greater pokegama lake association · at 326-0017. linda and duane dockter the dockter’s shoreline...
TRANSCRIPT
N E W S L E T T E RVOLUME XXV NUMBER V December 2010
Information for those interested in preventing the pollution of
Pokegama Lake and maintaining the desirable environmental quality of
the existing lake and lakeshore area.
Greater PokegamaLake Association
The winter conditions have put our ef-forts into a hiatus for the time being. Gauges have been installed in streams flowing into Pokegama Lake. Please see the enclosed map for the locations of these gauges. All gauges are located where the stream intersects with a traveled road. The Soil and Water District and the ICC Water Qual-ity Lab will do intermit-tent sampling of stream and lake water dur-ing the winter. In March we will need the stream sam-pling to be taken over by volunteers.
We are for mula t ing plans for the training of volunteers early next year. We would hope to have training for the stream volunteers done by mid February. Sampling of stream water will involved reading the height of the water on the gauges and taking a one liter water sample.
Training for the lake volunteers will need to be completed by mid March. The
LAKE STUDY & WATER TESTING UPDATE
2010 Board of DirectorsPresident, Randy McCarty .......... 326-4268 V.President, Jane Bymark ....... 326-3635 1 year termAaron Alto ............................... 326-6940 Sam Johnson............................ 326-6269 Randy Brennan ........................ 327-2662 Randy McCarty ....................... 326-4268 2 year term Ron Kelner ............................... 326-5817Don Duell ................................................Bob Conzemius ....................... 327-8146 Jane Bymark ............................ 326-36353 year term Don St.Aubin .......................... 326-6184Pat Davis .................................. 326-5658Bob Holycross ......................... 328-5108 Rich Libbey .............................. 326-1874Secretary - Bob ConzemiusTreasurer - Bob HolycrossMembership/Newsletter - Pat Davis [email protected]
lake sampling will involve collecting the water samples from the seepage meter and record-ing the volume of water in each bag. The lake sampler will also have to record the amount of water in the floating rain buckets that will be at each seepage site.
There will also be three electronic rain gauges placed around Poke-gama Lake. Randy McCarty will host one of the gauges. I will host the one on the Wendigo Arm. I still need a volunteer to host a gauge on Sherry’s Arm. We need a loca-tion where there is an open area
with electrical access. If you are will to host this apparatus please contact me.
Don St. Aubin, Pokegama Lake Coordinator
The winter conditions have put our efforts into a hiatus for the time being. Gages have been
installed in streams flowing into Pokegama Lake. Please see the enclosed map for the locations
of these gages. All gages are located where the stream intersects with a traveled road. The Soil
and Water District and the ICC Water Quality Lab will do intermittent sampling of stream and
lake water during the winter. In March we will need the stream sampling to be taken over by
volunteers.
We are formulating plans for the training of volunteers early next year. We would hope to have
training for the stream volunteers done by mid February. Sampling of stream water will involved
reading the height of the water on the gages and taking a one liter water sample.
Training for the lake volunteers will need to be completed by mid March. The lake sampling will
involve collecting the water samples from the seepage meter and recording the volume of water
in each bag. The lake sampler will also have to record the amount of water in the floating rain
buckets that will be at each seepage site.
There will also be three electronic rain gages placed around Pokegama Lake. Randy McCarty
will host one of the gages. I will host the one on the Wendigo Arm. I still need a volunteer to
host a gage on Sherry’s Arm. We need a location where there is an open area with electrical
access. If you are will to host this apparatus please contact me.
Don St. Aubin, Pokegama Lake Coordinator
326-6186
Our best to everyone for a safe and happy
holiday season!
Linda and Duane Dockter were 1 of 4 stewardsip awards for the county. They did native wildflower and grass plantings in 2007 which were cost shared and designed by the MN DNR. This was replacing lawn and establishing natural vegetation buffers to slow erosion, pro-vide wildlife habitat and provide better water quality by filtering storm-water runoff before it enters the lake.
Congratulations to the Dockters! Awards are funded through ICOLA (winners receive a framed nature print and certificate). Applications for 2011 awards are available through SWCD or at www.itascaswcd.org or call Andy Arens at 326-0017.
Linda and Duane Dockter
The Dockter’s shoreline - Pokegama Lake
2010 Shoreland Stewardship Award for Itasca County
• AbigthankyoutoMP&LforreimbursingGPLAthecostoftheCurlyleafPondweedtreat-mentbythehotpondarea.Wereallyappreciatetheirassistancewiththisproject.
