Objective A: Continue to monitor trends
in the water quality of each lake.
Actions:
1. Annually, test
for total phosphorus and chlorophyll a in January and March and once a
month April through October.
2. Weekly, April
through October, and once in January and in March, take Secchi disk transparency
readings.
3. Plot results
to detect trends.
Objective B: By October of 2002, increase
owner compliance with recommended maintenance and use of lakeshore sewage
treatment systems.
Actions:
1. Annually, educate
owners on the recommended use and maintenance of septic systems.
2. Annually, encourage
owners to keep records of the design and maintenance of their septic system.
Objective C: By 2004, increase the percentage
of lakeshore sewage treatment systems that are in compliance with county
and city ordinances.
Actions:
1. By the spring
of 2001, research county and city records and identify the systems that
are in compliance.
2. By the fall
of 2001, investigate the availability of government agency programs and
funds related to bringing all lakeshore property sewage treatment systems
into compliance.
3. By the fall
of 2002, provide owners with information on cluster systems and other sewage
treatment alternatives for use where appropriate.
Objective D: Identify possible sources
of pollutants in the lakes from sources other than septic systems.
Actions:
1. By 2001, analyze
available data such as aerial photographs for areas of lake contamination.
2. By 2002, begin
to "ground-truth" data obtained in Action 1.
3. By 2002, identify
and analyze wetland discharge into the lakes.
4. By 2002, analyze
stream discharge into and out of each lake.
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.
Objective A: Maintain a healthy, well-balanced
aquatic plant community while controlling vegetation which interferes with
the reasonable access to and use of the water.
Actions:
1. Starting in
2000, annually, educate lakeshore owners on the value of aquatic plants,
the proper and/or legal methods of their removal, and possible ramifications
of altering the plant community.
2. By the summer
of 2001, educate lakeshore owners on aquatic vegetation that naturally
occurs in each lake.
3. By the spring
of 2001, confer with DNR Fisheries to set up a program to monitor changes
in the abundance of aquatic vegetation.
4. By the summer
of 2001, enlist and train association members to conduct a monitoring program.
5. No later than
2004, assess the need for an aquatic plant management plan.
Objective B: Control increases in the
amount of algae.
Actions:
1. Starting the
spring of 2001, monitor changes in algal density at several locations on
each lake according to the methods in Chapter 3, EPA Volunteer Lake Monitoring:
A Methods Manual.
2. By October of
2002, research and identify the sources and/or causes of excessive nutrients
in the water which support the growth of algae.
3. When data is
available, assess the need and ability to take actions to decrease the
algal community.
Goal 3: Control and prevent infestations of exotic species in order to protect native plant and animal habitats and the lakes" ability to support recreational activities.
Objective A: Control the growth and spread
of purple loosestrife.
Actions:
1. Annually, educate
lakeshore property owners on identification of purple loosestrife and their
responsibility for its control.
2. Continue to
provide a program of assistance to property owners for controlling purple
loosestrife.
3. By 2001, assess
and amend, as needed, the current policy on the Association's role in helping
property owners meet their responsibility for controlling purple loosestrife.
Objective B: By the fall of 2001, establish
a program to monitor the lakes for the presence of exotic species other
than purple loosestrife.
Actions:
1. By the summer
of 2001, enlist and train property owners from each lake to regularly monitor
the lakes for the presence of exotic species.
2. By the summer
of 2001, assess the need to contract with a specialist in exotics to survey
the lakes a minimum of once a year for the presence of Eurasian watermilfoil.
3. Within 6 months
of the observation of a "new" exotic species, develop a plan to eliminate,
control, or decrease the species.
Goal 4: Enhance the recreational use, safety and enjoyment of the lakes' water surfaces while protecting them as natural resources.
Objective 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 ordinances
and regulations.
2. Annually, educate
lake property owners on lake-friendly usage of motorized watercraft.
3. By the fall
of 2001, research the possibility of establishing controls for water surface
use on the Cullen Lakes.
a. If feasibility is established, survey property owners in the spring of 2002 for support of an ordinance on the use of motorized watercraft on the Cullen Lakes.Goal 5: Maintain or improve the natural fish population of each lake
b. Within 6 months of obtaining property owner support, assign a committee of property owners and other stakeholders to develop an ordinance.
c. Prior to formal approval of the proposed ordinance by the Association membership and its submission to the DNR Boat and Water Safety and appropriate government unit(s),
conduct informational meetings for the membership and interested parties.
Objective 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. Beginning in
2000, annually 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 on Catch-and-Release.
3. By the fall
of 2001, research the effectiveness of posting Catch-and-Release signs
at public accesses.
Objective B: By 2002, develop a fish
management program to protect and/or restore native fish habitats and populations.
Actions:
1. By 2001, assign
a committee to work with DNR Fisheries in developing a fish management
program, which could include:
*habitat protection and improvement,Goal 6: Promote responsible and sustainable land development in order to protect the lakes and their environs.
*experimental fishing regulations, and/or
*stocking.
