See the latest Lake Stewards!
Latest Lake Stewads on the Chain!
Congratulations to our latest Lake Steward family...the Juelfs! The Juelfs applied for Lake Steward status for their property on Bolfing Lake and it qualified!
Have you been thinking about taking the Lake Steward quiz but aren't sure if your property will qualify?
If so, we encourage you to take the quiz! Several homeowners who are interested in learning more about native buffers and other shoreline 'best practices' have done so, which results in an opportunity to meet with an SRCLA Land Use committee member to see what would be required to have their parcel qualify for the program. And we can connect you with county professionals at the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) that will draw up custom plans to meet your needs. Subsidies are available that can cover up to 90% of the cost, too!
Take the quiz today!
Water Quality monitoring time!
See the Water Quality team in action!
Allison and Ali from the Sauk River Watershed District are out on the chain with our water quality team: Jamie, Gary, and Wayne.
Richmond River Lake Days
Richmond River Lake Days this weekend!
Let’s celebrate Summer and Community! Head over to Richmond River Lake Days this weekend, Thursday through Saturday.
Wondering what’s all planned, we’ve gathered some helpful info. here for you.
How Well Do you Know Minnesota? Part 2
PART 2: ‘How Well Do you Know Minnesota?’ is brought to you by Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates
There are so many water quality issues for which there is no simple solution. But the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species has a simple solution - if everyone thoroughly Cleaned, Drained and Dried their boats and water related equipment after each use, and then inspected it prior to each use in a new water body, AIS would not spread. This is why education is the cornerstone of all efforts to protect our lakes and rivers from aquatic invasive species."~Jeff Forester, Executive Director, Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates.
An update on weed control.
An update on weed control efforts.
Thank you to all who attended the Annual Meeting and were part of the discussion on how we can band together to enjoy the lakes as we know them, while also battling the weed issue present from many factors.
Attached you'll see an assessment from our partners at Limnpro, where they applied a couple of different rates of 2, 4D to treat HWM along with ProcellaCOR. The assessment shows that 2, 4D worked, so we will move ahead with looking at the cost of 2,4D vs ProcellaCOR in treating the areas approved on Cedar Island and Zumwalde.
This type of research is running in parallel to the harvesting in the areas that we've shared recently, including Becker Lake and Zumwalde.
MPR Article
Article from MPR about the planned county park on the chain.
Here’s a great article from MPR News on the plans to restore wetlands and native prairie that had been farmed, which will help protect and improve the water quality of the Sauk River and chain of lakes. Click here for the full article.
Happy Fourth from the SRCLA Board!
Happy 4th message from the SRCLA Board.
To all SRCLA Members and Lake-Lovers, we wish everyone a spectacular 4th of July. Enjoy the water and stay safe!
Be a Hero Transport Zero - Drain Livewell
Fight the spread of aquatic invaders. Be a hero, transport zero. Drain your livewell.
Fight the spread of aquatic invaders. Be a hero, transport zero. Drain all water from your watercraft before leaving the lake access to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species.
🌸 Beer & Blooms 🌸
SWCD Sponsored Event July 9
Join the SRWD on July 9 for a tour of great gardens in the Cold Spring area! Featured will be anything from perennial gardens to shoreline restoration. Tour stops include both public and private property. Group meets at the school’s DEF Building parking lot, caravan from location to location, and end our tour at Third Street Brew house. There, we will have a presentation on perennial planting. Participants will receive handouts, brochures, and a chance to win prizes! Register through ROCORI Community Education .
Appetizers are included, and a cash bar will be available! Questions? Contact Abi at abigail@srwdmn.org.
Lake Steward Program Gains Momentum!
See our first five Lake Stewards!
As you may have read about in recent issues of The Chain Link, the SRCLA is sponsoring a Lake Steward program that's being rolled out statewide by the Minnesota Lakes & Rivers organization.
Five families have taken a short quiz about how they're managing their lakeshore property, covering things like the presence of native buffers, fertilizer & pesticide use, etc. Qualifying properties are awarded a cool metal sign that can be displayed on their dock or shoreline to signal their support for the best practices that help reduce nutrient runoff into our lakes.
Congratulations to the first five families to be designated as Lake Stewards on the Sauk River Chain of Lakes!