• MNDNRhasconfirmedzebramusselswerefoundinGullLake.Judgingbysizetheyhavebeenthereaboutayear.Theyarenowin30inlandlakesinMNincludingGull,Minnetonka,MilleLacsandportionsoftheMississippiRiver.
• Atthiswriting(theweekafterThanksgiving)thelakeisnotfrozen,theLittlePokegamaCreekisfrozenandsomeofthesoutharmbutmostlyjustsomeicearoundtheedgesofthelake.TotalfreezeupwasDecember3rd.
• Winterbirdsarefewandfarbetween,thepileatedwoodpeckersarearound,somebluejaysbutmostlysquirrelsandanoccasionaldeerortwocomearoundtolivenupthesnowywoods.
RIPPLES . . .
Additional Member List from 2010
Keith/Janet Anderson
Jeff/Helen Collison
Donald/Roxanne Fritz
Ron/Kathy Jaohnson
Mike McAvoy/Siobhan McMahon
Peter Nord/Anne Lewis
Craig/Nadine Olson
Tom/Deb Ryan
Sheryl/Steve Toufo
Melissa/Ryan Weber
Steve Ewens/Becky Loomis
Jane/Jim Hileman
John/Le Matts
Bob/Carole Shankland
Joanne Swanson/ Ann Heuidekoper
Bob/Linda George
Bernie Pelleymounter
Joan Richardson
Duke/Shirley Durfee
John/Susan Gordon
Greg/MaryJo Norum
Leanne Retka
Leo/Connie Burley
Gerry/Mimi Eisele
Bob/Nancy Farris
Marc/Carrie Fowler
Dave/Judy Garshelis
Rod/Sheila Heller
Richard /Carmen Holter
Evelyn Loveland
Don/Patty St. Aubin
Bill Smith
Fran Strommer
Al/Shirley Zachman
Wm./Gail Bauer
Brooke/David Bartos
Lynda Gillson
Alan Klein
John /Claudia Guenther
Marv Lundquist/Shannon Schaffer
Craig Paver
Jerry/Marge Petermeier
Ed/Lynette/Marjorie Priester
Mike/Ann Smith
Keith Stolen
In MemoriamEd Zeidler, long time member of GPLA,
he lived on Southwood Rd. and later on Drumbeater Rd.
Wes Libbey, a founding member of GPLA, he was a member until his death at 101.
ThanksWesforallyoudidtoenrichandpreserveourenvironment.InadditiontohelpingorganizeGPLA,WesrestartedtheGRIzaakWaltonChapter,helpedfoundMnDeerHunters,DucksUnlimited,
FriendsoftheWilderness,ICOLAandwasactiveinothercommunitygroups.Hereceivednumerousconservationawardsforhispersistenceandpatienceinworkingonenvironmentalprojects.Wearegoingtomisshisadviceandideasontopicsaffectingthelakeandlakeshoreenvironment.
POKEGAMA DAM
100 year old technology gets an upgrade!
Pokegama Dam has been undergoing a rehabilitation project this fall. Wiebolt Electric (Bemidji) and Industrial Contract Services (Grand Forks) are refurbishing the six middle bays, upgrading the electrical, building a new foot bridge and installing 8 double leaf gates in place of the old timber stop logs in the remaining bays.
Work was needed as the 6 middle gates were upgraded from the original timber stop logs in 1967 and the other 8 gates still have the original stop logs from 1907. The up-grade will mean a safer, more convenient, more efficient facility. The project is sched-uled to be finished by Feb. 2011 but remain-ing structural, mechanical, aesthetic and clean-up will be done by Memorial Day. As part of the work, the dam was thoroughly inspected. The existing gates had rust re-moved, repainted and new seals installed and welds inspected for cracks.
For those who fish the river or use rec-reational areas around the dam, a new foot bridge is being constructed. It will access the Bass Brook Wildlife Management Area and a new trail that leads to the Forest History Cen-ter. The bridge is to be separate from the func-tional components of the dam for safety. The dam and the bridge will be lighted. Jeff Kein-ert is the Pokegama Dam and Park Manager.
Pokegama Lake Walkway 11/1/2010
My name is Jennifer Utecht and I am writing to you on behalf of Utecht Custom Homes regarding the upkeep of the grounds beneath and surrounding the Pokegama Lake Bridge.