Objective A: By the spring of 2003, establish
a proactive position on the development of shoreland.
Actions:
1. By the fall
of 2000, appoint a committee whose responsibility will be to act as liaisons
with city, township, and county Planning and Zoning Commissions concerning
shoreland ordinances, rezoning requests, development proposals, and variance
requests.
2. By the fall
of 2000, identify shoreland (wetlands, bluffs, non-conforming lots, etc.)
that is unsuitable or marginally suitable for development.
3. By the fall
of 2000, identify shoreland parcels with 200+ feet of lakeshore on Lower
and Middle Cullen and 300+ feet on Upper Cullen.
4. By the fall
of 2002, establish a plan for the acquisition of shoreland that is suitable
or marginally suitable for development.
Objective B: By the fall of 2001, establish
a proactive position on the protection of shoreland through the use of
vehicles such as conservation easements.
Actions:
1. By the fall
of 2000, appoint a committee of Association members whose responsibility
will be to inform and encourage shoreland owners to protect their properties
for future generations and to assist the owners in executing their commitment.
2. By the fall
of 2001, contact all property owners identified in Objective A, Actions
2 and 3 for the purpose stated in Action 1 above.
Objective C: By 2005, establish a proactive
position on the development and use of land within the watershed.
Actions:
1. By the spring
of 2002, determine what data is needed to effectively monitor land use
and development within the watershed.
2. By the fall
of 2003, collect the needed data.
3. By 2005, develop
a plan for monitoring land use and development and for encouraging land
and business owners to be involved in the preservation of the lakes and
their environs.
4. By 2005, establish
a plan for the acquisition of land within the watershed whose use or development
could adversely affect the water quality of the lakes.
Goal 7: Commit to programs to educate and inform Cullen Lakes property owners, Association members, and the public on topics related to the preservation of the quality of the lakes and their environs.
Objective A: Continue to educate shoreland
owners on their responsibility to preserve the quality of natural resources.
Actions:
1. Continue to
use a quarterly newsletter as the principle medium to educate the membership
on Best Management Practices.
2. At least once
every 5 years, conduct surveys of property owners to profile shoreland
owners' understanding of and need for shoreland management.
3. As needed, update
and revise Managing Your Shoreland: A Guide for Lakeshore Owners.
Objective B: At least once every year
inform Association members of Board and committee actions taken to meet
the Association's goals and objectives.
Actions:
1. Provide Association
members with written reports of Board and committee activities.
2. Annually, publish
the water quality test results in the newsletter.
Objective C: On a timely basis, provide
information to Association members on current issues that could affect
the future of the Cullen Lakes.
Actions:
1. As needed, send
special mailings and other communications to members to keep them informed
on current critical issues.
Objective D. Beginning in 2000, schedule
at least one special membership meeting and/or educational workshop/seminar
each year.
Actions:
1. As needed, conduct
a meeting to provide information on projects such as the Lake Management
Plan or a fish management program.
2. Starting in
2001, conduct and annual environmental workshop for Association members.
Goal 8: Review and, when
necessary, revise the Association's organizational
structure to ensure attainment
of its goals and objectives.
Objective A: By 2005, encourage residents
of the Cullen Lakes
watershed to become members of the Association.
Actions:
1. By the fall
of 2000, change the name of the Association to reflect a broader base.
2. Publish an article
in local newspapers which informs the public of the changes implemented
in Action 1.
3. By 2005, establish
a plan to recruit watershed residents as members.
Objective B: By the fall of 2002, ensure
that the Association's committee structure can support the goals and objectives
of this plan.
Actions:
1. By the fall
of 2000, analyze the current committee structure and make changes needed
to accomplish the goals and objectives adopted by the Association.
2. By the summer
of 2001, assign specific responsibilities to each committee.
3. By the fall
of 2001, recruit non-board members to chair or serve on standing and special
committees.
4. By the fall
of 2002, define in writing each standing committee's role and responsibilities
and the working relationships between committees.
Objective C: Continue to obtain necessary
financing for the Association's general operations and projects through
dues increases, grants, fund drives, and gifts.
Actions:
1. Starting in
2000, annually assess the need for an increase in dues.
2. By the spring
of 2002, establish a policy on the use of membership fund drives to finance
special projects.
3. By the fall
of 2002, develop programs to encourage donations in the form of memorials,
etc.
Goal 9: Establish a proactive position in the planning for the future of the Cullen Lakes.
Objective A: Evaluate and modify the
Lake Management Plan (LMP) on a regular basis.
Actions:
1. At least once
a year, evaluate the current data base and the need for additional data
to meet current goals and objectives.
2. At least once
a year, review the LMP to determine if any actions need to be modified.
3. At least once
each year, report the progress towards meeting the goals and objectives
of the LMP to the membership.
4. Every 5 years,
conduct a survey of the membership to use as a basis for making changes
to the LMP.
5. Every 5 years,
analyze trends to determine what modifications are needed to the plan.
