Curly-Leaf Pondweed Fund Drive

by John Szafranski

 We reported in the summer newsletter and at the CLA annual meeting in August the results of the very successful fund drive to control curlyleaf pondweed.  Not much has changed since the annual meeting with the current status as of October 15 shown below.

Cash donations received to date:  $77,713 (104+% of goal of $75,000)

Number of owners/members pledging or making one time donations:  195 (68% of owners

Pledges made but yet to be collected:  $23,140

Again, our sincere Thanks to all those who have submitted their pledges and sent in checks! 

Our current focus is primarily in two areas:

1.  Collecting pledge installments that are due in 2009.  Thirty Five (35) owners have yet to submit the second payment of their 3 year pledges.  We will be sending out reminder notices in the next 30 days with a reminder that these donations are fully tax deductible in the year made.

2.  Submitting applications for a MNDNR grant.  While we were fortunate to receive a grant for curly-leaf treatment for Lower Cullen in 2009, there is no guarantee of receiving one for 2010.  We must submit convincing applications and compete with many other lake associations and organizations for limited funds.  Carol Lindahl is again heading up this effort.

While we have already exceeded our initial fund drive goal, we encourage all those who have not yet made donations, and those who still owe pledge installments, to please submit them promptly. Doing so will allow the CLA to retain its budgeted $15,000 of existing special project funds for ongoing control of curlyleaf pondweed (CLP) and/or other invasive species. While the fund drive focused on just 3 years of treatment (2009 thru 2011), it is very clear that the need to control CLP will continue far beyond year 2011.

We will again recognize those who have sent in donations in our summer 2010 newsletter and at the 2010 annual meeting.  Some of our owners indicated they wished to remain anonymous and thus were not listed as donors at the annual meeting.  If you think you are one of those “anonymous” donors, and would like to change your mind and now be listed as a donor, please send an inquiry email to me at johnconn3537@comcast.net. -- or call me at 520-531-1993.

2009 Lake-Friendly Shoreline Awards

At the 28th Annual Meeting of the Cullen Lakes Association (CLA) the owners of two shoreline properties were honored as this year’s recipients of the Lake-Friendly Shoreline Award: Jim and Connie Rockewell, Middle Cullen, and Jerry and Bev Johnson, Lower Cullen.

The Rockwells built their retirement home set well back from the top of a bluff overlooking the east bay of Middle Cullen Lake.  There are many steps to get down to the bottom of the bluff, an area they have chosen to leave natural, but no one in the family seems to mind.  Their modest dock allows almost all the emergent aquatic vegetation to remain intact.  Jim and Connie have left many trees between their home and the bluff and most of the trees between the bluff and the lake, allowing them to watch nesting wood ducks and myriad varieties of birds yet still see the lake.   

The Johnsons’ lake home sits atop a steep slope looking south over Lower Cullen Lake.  They have a small lakeside yard at the top of the slope in front of the walkout  basement,  but other than the wood  steps down to the lake, they have left the slope and shoreline completely natural.  In fact, years ago when they first bought their property, Jerry and a friend were in the process of raking and clearing brush on the slope to the lake when a mutual friend, a  former CLA board member, stopped by to talk. He pointed out that they should not be clearing the slope -- it would only increase erosion and runoff into the lake.  Jerry and friend immediately stopped what they were doing and started replacing the pine needles and leaves to cover the soil they had exposed.   Jerry and Bev enjoy their view of the lake, through the trees, and all the birds and other wildlife that frequent the area.

The Lake-Friendly Shoreline Awards were established in 2006 to recognize property owners who help protect lake water quality by effectively using lakeshore Best Management Practices and to provide examples of lake-friendly shorelines to guide others in managing their property in a way that protects the lakes.  The award criteria include aspects of the shoreline both in the water and on the land. 

 

2009 Most Improved Shoreline Award

The second annual Most Improved Shoreline Award was presented at the Annual Meeting to the property owners of two adjacent Lower Cullen Lake properties: Stan and Laura Ringold and Jack and Bobbie Kettlewell.  Although the ultimate effects of their efforts to restore and stabilize their shorelines won’t be evident for several years, the project made remarkable progress throughout the summer. On the following pages, read their accounts of their shoreline problems and their attempts, prior and award-winning, to solve the problems in a lake-friendly way.

