Lake Management Plan for the Cullen Lakes
Goal 1: Maintain or improve the
water quality of the Cullen Lakes
Strategy A: Monitor the water quality of each lake using the three most common parameters: Secchi disk for water clarity, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll a.
Actions: 1. Monthly, May through September, take lake water samples and have them analyzed by a
certified lab for total phosphorus and chlorophyll a.
2. At least twice monthly, May through September, take Secchi disk readings for water clarity.
3. Plot the results to detect trends.
Strategy B: Increase the number of lakeshore properties that have a shoreline buffer of unmowed native vegetation or a completely natural shoreline.
Actions: 1. Present the annual Lake Friendly Shoreline Award and the Most Improved Shoreline Award to up to one property on each lake.
2. Note award winning shorelines on the annual property owners map/guide.
3. At least once each year, publish an educational article on natural shorelines in the
Association’s newsletter and post it on the CLA website.
4. Educate new property owners regarding what lakeshore property alterations require
permits from the local government unit.
Strategy C: Encourage all developed Cullen Lakes lakeshore properties to have sewage treatment systems that effectively treat wastewater.
Actions: 1. Annually, educate property owners on the recommended usage and maintenance of septic systems.
2. Provide each new lakeshore property owner with the University of Minnesota
Extension’s Septic System Owner’s Guide.
Strategy D: Identify possible sources of pollutants in the lakes from sources other than inadequately treated wastewater.
Actions: 1. At least once a year, analyze wetland and stream discharge into the lakes for total
phosphorus. Plot the results to detect trends.
2. Identify lakeshore properties with serious erosion problems and offer assistance to their
owners in finding solutions for the problems.
Goal 2: Maintain an aquatic plant community of sufficient abundance to support fish and wildlife, to protect shorelines
and lake bottoms from wave action, and to improve water quality.
Strategy A: Maintain a healthy, well-balanced aquatic plant community while controlling vegetation which
interferes with reasonable access to and use of the water.
Actions: 1. Annually, educate lakeshore owners on native aquatic plants, their value to the lake, the
proper and/or allowed methods of their removal, and possible ramifications of altering the native plant community.
2. Monitor changes in the abundance of aquatic vegetation.
3. Annually, update the aquatic vegetation management plan for each lake.
Goal 3: Control and prevent infestations of aquatic invasive species to protect native plant and animal populations and
the lakes’ ability to support recreational activities.
Strategy A: Control the growth and spread of purple loosestrife.
Actions: 1. Educate lakeshore property owners on their responsibility to identify and control purple loosestrife on their property.
2. Work with the DNR or other resources to coordinate efforts to control infestations on the lakes.
Strategy B: Control the growth and spread of curlyleaf pondweed.
Actions: 1. Annually, map and document with GPS coordinates the locations of nuisance curlyleaf pondweed.
2. Annually, work with the DNR or other resources to develop a curlyleaf pondweed treatment plan.
Strategy C: Monitor the lakes for new aquatic invasive species.
Actions: 1. Annually, educate lakeshore property owners on identifying aquatic invasive species.
2. Immediately upon confirmed identification of an aquatic invasive species in the Cullen
lakes, take action to eliminate, control, or decrease its presence or growth.
Goal 4: Enhance the recreational use, safety, and enjoyment of the lakes’ water surfaces while protecting them as
natural resources.
Strategy A: Minimize the environmental impact of motorized watercraft on the lakes.
Actions: 1. Annually, provide lake property owners with a review of and update on watercraft regulations.
2. Annually, educate lake property owners on lake-friendly usage of motorized watercraft.
3. Support state guidelines for marking no wake zones.
Goal 5: Maintain or improve the fish population of each lake.
Strategy A: Provide lake property owners with information that will enable them to set reasonable
expectations for the current and future quality of fishing on the Cullen Lakes.
Actions: 1. When a report is available, publish a newsletter article reviewing the most recent DNR lake
survey results on fish spawning conditions and test netting results for each lake.