If you'd like to see if your parcel qualifies, please use this link to take the quiz and get the process started: Lake Steward Quiz
Come join the club!
Mechanical Weed Removal Continues
Look at those weeds!
Can you believe this came out of Becker Lake's recent weed harvest? Look at those piles, they are 5 Feet HIGH! Thank you, WeedsUp for removing curly-leaf pondweed from Becker Lake! Why Becker Lake? It's one of the few lakes where the SRCLA was approved for a permit for mechanical weed removal.
Random fact time - Becker Lake is the only lake designated an "Environmental Lake" so no chemicals can be used.
Winner of the Name the Lake Contest!
Contest Winner Announced!
We conducted a “Name the Lake” contest in our Spring Chain Link magazine. Submissions needed to accurately name all lakes that comprise the Chain of Lakes and submit their entry by the Annual Meeting June 15th. At the meeting, we drew from all correct submissions. The Winner is…..Ralph and Dorothy Hansen of Cold Spring! Ralph and Dorothy have been members for many years and chose to apply their winnings to a Sunfish Membership in 2025! Congratulations Ralph & Dorothy! Thank you to all contest submissions! Not a member? Now is the time to band together and become one!
Recap of Annual Meeting and Annoucement of Board Members
Recap of Annual Meeting held June 15 including results of Board Member election.
Thank you to everyone that attended the Annual Meeting held @ Shady’s Longshots this past Saturday.
We thank our outgoing Board members Aaron Schwartz, Karla Smetana and Gary Schnobrich and are happy to announce three board member continuations, Steve Reid, Richard Gallea and Wayne Karg as well as three new Board Members, Brenda Herubin, Candy Burns and Jamie Juelfs.
Along with Board voting, a treasury report was provided, we heard from Jeff Bertram, 3rd District Commissioner, and House of Representatives Representative Lisa Demuth and ended with open Q&A by members. Open discussion focused on weed control and no-wake questions, of which additional communication to the members was requested. To answer that need, members should look for more member-specific communication in the coming months and as always, keep your questions and comments coming to the Association!
Find the meeting minutes here.
Not a member? Now is the time to band together and become one! Sign-up here!
Be a Hero Transport Zero - Clean Off Your Anchor.
Fight the spread of aquatic invaders. Be a hero, transport zero. Clean off your anchor.
Fight the spread of aquatic invaders. Be a hero, transport zero. Remove all weeds from your watercraft and equipment before leaving the lake access to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species.
How Well Do you Know Minnesota? Part 1
PART 1: ‘How Well Do you Know Minnesota?’ is brought to you by Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates
There are so many water quality issues for which there is no simple solution. But the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species has a simple solution - if everyone thoroughly Cleaned, Drained and Dried their boats and water related equipment after each use, and then inspected it prior to each use in a new water body, AIS would not spread. This is why education is the cornerstone of all efforts to protect our lakes and rivers from aquatic invasive species."~Jeff Forester, Executive Director, Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates.
Be a Hero Transport Zero - Drain All Water
Fight the spread of aquatic invaders. Be a hero, transport zero. Drain All Water.
Fight the spread of aquatic invaders. Be a hero, transport zero. Drain all water from your watercraft before leaving the lake access to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Response to Weeds on the Chain
Message from Association President, Brad Matuska.
Our members concerns, are our concerns. Listen to Association President, Brad Matuska, as he provides insight into weed growth being seen in areas of the Chain, as well as what has been done and what can be done.
Stop the Spread: How to Get AIS OUT of your boat - Webinar
Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates webinar opportunity!
Join us for an enlightening webinar as we explore the cutting-edge research on preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) among waterbodies!
Discover how innovative boat cleaning tools, meticulously tested, can effectively remove AIS. From hand removal to waterless tools to low-pressure rinsing and their combinations, learn which methods yield the best results for various types of boats.
Contact Sami at sami@mnlakesandrivers.org for more information.
Spring Chain Link now available!
Spring Chain Link now available!
The Spring 2024 Chain Link Magazine arrived in mailboxes today! You can also view online by clicking HERE.
Curly-leaf Pondweed Chemical Treatment on Knaus Completed
Map of Knaus CLP chemical treatment area now available.
Knaus Lake chemical treatment map (completed on 4/30/24) shown below.