The Saga of Two Families’ Attempts To Stabilize Their Shorelines

 Jack & Bobbie Kettlewell’s story:

About 15 years ago Bobbie and I were noticing the loss of the bank on our shoreline on Lower Cullen Lake.  Our bank, which was about five feet high, was starting to drop off.  It was being undercut by muskrats and ice (so we thought at the time).  Later we found out that the ice did not damage our shoreline, as it did the Ringolds’ just north of us, but rather it has been wave action from wind and boats.  Before the level of these lakes was raised by the control dam at the south end of Gull Lake, there used to be about three to four feet of sand beach on our shore.  But the lake levels were raised and now we only have a foot of sand beach or none, depending on snowfall and rains.  Since about 15 years ago we estimate that our bank has been cut back by about one and a half to two feet.  One of the reasons it was a serious loss for us was that we did lose some well-established, beautiful trees and shrubs along our bank.

 
Our first attempt to save our bank was to put 20 five foot long Norway Pine logs under the bank where it had been undercut and in front of the bank where the undercutting had not yet begun.  Holes were drilled at angles and two and a half foot rebar was hammered through and into the beach.  Good and strong, or so we thought.  By the time we returned to the cabin in the spring the ice had removed all but two of the logs.  People around the lake undoubtedly found them floating near their shorelines.

 In 2000 Bobbie and I went to a Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality Workshop presented by the DNR.  The Workshop, led by Carrol Henderson of the DNR, was mainly focused on lakeshore property that had groomed lawns down to the lake or beach.  Our situation was a bit different because our property has never seen a lawn mower; it has always been kept natural.  At that meeting it was suggested that we develop root systems in the existing bank to help stabilize the it.  We planted a variety of recommended native grasses and plants, but not knowing how to garden with such sandy soil, our plants failed.

 In summer, 2008 we telephoned the Crow Wing County Soil and Water Conservation District office in Brainerd.  They sent a representative out to look at our property and the Ringolds’ property.  She took photos of our properties and stated that our properties had two different causes of damage.  However, solutions to correct the problem would be similar.  She contacted Heather Baird, of the Brainerd DNR office, who also inspected the property.  We were later informed that Heather Baird had applied for and received a grant to be used in our shoreline restoration project for both properties.  Plans were made and dates set for Heather and a work crew of young summer employees and student interns.  Restoration began in June, 2009. 

 Stan & Laura Ringold’s tale:

For many years -- since the low water era of the drought in the 1930s -- the shoreline of our property on the east side of Lower Cullen Lake has been subject to erosion caused by wave action from the prevailing west winds in spring, summer, and fall and ice heaving in the winter.  As a result, the shore has been pushed back approximately four feet.  Presently, some living trees are leaning out over the water, one is in the water and many more are threatened.

 To counteract these forces we have tried various schemes, starting in 2002.  Logs were anchored along the shoreline, but within a year they had floated away.  Shrubs and flowers and grasses were purchased from local nurseries, but none of them survived in the soft, dry, sandy soil.  One rainy spring day we gathered willow sticks, treated them with root growth hormones and planted them in the bank near the water’s edge.  By the end of the summer, they had all died.

 The Kettlewell’s story explains how we obtained assistance this last year in improving and stabilizing our shoreline.  On June 10 and 11, 2009 Heather Baird, DNR, and a Minnesota Conservation Corps crew literally wrapped the shoreline with a coconut fiber mat, staked coconut fiber logs at the waterline and planted hundreds of shrubs, native grasses and plants.  All of the plants were native to dry, sandy soils and they put roots down quickly when watered sufficiently.  Our task all summer has been to water the  plantings  and  watch  them  survive and grow.  In early  November,  Heather  Baird  will  bring  willows and  will  help  us  plant  them.   Hopefully,  they  will survive this time.

 The route we and the Kettlewells have taken to stabilize and anchor our shorelines turned out to be less costly than the rip rap many people have resorted to.  And improving a natural shoreline qualifies for grant money, whereas rip rap rarely does.   If all goes according to plan, which no one can ever guarantee will happen, we’ll be able to share photos of our restored and stabilized shorelines at next year’s CLA Annual Meeting.