2. Annually, educate property owners regarding catch-and-release and encourage them to practice it.
Strategy B: Work with the DNR to protect/improve/restore fish habitats and populations.
Actions: 1. Maintain a committee whose responsibility it is to work with DNR Fisheries personnel.
Goal 6: Promote responsible and sustainable land development to protect the lakes and their environs.
Strategy A: Take a proactive position on the development of shoreland.
Actions: 1. Maintain a committee whose responsibility it is to act as a liaison with the jurisdictions in
which the Cullen Lakes are located on matters concerning shoreland ordinances, rezoning
requests, development proposals, conditional use permits, and variance requests.
2. Submit a position letter and attend public hearings, when possible, for all rezoning requests,
development proposals, conditional use permits, variance requests, etc. involving Cullen
Lakes lakeshore properties.
3. Annually, via the newsletter, educate lakeshore property owners on lake-friendly shoreland development.
Strategy B: Monitor development and land use within the Cullen Lakes watershed.
Actions: 1. Stay informed of development and land use requests via legal announcement in area newspapers.
2. When appropriate, attend local government unit meetings and public hearings that concern
rezoning requests, development proposals, conditional use permits, variance requests, etc.
for properties within the watershed to express the Association’s position and/or concerns.
Goal 7: Educate and inform Cullen Lakes property owners, Association members, and the general public on topics
related to the preservation of the quality of the lakes and their environs.
Strategy A: Educate lakeshore owners on their responsibility to preserve the quality of natural resources.
Actions: 1. Use a quarterly newsletter as the principle medium to educate property owners on Best
Management Practices.
2. Maintain an Association website.
3. As needed, update and revise the Association’s Managing Your Shoreland: A Guide for
Lakeshore Owners for distribution to all new Cullen Lakes lakeshore property owners.
Strategy B: Inform lakeshore property owners of Board and committee actions taken to meet the Association’s goals and objectives.
Actions: 1. Annually, provide lakeshore property owners with written reports of Board and committee actions.
2. Annually, publish the water quality test results in the newsletter.
Strategy C: Provide information to lakeshore property owners on current issues that could
affect the future of the Cullen Lakes.
Actions: 1. As needed, send special mailings and other communications to lakeshore property owners
and Associate members to keep them informed on current critical issues.
Goal 8: Review and, when necessary, revise the Association’s organizational structure to ensure attainment of its goals
and objectives.
Strategy A: Work towards ensuring that the Association’s committee structure supports the goals and objectives of this plan.
Actions: 1. Annually, analyze the current committee structure and make changes needed to accomplish
the goals and objectives adopted by the Association.
2. By spring of 2011, review specific responsibilities assigned to each committee and update/ revise them where appropriate.
3. By fall of 2011, develop a manual of procedures defining officer and committee roles,
responsibilities, duties, and the working relationships between entities in order to facilitate
officer or committee chair and Board member turnover.
Strategy B: Obtain necessary financing for the Association’s general operations and projects through dues, grants, fund drives, and gifts.
Actions: 1. Encourage adult family members of property owners to join the Association.
2. Encourage all co-owners of lakeshore properties who are not currently members to join the Association.
3. Annually, assess the need for an increase in dues.
4. Encourage members to include a donation with their payment of annual dues.
5. Annually, assess the need for a fund drive to continue the control of aquatic invasive species.
Goal 9: Establish a proactive position in the planning for the future of the Cullen Lakes.
Strategy A: Evaluate and modify the Lake Management Plan (LMP) on a regular basis.
Actions: 1. At least once a year, evaluate the current database and the need for additional data to meet
current goals.
2. At least once a year, review the LMP to determine if any actions need to be modified.
3. At least once a year, report the progress towards meeting the goals of the LMP to the
membership.
4. Every five years, conduct a survey of lakeshore property owners to profile their
understanding of and need for shoreland management and to use as a basis for
making changes to the LMP.
5. Every five years, analyze trends that may affect the quality of the lakes to determine what
modifications are needed to the LMP.