The Pokegama Lake Association and the Harris Township approved the construction of the Pokegama Lake causeway. In 2006 the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) had completed the new bridge and put in a walkway with beautiful gardens under the bridge. As time went on my family and I had collected numerous bags of trash (some of which would have ended up in the lake) and also pulled weeds as the area seemed to have fallen by the wayside. This past Spring Utecht Custom Homes was finally able to adopt this area and we are proud to say we have collected over 100 bags of trash.
I recently spoke with The Harris Town Ship, the Pokegama Lake Association and the Trails & Task Force regarding the area under the bridge. There is vandalism of graffiti, rolling of the boulders and the flower beds are being overtaken by weeds. There are dead bushes, plants uncared for& dying trees just to name a few.
On a positive note Mn/DOT has advised me that they will keep the settling ponds cleaned and provide us with plants, shrubs and wood shavings. They will also assist us in controlling the weeds.
As this is such a large undertaking we are asking for your assistance to help maintain this area. Any assistance you can offer would be so much appreciated. Please help us in keeping Grand Rapids and its surrounding area beautiful and free from pollution and debris. This cannot be accomplished without your help.
If you would like further information or would like to volunteer your services please email me at [email protected]
Thank you, Jennifer Utecht
Legislative Issues from MN Waters 2011 AgendaPlease encourage your state representatives to:
• Adopttheupdatedstatewideshorelandrulesforwhichthelegislaturehadappropriatedamilliondollarstoupdate.
• IncludetheAquaticInvasiveSpeciesfundingthroughtheCleanWaterFund.
• MonitorspendingoftheCleanWater,Land,LegacyAmendmentmoney.
• MonitorSubsewageTreatmentSystemsImplementationandEnforcementTaskForce,newlycreatedlastyear.
• Developastatewideplantoinventoryallsepticsystemsandupgradefailingones.
• EncouragethemtoenvisionthefutureneededtosustainhealthylakesandriversvitaltotheMNeconomy.
ICOLA Meeting 11-17-10
• BenLakishfromtheICCWaterLabtalkedalittleabouttheiractivitiesthissummerandfutureplans.
• Governor’sFishingOpenerwillbeonPokegamaLakenextspringandtheLet’sGoFishinggroupwillbelookingforvolunteers.
• Congratulationstothe4ShorelandStewardshipawardwinnersfromItascaCounty.
• UpdateonthewatertestingonPokegamaandDeerLakes.
• Newstaterep.CarolynMcAlfatrickwaspresenttolearnabouttheorganization,sheisaresidentonJohnsonLake.
Pokegama Lake Walkway
Greater Pokegama Lake AssociationBox 381
Grand Rapids, Minnesota 55744
Non-ProfitOrg.USPostage
PAIDGrandRapids,MN
55744PermitNo188
Mark YourCalendar
GPLA Board MeetingJan. 24, 2011, 5:30 pm
GR Library
MnWaters Lakes andRivers Conference
April 28 & 29, 2011St. Cloud MN
Governor’s Fishing OpenerPokegama LakeMay 14, 2011
Community PicnicIRA Civic CenterFri. May 13, 20114-7pm, no charge.
BOARD MEETING October 25, 2010
Summary of Discussion Topics9Boardmemberspresent,guests;
JenniferUtecht,TomJacobson,JeffDavies,PattiSt.Aubin
Jennifer Utecht presented her concerns1. about the 169 Causeway area regarding trash pickup, dead plants, weeds, vandalism. Tom Jacobson (MNDOT) indicated need to control knapweed and will-ingness to provide plants but volunteers would be needed for plant-ing and upkeep. Board expressed concern about possible spraying and burning but indicated a willingness to disucss a plan for the area and let members know about volunteer possibilities.
2. Website construction – ongoing, motion to rejoin MN Waters and have access to their website. Passed.
Water testing3. – ongoing, see article in this newsletter. Volunteer still needed for electronic rain gauges and gauges to be placed at run-ning streams. Ben Lakish is heading up the ICC Water Lab.
Hoolihan Beach4. – ongoing discussion, tabled to Jan . 2011. Houseboat parked in Poole’s Bay/Cohasset 5. – Greg Tuttle follow-
ing up, tabled to Jan. 2011. Is there a need for monthly meetings?6. Discussed approaching MPL7. to set a budget for next year for
curlyleaf pondweed treatment.
Address Service Requested