 

Late Summer Highway Pick Up

 Thanks to Dan and Mary Hurley, John and Jackie Wesolosky, and Jim and Anne Kostreba for picking up the trash along CLA’s two mile stretch of Highway 371!  With only six people it was hard work.  We and the public appreciate your efforts.

 Editor’s note:  Following are the annual committee reports from the 2009 Annual Meeting

 Administration

Carol Lindahl, chair

The Administration Committee organized the 2009 Annual Meeting, working with the Education and Membership Committees.  Each year the CLA strives to provide an interesting program and displays.  The committee has also continued working on creating a procedures manual for the CLA, as recommended in the Lake Management Plan.

The committee has reviewed the Association’s financial status and believes that our finances are in good shape.  An audit of 2008 was conducted early in 2009 and found no major issues or problems with expense tracking and reporting.  This audit report is printed below.

Budget and Finance

Gary Jackson, chair

Sue Jordan completed an audit of the books (Quick Books records) for 2008.  She found that the Quick Books (QB) reports for profit/loss did not match the checkbook and bank statement balances.  The operating account income in QB was understated by $1230, due to entries having been made to the wrong accounts.  This error was corrected by an audit adjustment moving funds into the correct accounts.  A summary of Sue Jordan’s comments about the error follows: “The money collected for dues, donations, and curlyleaf pondweed control matched to the checking, savings, and certificate of deposit (CD) amounts.  The discrepancy with Quick Books discovered during the audit was really caused because of having separate checking and savings accounts for operations and projects.  I strongly recommend having one checking and one savings account.  All money collected should then be deposited to the savings account and the treasurer can move it from there to the checking account or into CDs as needed.  He can continue to show more detail in QB, but I see no benefit to maintaining separate bank accounts.”  Jordan also recommended the treasurer list all CDs at cost until they are redeemed and only then record the interest earned.

Education

Georgia Maguire, chair

The Education Committee has been involved in:

*Publishing and distributing The Cullen Currents, edited by Ann Beaver.

*Maintaining the CLA website:  www.cullenlakes.org, under webmaster Charlie Boudrye.

*Compiling of the Cullen Lakes History project.

*Making available for member use:  Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality (book), and Restoring Your Shore (CD ROM program by the DNR).  Both are available by contacting Ann Beaver.

*Judging and awarding the CLA Lake-Friendly Shoreline and Most Improved Shoreline Awards.

*Support of the Invasive Species Committee in gathering and distributing materials and resources at the Annual Meeting and in mass mailings.

*Conducting two seminars on the curlyleaf pondweed treatment project and fundraising.

*Mailing the Crow Wing County Shoreline Guide to all Cullen Lakes property owners.

Environmental Issues

Ann Beaver, Chair

Highway pick-up

Jackie Wesolosky organized a successful August 2008 highway pick-up with 11 people doing the work.  Anne Kostreba led the May 23, 2009 pick-up with a record 18 people helping.  Jackie will be leading the second 2009 highway pick-up on August 22.  Please consider helping -- the more people the faster it goes and the more fun it is.  To make the job easier on the back, CLA has long handled “grippers” for volunteers to use.

Shoreline restoration/preservation

At this Annual Meeting CLA is presenting its third annual Lake Friendly Shoreline Awards for up to one property on each of the Cullen Lakes.  Congratulations to this year’s winners: 

Middle Cullen -- Jim and Connie Rockwell

Lower Cullen -- Jerry and Bev Johnson

Also at this Annual Meeting CLA is presenting its second Most Improved Shoreline Award.  Two adjoining Lower Cullen properties were nominated and they were found to be deserving of the award.  Congratulations to the winners:

Stan and Laura Ringold

Jack and Bobbie Kettlewell

Once again, my sincere thanks to those of you who are leaving a buffer of unmanaged native plants along the water’s edge and/or are working to restore you shoreline to a natural state or choosing to leave it in its natural state.  Your individual efforts will make a cumulative positive impact on lake water quality and wildlife habitat!