Strategy A: Monitor the water quality of each lake using the three most common parameters: Secchi disk for water clarity, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll a.
Actions: 1. Monthly, May through September, take lake water samples and have them analyzed by a
certified lab for total phosphorus and chlorophyll a.
2. At least twice monthly, May through September, take Secchi disk readings for water clarity.
3. Plot the results to detect trends.
Strategy B: Increase the number of lakeshore properties that have a shoreline buffer of unmowed native vegetation or a completely natural shoreline.
Actions: 1. Present the annual Lake Friendly Shoreline Award and the Most Improved Shoreline Award to up to one property on each lake.
2. Note award winning shorelines on the annual property owners map/guide.
3. At least once each year, publish an educational article on natural shorelines in the
Association’s newsletter and post it on the CLA website.
4. Educate new property owners regarding what lakeshore property alterations require
permits from the local government unit.
Strategy C: Encourage all developed Cullen Lakes lakeshore properties to have sewage treatment systems that effectively treat wastewater.
Actions: 1. Annually, educate property owners on the recommended usage and maintenance of septic systems.
2. Provide each new lakeshore property owner with the University of Minnesota
Extension’s Septic System Owner’s Guide.
Strategy D: Identify possible sources of pollutants in the lakes from sources other than inadequately treated wastewater.
Actions: 1. At least once a year, analyze wetland and stream discharge into the lakes for total
phosphorus. Plot the results to detect trends.
2. Identify lakeshore properties with serious erosion problems and offer assistance to their
owners in finding solutions for the problems.
Goal 2: Maintain an aquatic plant community of sufficient abundance to support fish and wildlife, to protect shorelines
and lake bottoms from wave action, and to improve water quality.
Strategy A: Maintain a healthy, well-balanced aquatic plant community while controlling vegetation which
interferes with reasonable access to and use of the water.
Actions: 1. Annually, educate lakeshore owners on native aquatic plants, their value to the lake, the
proper and/or allowed methods of their removal, and possible ramifications of altering the native plant community.
2. Monitor changes in the abundance of aquatic vegetation.
3. Annually, update the aquatic vegetation management plan for each lake.
Goal 3: Control and prevent infestations of aquatic invasive species to protect native plant and animal populations and
the lakes’ ability to support recreational activities.
Strategy A: Control the growth and spread of purple loosestrife.
Actions: 1. Educate lakeshore property owners on their responsibility to identify and control purple loosestrife on their property.
2. Work with the DNR or other resources to coordinate efforts to control infestations on the lakes.
Strategy B: Control the growth and spread of curlyleaf pondweed.
Actions: 1. Annually, map and document with GPS coordinates the locations of nuisance curlyleaf pondweed.
2. Annually, work with the DNR or other resources to develop a curlyleaf pondweed treatment plan.
Strategy C: Monitor the lakes for new aquatic invasive species.
Actions: 1. Annually, educate lakeshore property owners on identifying aquatic invasive species.
2. Immediately upon confirmed identification of an aquatic invasive species in the Cullen
lakes, take action to eliminate, control, or decrease its presence or growth.
Goal 4: Enhance the recreational use, safety, and enjoyment of the lakes’ water surfaces while protecting them as
natural resources.
Strategy A: Minimize the environmental impact of motorized watercraft on the lakes.
Actions: 1. Annually, provide lake property owners with a review of and update on watercraft regulations.
2. Annually, educate lake property owners on lake-friendly usage of motorized watercraft.
3. Support state guidelines for marking no wake zones.
Goal 5: Maintain or improve the fish population of each lake.
Strategy A: Provide lake property owners with information that will enable them to set reasonable
expectations for the current and future quality of fishing on the Cullen Lakes.
Actions: 1. When a report is available, publish a newsletter article reviewing the most recent DNR lake
survey results on fish spawning conditions and test netting results for each lake.
