Lone Lake facts and figures
Thanks to board member Dave Scott, we are always aware of how the health of Lone Lake can affect all of us and our investment.
Secchi disc (water clarity) 2021 summary***
Deepest reading June 4 @ 35’
Shallow reading July 21 @ 20.5’
Final reading September 30 @ 25’
***cloud cover, sun angle, lake usage, boat size/usage, weather, wind, day of the week all contribute to the readings
As a comparison, an average reading of 40’ in the 1980’s put Lone Lake in the top 10 for cleanest lakes in MN. Lone Lake is still clean, but no longer in the top echelon. What can each of us do to make sure 2022 brings lower phosphorous, less algae, and no swimmer’s itch to Lone Lake?
NOW is the time to: clean your lakeshore of any dead matter. Remember that phosphorus comes from dead plant matter. Fewer leaves means less phosphorus and a cleaner lake. Rake that border of dead leaves away from the shoreline now. Thanks
Lake Levels
Water levels have been an issue throughout the drought of 2021. As in the past, lake levels will rise and fall. Photos and the lake history show this year not to be so different from drought years in the 2021 Fish and Wildlife Update
Clearing of Lone Lake overflow obstructions
Due to the drought there has been no water in the overflow, consequently daily inspections have been halted for the season. (Overflow is located at the northwest end of the lake)
Loons
There are two mating loon couples on our lake but there were no baby loons reported this year
Lone Lake Fish Assessments/Restocking
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the DNR did not stock Lone Lake with walleye fry this year. The Minnesota DNR does assessments/surveys every few years to determine quantity and size of fish species found in a particular body of water, this determines the quantity and size of fish, (only walleye for Lone Lake) that are needed for restocking of fish. The next scheduled assessment/survey for Lone Lake is scheduled for 2022 but because no walleye fry were restocked in 2020 the lake survey may be postponed. The next regularly scheduled survey is for 2024.
Information on how and why the Minnesota DNR Section of Fisheries does lake surveys can be found on the following Minnesota DNR website.
Thanks to Zint Kics for the fish and wildlife leadership and summary. Water levels will come back up but when cannot be predicted.
Keep in mind lakeshore owners can only change their structures on the property, not their lakeshore or the lake. Clean water was the definition of Lone Lake and a goal continuing today.
Planning and Zoning Team
We had a calm year on Lone Lake in terms of Planning and Zoning. We only had one incident relating to having commercial camping and RV sites on a lake property but the new Planning and Zoning Administrator Andrew Carlstrom declared it in violation of zoning requirements and the owner was told to cease and desist.
It is always wise to check with Aitkin Planning and Zoning if you are planning on making changes to your property all the way from tree removal to new construction or renovations.
Steve Frazier - Planning and Zoning Team Leader
LLPOA Treasurer’s Update
Thank you for your membership in the LLPOA. This year we had 129 lakeshore residents join and/or renew their membership.
I want to thank all the membership volunteers for their neighborly door to door contacts for memberships (we need more volunteers for 2022, a great way to meet others on the lake). A special thanks to Bev Napurski for her help in updating the 2021 Roster which is now posted on-line for members. We hope you received the updated version. If not, please contact us at lonelakepoa@gmail.com
Thanks to your membership dues, we currently have some funds in reserve to keep Lone Lake ready when we may become one of “those” lakes that find an invasive species has infiltrated our lake.
We also contribute to:
First Responders of Aitkin County (all of us may need them at some point)
ACLARA, the Aitkin County group that shares information on keeping lakes clean
Research on lake management
Lake inspections
The Rivers and Lakes Festival in June, 2022.
We provide bags for road clean-up
2021--all the food at the annual meeting in July due to pandemic issues.
Most of all, we need to be prepared for the AIS issue.
Help us all by always checking your boat and working with the inspectors at the landing. If you desire more detailed financial information, please email us at lonelakepoa@gmail.com. Thank you so much.
Karen Frazier, LLPOA Treasurer