Aquatic Vegetation

Denny Opsahl, chair

Members of the CLA Board have been monitoring the narrowing by cattail growth of the channel between Middle and Upper Cullen Lakes.  Last fall John Szafranski obtained a permit from the DNR that allowed the spraying of some of the native cattails in the channel and this work was done last fall.  These cattails have indeed died off, but the plant and root matter remain.  Several Board members met with the DNR in July and raised questions about  what  could  be  done.  We have since learned the DNR will allow us to apply for a  permit

to remove the dead cattails to restore the navigable channel to a width of 8 feet.  This work will have to be done manually and all plant matter must be removed and deposited on land above the normal high water mark.  We are investigating the costs and feasibility of getting this done.

Invasive Species

Carol Lindahl and Georgia Maguire, co-chairs

All three Cullen Lakes were treated for curlyleaf pondweed (CLP) this May.  More than 40 acres of Lower Cullen were treated by our contracted applicator, Professional Lake Management, on May 11 based on surveying done this spring by the DNR.  The DNR surveyed Lower Cullen as part of the grant we received from them and the costs of this treatment will be reimbursed by the State.

During June and early July the DNR and representatives of the Board surveyed Lower Cullen and found some remaining CLP, but drastically reduced amounts from what was seen last year.  Because of the nature of this invasive plant, it will never be eliminated from our lakes and diligent monitoring, with appropriate treatment, will always be needed to maintain good control.

Middle and Upper Cullen Lakes were both treated on May 21, by PLM with the DNR present to monitor the treatments.  Both Middle and Upper, however, have shown numerous patches of CLP with dense matting occurring in several locations on Upper Cullen.  True to their performance agreement, PLM discounted the cost of these treatments.

A significant issue with the treatment of CLP seems to be pinpointing where the invasive has started to grow at the beginning of the spring season, which is when it must be treated -- when water temperatures are below 60 degrees and before native plants begin growing.  Getting more detailed maps in place this season to guide this process is a necessary step for better success next year.

Water Quality

Ann Beaver, chair

Monthly water samples and water clarity readings continue to be taken May through September.  The results of the water testing indicate a slight improvement of water quality over last year.  All three lakes remain within the normal range for our ecoregion.  Lake water levels were once again low for most of the season.  A complete report will be published in the winter 2010 newsletter and posted on the CLA web site.  You can also access the 2007-2009 data on the A.W. Research Laboratories web site:  www.awlab.com.  Click on “Client Data,” then “Client Data Unsecured,” then “TSI Program,” and finally “Cullen Lakes Association.”

Lake Management Planning

Ann Beaver, chair

The committee’s big task in 2009 is to revise the property owners survey that is sent to all shoreland property owners on the Cullen Lakes.  The results of the survey, which will be sent out early in 2010, will be used to revise and/or update our Lake Management Plan.  This is supposed to be done every five years.  However, we are one year behind schedule due to the amount of time and effort required last year by everything related to the curlyleaf pondweed control project.

Land Development

Ann Beaver, chair

The committee continues to monitor land use applications that involve properties on the Cullen Lakes and in their watershed, for what happens on land has a direct effect on lakes and streams.  The committee bases CLA’s position on rezoning, variance, and other land use requests on how well the request complies with the requirements of the ordinance and on the potential environmental consequences of any allowed deviation from the ordinance.

This past year, of behalf of the CLA Board of Directors, the committee monitored construction on the lakes’ shorelands, submitted a letter of objection or no objection on two variance requests, and continued to monitor the renovation of Wilderness Resort Villas, attending many planning commission meetings in Pequot Lakes and several Crow Wing County board of adjustment meetings.

Membership

Charlie Boudrye, chair

Dues notices were mailed to 314 Cullen Lakes property owners and associate members in January, with reminders sent in April.  As of July 25, 231 property owners and associate members had paid dues for 2009.  In addition, 4 complimentary memberships had been extended to individuals purchasing property on the Cullen Lakes since August 2008, for a total of 235 memberships.  Each new member has received the University of Minnesota Extension Service’s Septic System Owner’s Guide and CLA’s Managing Your Shoreland:  A Guide for Lakeshore Owners along with a letter welcoming them to the lakes and the association.