2. Annually, educate property owners regarding catch-and-release and encourage them to practice it.
Strategy B: Work with the DNR to protect/improve/restore fish habitats and populations.
Actions: 1. Maintain a committee whose responsibility it is to work with DNR Fisheries personnel.
Goal 6: Promote responsible and sustainable land development to protect the lakes and their environs.
Strategy A: Take a proactive position on the development of shoreland.
Actions: 1. Maintain a committee whose responsibility it is to act as a liaison with the jurisdictions in
which the Cullen Lakes are located on matters concerning shoreland ordinances, rezoning
requests, development proposals, conditional use permits, and variance requests.
2. Submit a position letter and attend public hearings, when possible, for all rezoning requests,
development proposals, conditional use permits, variance requests, etc. involving Cullen
Lakes lakeshore properties.
3. Annually, via the newsletter, educate lakeshore property owners on lake-friendly shoreland development.
Strategy B: Monitor development and land use within the Cullen Lakes watershed.
Actions: 1. Stay informed of development and land use requests via legal announcement in area newspapers.
2. When appropriate, attend local government unit meetings and public hearings that concern
rezoning requests, development proposals, conditional use permits, variance requests, etc.
for properties within the watershed to express the Association’s position and/or concerns.
Goal 7: Educate and inform Cullen Lakes property owners, Association members, and the general public on topics
related to the preservation of the quality of the lakes and their environs.
Strategy A: Educate lakeshore owners on their responsibility to preserve the quality of natural resources.
Actions: 1. Use a quarterly newsletter as the principle medium to educate property owners on Best
Management Practices.
2. Maintain an Association website.
3. As needed, update and revise the Association’s Managing Your Shoreland: A Guide for
Lakeshore Owners for distribution to all new Cullen Lakes lakeshore property owners.
Strategy B: Inform lakeshore property owners of Board and committee actions taken to meet the Association’s goals and objectives.
Actions: 1. Annually, provide lakeshore property owners with written reports of Board and committee actions.
2. Annually, publish the water quality test results in the newsletter.
Strategy C: Provide information to lakeshore property owners on current issues that could
affect the future of the Cullen Lakes.
Actions: 1. As needed, send special mailings and other communications to lakeshore property owners
and Associate members to keep them informed on current critical issues.
Goal 8: Review and, when necessary, revise the Association’s organizational structure to ensure attainment of its goals
and objectives.
Strategy A: Work towards ensuring that the Association’s committee structure supports the goals and objectives of this plan.
Actions: 1. Annually, analyze the current committee structure and make changes needed to accomplish
the goals and objectives adopted by the Association.
2. By spring of 2011, review specific responsibilities assigned to each committee and update/ revise them where appropriate.
3. By fall of 2011, develop a manual of procedures defining officer and committee roles,
responsibilities, duties, and the working relationships between entities in order to facilitate
officer or committee chair and Board member turnover.
Strategy B: Obtain necessary financing for the Association’s general operations and projects through dues, grants, fund drives, and gifts.
Actions: 1. Encourage adult family members of property owners to join the Association.
2. Encourage all co-owners of lakeshore properties who are not currently members to join the Association.
3. Annually, assess the need for an increase in dues.
4. Encourage members to include a donation with their payment of annual dues.
5. Annually, assess the need for a fund drive to continue the control of aquatic invasive species.
Goal 9: Establish a proactive position in the planning for the future of the Cullen Lakes.
Strategy A: Evaluate and modify the Lake Management Plan (LMP) on a regular basis.
Actions: 1. At least once a year, evaluate the current database and the need for additional data to meet
current goals.
2. At least once a year, review the LMP to determine if any actions need to be modified.
3. At least once a year, report the progress towards meeting the goals of the LMP to the
membership.
4. Every five years, conduct a survey of lakeshore property owners to profile their
understanding of and need for shoreland management and to use as a basis for
making changes to the LMP.
5. Every five years, analyze trends that may affect the quality of the lakes to determine what
modifications are needed to the LMP.
UPDATED July 28, 2010
