Lake Washington Association Board Meeting September 18, 2018
Board Members Present:
| Mike Wosmek Sandy Wosmek Lyle Walker Cathy Klehr Dean Shaner | Pat Hanson Ron Bubany Skip Sustacek Sharon Daniels | Steve Grotbo Steve Ullom David Rathe Mark Johnson |
Board Members please let someone know if you are not able to attend.
Treasurer Report: Invasive Species Fund $59,910.26 General Fund $69,351.11
Paid Memberships: 226
1) Call Meeting to Order 7 PM – President Steve Grotbo
2) Secretary’s Aug Board Meeting Report – approved for publishing on website.
3) Treasurer’s Aug 2018 Financial Report – Lyle W reported: Income $200 membership and $40.42 Interest for Aug. Expenses $67.01 Pot Luck Dinner, RMB labs (water testing) $121.31, Shoreline Captains $83.62, Contour Mapping $83.62. We have $2025.00 donated by 77 people for the Dassel Fire Dept. Lyle will be sending them a check in October.
4) Committee Reports:
Aquatic Invasive Species:
A. Water Quality Testing – Dave R. completed last water test on 9/17 and reported our test results so far this year are about 1/2 the readings from the past. Seechi disk readings are averaging about 6.5 feet.
B. Vegetation Survey – Limnopro completed an Aquatic Invasive Species Survey on August 25.
Diagnosis
Starry stonewort: Not detected
Eurasian watermilfoil: Present
Curly-leaf pondweed: Present
Brittle naiad: Not detected
Rusty crayfish: Not detected
Banded mystery snails: Not detected
Chinese mystery snails: Not detected
Zebra mussels (Juvenile-Adults): Present
Zebra mussels (Veligers): Present
Spiny waterflea: Not detected
Outcome Summary: AIS were detected at multiple locations within the lake. AIS included zebra mussels (14/24 sites = 58%), Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM; 3/24 sites = 13%), and curly-leaf pondweed (CLP; 3/24 sites =13%). Based on intermediate leaflet count (11-13) and thicker stem than typical EWM, plants identified as EWM may be hybrid with northern watermilfoil; genetic testing would be required to rule out.
CLP is underrepresented due to its life-cycle being such that at the time of this survey most of the annual crop has died back. No other invasive species were detected. Nineteen native plant species were detected, including coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum), muskgrass (Chara spp.), water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia), northern watermilfoil (Myriophyllum sibiricum), slender naiad (>Najas flexilis), stonewort (Nitella sp.),
variable-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton gramineus), Illinois pondweed (Potamogeton illinoensis), floating leaf pondweed (Potamogeton natans), American pondweed (Potamogeton nodosus), whitestem pondweed (Potamogeton praelongus), small pondweed (Potamogeton pusillus), clasping leaf pondweed (Potamogeton richardsonii), stiff-leaved pondweed, (Potamogeton strictifolius), flat-stem pondweed (Potamogeton zosteriformis),
sago (Stuckenia), lesser bladderwort (Utricularia minor), common bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris), and water celery (Valisnera americana).
Survey Description
– ISA #000: 200 ft x 100 ft, boat launch, transect and snorkel
– ISA #100: 100 ft x 100 ft, previous EWM, transect (no diving due to depth/low water clarity)
– ISA #200: 100 ft x 100 ft, boat launch, transect and snorkel
– ISA #300: 100 ft x 100 ft, inlet culvert area, transect and snorkel
– Deep water plankton tow (125 um mesh) and microscopic observations
Noted in this survey was EWM growing in water 10 feet deep and this is not easily treated at this depth. This variety of EWM looked like some type of hybrid. The report included maps of areas they tested showing sites of AIS found and GPS coordinates for the 20 sites used in this survey. They included native vegetation found during this survey. The full report will be posted on our website. There was a discussion about having surveys like this completed on a regular basis. Mark J. attended and participated in a workshop looking for and identifying Starry Stonewart, This included doing vegetation surveys in Lake Washington and Stella where none was found.C. I-LIDS/Watercraft Inspection – Dave R reported we will be getting invoice from Enviromental Services and that we will have to renew our 3 year contract for next year. Also will have to renew Special Use Permit with the DNR, Dave will work on this in January 2019. The I-LIDS unit will be left in until sometime in October. They are continuing to do water craft inspections on the weekends, not sure how long this will last.
