids, MN 56470
[Phone: (218) 237-7100]

Long Lake Area Association Foundation
(The LLAA Foundation works to keep Long Lake clean and healthy.) 
Gift to Honor Form:   LLAA Gift to Honor Form 
 
CHI St. Joseph's Health, Hospice Care
600 Pleasant Ave
Park Rapids, MN 56470
CHI St. Joseph’s Health Foundation Online Donations:  https://chisjh.org/donate/

Monday, January 4, 2021

Zebra Mussel SCUBA Dive by Jim Seifert

In July of 2020 Zebra Mussels were discovered in Long Lake at its South Access, located off MN Highway 87.

Several times each summer, Long Lake Area Association (LLAA) volunteers conduct visual inspections via “rake tosses” in areas with high boat traffic and high transient boat access. In addition, there are sessions each summer to train additional volunteers in how to conduct visual inspections. During one of these training sessions, Zebra Mussels were discovered near the South Access. The discovery was subsequently confirmed by Nicole Kovar, MN DNR AIS Specialist for our area, who, with a colleague, physically located additional Zebra Mussels while SCUBA diving near the South Access.

The LLAA, Hubbard County Environmental Services and the DNR then began the process of creating heightened awareness at all frequently used public accesses on Long Lake. Once a lake has an infestation of Zebra Mussels, completely eradicating the infestation is nearly impossible. Each Zebra Mussel creates millions of microscopic offspring during its lifecycle, many of which can be killed using certain poisonous chemicals, a process extremely toxic to other life in the lake. The analogy would be burning down your house to get rid of mice.

The rate of Zebra Mussel infestation can be controlled at best. Control is achieved best by not adding to the existing Zebra Mussel population through voluntary and guided AIS inspection at accesses. LLAA and its sister Long Lake Foundation are working hard to increase AIS inspector presence at accesses for the summer of 2021, but it’s expensive.

In August, DNR AIS Specialist Nicole Kovar and I conducted additional SCUBA dives to determine whether Zebra Mussels had established themselves farther out into the lake from the South Access. We were assisted by lake resident Sharon Natzel, AIS Prevention Coordinator. As Nicole and I dove for inspection, Sharon monitored our progress and checked nearby shore areas for evidence of Zebra Mussels. For experienced SCUBA divers, the term “dive” would be an overstatement. The deepest we dove was about nine feet. SCUBA diving instead of snorkeling enabled us to closely examine structure without having to repeatedly surface for a breath of air. We dove several areas northeast of the south access in stump fields and in shallow areas of sand and rocks that extend out into the lake. The good news is that we did not find any evidence of mature Zebra Mussels attached to structure in the lake. While this is great news, we know that Zebra Mussels exist in the lake.

Zebra Mussels live attached to hard surfaces and underwater structures. Zebra Mussels have no real natural predators in our MN  lakes. Relative to the native mussels they compete with, the Zebra  Mussels reproduce on an order of magnitude that overwhelms native mussels competing for the same food supply.

In some ways our lake’s Zebra Mussel infestation is a metaphor for the Corona Virus we have all been dealing with for the last 9 months. Zebra Mussels reach maturity in one year and have millions of offspring. Native mussels have thousands of offspring and mature in 10 years. While Zebra Mussels start slowly, their growth over several years is exponential as millions of offspring mature, have millions more who mature, and have millions more. Like our Corona Virus that was first detected in Washington State, within 9 months infected even the farthest reaches of the country.

The analogy stops there. There isn't a "vaccine" for Zebra Mussels. The University of Minnesota's AIS Research Center is conducting research on Zebra Mussels. There is a promising multi-year study on Lake Minnetonka using low-dose copper to suppress the population of Zebra Mussels in a bay that has an expected completion of Dec 2022. [https://www.maisrc.umn.edu/zebramussel-research ] We each have a personal responsibility to prevent the spread of AIS from one water body to another. We can make an appointment at the complimentary hot water decontamination station at the South Transfer Station for our boat/trailer when we plan to go to another lake and upon our return from another lake. We can educate our guests to do the same. 

LLAA is focused on containing the spread of zebra mussels and faucet snails plus preventing the spread of other AIS like starry stonewort and Eurasian watermilfoil into Long Lake by increasing the AIS watercraft inspection and education at the public accesses. LLAA is working with lake service providers, tournament organizers, resorts, VRBO operators, and lake residents to CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY before putting anything in the lake.

Lake residents and users of the lake can help by DONATING to the LLAA Foundation (see article in this newsletter) to help cover the high cost of AIS inspection and by following AIS prevention guidelines. LLAA is also looking for volunteers to train to recognize AIS within the lake and/or to hang a complimentary zebra mussel settlement sampler on your dock. You do not have to be a member of the LLAA to volunteer or be trained.

Jim Seifert grew up spending every summer at his family’s home on the northeast shore of Long Lake. Now retired, Jim and his wife Jona (a Long Lake native) live on the lake in the home that has seen generations of family since 1934. Jim is the Secretary of the Long Lake Area Association and Neighborhood Six representative.