Invasive Plant Treatment
The City of Big Lake has received a grant from the MN Dept of Natural Resources to treat extended areas of Big Lake and Lake Mitchell for Curley-Leaf Pond Weed (CLP) and Eurasian Water Milfoil EWM). A lake survey was again conducted and treatment for CLP and EWM occurred on May 6th. EWM will again be treated early summer. This is a 3 year DNR managed plan and Lake Restoration was awarded the bid for the chemical applications.
The expected outcome is a more permanent reduction of the dense plants along shorelines and the sandbar on Big Lake. As you know, they can only be controlled not eliminated. We are very happy this grant was received and were told it was because of the proactive approach of the Lake Association.

Shoreline Restoration
The plantings of shrubs and roses are nearly complete on the property adjacent to the channel and areas along the shoreline where the wave- breaks have been installed. Wild flowers and grasses will be planted the lst week in June. This is a cooperative venture with landowners, Sherburne County Soil & Water, the City, the Lake Association and volunteers.

The BLCLA is working diligently to preserve our lakes and has accomplished the following:

GRANTS RECEIVED:

CARGILL: “The Membership and the Board of Directors of the Big Lake Community Lakes Association (BLCLA) publicly thanks Cargill Kitchen Solutions, a local business, for its generous cash contribution to our association. In addition, Cargill Kitchen Solutions has also lent its support through its employees’ donation of time and effort to support the BLCLA.”

Many governmental and charitable groups have been contacted during our fund raising efforts but as the economy goes so goes available funding.

We are building a database for additional grant applications and would appreciate all the corporate support we can get for our resource, the lakes.

ACTIVITIES

LAKE CLEAN-UP: Lake Clean-Up was done 2 times this winter

EXOTIC PLANT CHEMICAL TREATMENT: Massive effort went into obtaining land owner permission to allow chemical treatment of the Lakes. The first treatment of our lakes was completed by Professional Lake Management (PLM). We were disappointed that DNR only approved treatment of 9 acres of the requested 28 acres of Curley Leaf Pond weed in Big Lake and Lake Mitchell. Assessments of that treatment will be completed next week. The City beach area has been treated and treatment for 3 acres of Eurasian Water Mil Foil will begin later this month pending DNR approval.

LAKE MONITORS: BLCLA volunteers have been trained and are identifying and GPS locating invasive aquatic plants and also monitoring lake clarity and temperature. Water clarity is continuing to decrease and is a sign we must continue our efforts. This reporting will shorten the time it takes and dollars it will cost to return our lakes to their natural state.

SHORELINE RESTORATION: BLCLA and the City are working with Sherburne County Soil and Water and with private landowners in identifying greenways for shoreline restoration.

FISH POPULATION: Our Fish Habitat Committee requests that smaller fish species be kept and large ones returned to the lake. The outcome will be a “larger in size” fish population.

MEETINGS AND EDUCATION: We have held several membership meetings which included educational opportunities and speakers – the last one was in April, 2008.

ANNUAL MEETING

An annual meeting was conducted at 9:00 a.m. on August 16, 2008 at the Connections office.