D. Cormorants & Pelicans – Dean S has sent emails to Scott M at the DNR about doing population counts on the cormorants and found out next count will be in 2020 by UM volunteers. There are reports of seeing estimated flocks on the water of 1,000 or more. Although not seeing as many on the lake as was reported earlier in the year.
E. Zebra Mussels – Mike took the hotels out on Labor Day, with many 100’s on each of them. It was estimated about 25% were immature. Dave will share information with the UM and DNR. He will write an article for the fall Newsletter.
F. Watershed – Skip S. reported Joe Norman, MSWC, met with a property owner on the north side of the lake, that has a very steep yard that runs into the lake. Joe was working with him on a design plan to redirect water flowing from his yard into the lake. The committee is still looking at the large culvert on the North/Northeast side of the lake, near the Klehr’s. Water testing will be done during times of higher water flow to look at what is in the water. Skip S and Ron B met with Joe to look at the lake mapping data that showed areas of soft bottoms around the lake. There may be more settlement on the Southside due to more northernly winds. Next year we will begin doing water quality testing at culverts and sites running into the lake. Also may include testing a little further out from these sites to make comparisons. Dave R will contact RMB about what types of chemicals, sediments we could/should be testing for.
Membership / Shoreline Captains – Cathy K reported on her major costs for the year. She agrees we have 226 memberships at this time. Ron B will send paid members list to Cathy K so she can send to Shoreline Captains and to Steve G so it can be posted on our website. Cathy continues to monitor home sales on the lake, so she can contact new owners.
Education & Public Relations:
A. Fall Newsletter – All articles need to be in to Ron B by Monday Oct. 1. At this time we have 2 ads for the newsletter.
B. Website, Facebook, and Email Activity – Steve G reported we are getting an average of 3 hits per day on the website, have 192 likes on Facebook (Steve G. posted an event sponsored by the Dassel Rod ‘n Gun Club “Jacobs way of Life” on our Facebook page). Steve G reported Lake Stella changed their Facebook page to group listing making is a private view only site but is recommending LWIA stay with regular Facebook page. The new Directory is posted on our website.
C. Lake Mapping – Ron B and Tom H have been exploring different options of how we can use the mapping information and share it with LWIA membership. He had several ideas to share (a booklet with several pages costing $14.95) and did make a larger map with contours at 2 feet. He had it mounted on tag board at a cost of $58. Ron will continue to explore options/ideas and costs over the winter and the Board will decide by the March 2019 meeting what options we will share with members and can make available at a cost.
Social Committee – Dates for meetings next year are Members Meeting May 4 and Pot Luck Aug 3. Lyle W has already reserved these dates at the Dassel Rod n Gun Club for 2019.
Financial / Grants – Sharon D developed a spread sheet to better track and report our volunteer hours, in all areas, for 2018. She will email this to all Board members to review and update before 9/28. These hours can be used for in-kind services we use in our grant requests for next year. Sharon reported we can use 50% of our hours at a rate of $20 per hour on our matching funds for grant requests. The MCAL grants must meet the needs of property owners and be a benefit to Lake Washington. Some areas she is looking at are water related that include milfoil, grade stabilization, water quality, water sampling, and watershed/culvert diversions. She will write the grant proposals up and send them for Board review. These applications need to include areas, budget and in-kind hours. These grants are due in October.
MCAL – Representatives/meeting dates – Pat H reported next meeting is October 18.
7) Open Discussion
– Mike W shared the landing at the end of 233rd Street is public land owned by the county/township. So they are responsible to maintenance.
– Board approved cancelling the Oct 2018 board meeting because it is only 2 weeks away and any actions could be taken care of via email.
Next Board Meeting Scheduled for February 2019 date and place TBD