Fish Management

Denny Opsahl and Paul Reichenbach, co-chairs

The DNR stocked walleye fingerlings in Middle Cullen in October 2008.  Walleye fingerlings are one to six months old and average from three to eight inches by fall.  Yearlings average from six to 12 inches.  The DNR feels the stocking program is working and plans no changes to the current program.

The following chart gives the walleye stocked in Middle Cullen for the last 10 years:

Year           Size           Number     Pounds

2008           fingerlings  2,205          147

2005           fingerlings  2,394          163

2002           yearlings    833               49

1999           fingerlings  819               63

The DNR perfomed fish surveys in all three Cullens this year.  Bass were surveyed in the spring.  The electrofishing technique works better for bass than gill and trap nets. Electrofishing temporarily stuns the bass so they can be measured and weighed.  Other fish species were surveyed the week ending July 11 on Upper Cullen, July 18 on Middle Cullen, and July 25 on Lower Cullen.  Gill nets are usually 250 feet long and are used to capture primarily walleyes, northern pike, and yellow perch.  You may have noticed the pairs of buoys that marked the gill net locations.  Trap nets are smaller nets used to capture bluegills and other small fish.  These are generally placed in shallow water.

The survey results and status of each lake’s fishery will be released in about 18 months.  The last results made public were for July of 2003.

Fundraising

John Szafranski, chair

At the 2008 Annual Meeting, a plan was presented and approved to raise $75,000, from Cullen Lakes property owners, to defray the $90,000 projected costs of controlling curlyleaf pondweed (CLP) and purple loosestrife for the three years of 2009-2011.  The remaining $15,000 would come from the existing CLA Special Projects Fund.  Grants from state or private sources would also be pursued.

Pledge cards and various information materials were sent out during the year and CLA board members followed up via letters, phone calls and personal contacts.  Carol Lindahl applied for a DNR grant for each lake.

The major fund drive achievements as of July 26 are:

*Approximately $99,000 pledged or donated with $77,000 already received from 194 owners.

*18 CLA calendars were awarded (gift for contributing $1,000 or more by December 1, 2008).

*A grant from the DNR was received to treat Lower Cullen Lake for CLP.

Committee activities for the upcoming year will focus on collecting the remaining money pledged, securing additional grant funds, documenting the fund drive process, and appropriate recognition of donors.

Our sincere thanks to all who have made this fund drive a resounding success!

 
CLA Committees -- 2009-2010 

dministration	Aquatic Vegetation	Budget & Finance
Carol Lindahl, chair	Denny Opsahl, chair	Gary Jackson, chair
Nancee Carpenter	Rich Johnson	Charlie Boudrye
Gary Jackson	Georgia Maguire	Jim Kostreba
John MacGibbon	Phil Reichenbach	Carol Lindahl
John Szafranski

 

Education	Environmental Issues	Fish Management
Georgia Maguire, chair	Ann Beaver, chair	Paul Reichenbach, chair
John MacGibbon	Jim Kostreba	Gary Jackson
Tom MacGibbon	Carol Lindahl	Denny Opsahl
John Szafranski	John MacGibbon
	Tom MacGibbon
	Georgia Maguire
	Paul Reichenbach

undraising	Invasive Species	Land Development
John Szafranski, chair	Carol Lindahl, co-chair	Ann Beaver, chair
Charlie Boudrye	Georgia Maguire, co-chair	Charlie Boudrye
Rich Johnson	Rich Johnson	Paul Reichenbach
Carol Lindahl	Denny Opsahl	Phil Reichenbach
Georgia Maguire	Paul Reichenbach
	Phil Reichenbach
	John Szafranski

Membership	Water Quality	Water Surface Management
Charlie Boudrye, chair	Ann Beaver, chair	Charlie Boudrye, chair
Ann Beaver	Charlie Boudrye	Gary Jackson
Carol Lindahl	Denny Opsahl	Rich Johnson

 

Lake Management Planning

President, chair
all committee chairs

All CLA members are eligible to serve on one or more of these committees.  If you would like to do so, please contact the committee chair.