President's Corner

Annual Meeting - Thank You
 
Thanks to those who attended our Bass Lake Association Annual Meeting on August 10!  On behalf of the Board, we appreciate your participation and value your input.  For those who could not make it, we missed you and hope to see you next year.  A few quick highlights are as follows:
  • John Carlson provided a brief recap of the Spring/Summer season on the lake.
  •  A new membership directory process was introduced - look for an e-mail on this shortly.  The directory will be available on the Web site.
  • Member Signs were introduced and well received -  again look for more information on this soon.
  • Social events were well received and will continue in 2020.
  • Bob Steele was elected Vice President.
We currently have 30 members in the BLA and are hoping to add 2-3 more.  Thanks to each of you who have joined!  
 
While the Summer lake season is winding down, we are making plans for next year.  As always, if you have any questions, ideas, or thoughts to improve the Association, please let us know.  You can e-mail me at jonauge@gmail.com or call me at 651-335-6555.  And be sure to check-out our website and Facebook page.  Maybe even share a picture or message on the Facebook page for all to enjoy.
 
Jon Auge   8/20/19

Proposed Amended By-Laws 2018

bass_lake_association_by-laws__amended_2018_.doc
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By-Laws (Adopted 2010; Amended 2014)
bass_lake_assoc._by-laws_modified_2014.docm
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Treasurer Reports are included in the Annual Meeting minutes.

Membership Information

2019 Memberships=30
​2018 Memberships=30
2017 Memberships=30
2016 Memberships=27
2015 Memberships=32
2014 Memberships=28
2013 Memberships=26
2012 Memberships=29
2011 Memberships=19
2010 Memberships=23

Membership dues are $20.00

Interested in being a member? Complete the application  below.

2019_bla_membership_form.pdf
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Upcoming Events



September 18, 2019
MAISRC Research and Management Showcase



Recycling is available at Mission Township Hall.  
​Check out this news clip on recycling:
www.kare11.com/mobile/article/news/single-sort-recycling-what-exactly-belongs-in-your-bin/89-e1cd208e-884e-4c61-a776-629c1ed1dcf0
The Mission Township Transfer Station is open from 10:00-2:00 every Saturday.  Opened April until the end of October.  The Transfer Station is located on East Horseshoe Lake Road.  

There is an aluminum can recycling bin at the town hall that benefits the Mission Township Park.  Please separate your aluminum cans next time you recycle!
 
BLA Officers
President:  John Carlson
Vice President: Jon Auge
Secretary/Treasurer: Nancy Geiger
​Website Administrator: Martha Steele  

    Questions or Comments?

MAISRC
Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center

Breakout session schedule announced!
Register today for the 2019 Aquatic Invasive Species Research and Management Showcase​​Registration now open for 2019 AIS Research and Management Showcase!  8/8

Join the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center on campus on Wednesday, September 18 for a selection of talks about the latest MAISRC research on starry stonewort, zebra mussels, spiny waterflea, invasive carp, and much more. The list of breakout sessions is available here.
Hear from the state's top aquatic invasive species researchers on:
  • What impacts zebra mussels are having on walleye
  • How to create your own AIS monitoring equipment
  • What gear entangles the most spiny waterflea
  • Strategies to reduce the threat of invasive Phragmites
  • Using copper to treat zebra mussels
  • The latest in common carp management
  • And much more -- see the full schedule here!
Plus, interact with faculty over lunch, get an inside look into our state-of-the-art lab, learn tools you can apply on your own, and enjoy a poster session reception with beer, wine, and appetizers
Lab tours will include the Whooshh carp removal system (back by popular demand!), using sediment cores to identify when spiny waterflea entered a lake, and using Koi herpesvirus as a biocontrol for common arp.
This is the best opportunity to learn all about MAISRC's research and the latest in AIS management recommendations. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. If you wish to attend a lab tour, please be sure to choose that option when registering. Note that all lab tours are identical.

​

MN Lakes and Rivers Advocates

Summer Lakes Updates from Jeff Forester:   (7/15)
I had a great time on Minnesota Public Radio's news hour, hosted by Angela Davis. We talked all things lakes. DNR Climatologist and lake name expert Pete Boulay.
You can listen to the show by clicking HERE. 

Longtime MLR Board member Barbara Halbakken Fischburg received the 2019 Lake Detroiters Friends of the Lakes Award. In her acceptance speech, Barb shares how her love of lakes, and her dedication to protect them was born - it all started when she was a little girl and a lake association reached out to her. 
Listen to her comments HERE

EmpowerU: Advocating Invasive Species Management: Training program through University of Minnesota to help you organize to prevent the spread of invasive species on land or in lakes. To learn more and register, click HERE
The Water Main, at MPR, has put out a new app called Outside in MN.
It combines weather updates, how-to guides for getting outdoors, and a calendar of events. 
To learn more and download the App, click HERE
4/23: It is the time of year when we all start thinking about the lake, about the good times with family and friends. 
Lake associations are part of the largest, most generous and most committed conservation/angling group in Minnesota, contributing about $6.25 million towards lake work collectively, and about 1.2 million volunteer hours to protect the public waters, and almost $400k for annual fish stocking.
The challenges are likewise enlightening, and suggest a concrete course of action:
  • The top 3 challenges that Minnesota's lake associations face as they work on achieving their goals are: Inadequate member participation (i.e. the needs far exceed the available human capital), not being heard/taken seriously by the DNR, and the aging population of lake property owners.
  • Most respondents do not agree that their lake associations are authentically included in the lake planning process.
  • Most respondents do not feel that their lake associations have real authority over the lake.
  • Most respondents do not think that the DNR has sufficient lake management policies in place.
 So the MLR strategy is this; continue to work to unify lake associations into a single voice at the legislature, working to support lake associations by pushing for increased grant opportunities, build greater links between lake association and the DNR in St. Paul, and advance a positive narrative in the media about lake associations and the great work they do.
 MLR’s strategy includes:
  • Full time lobbying at the State Capitol to change laws and push pro-water initiatives,
  • Keep up a steady drumbeat of pro-water news stories in press, television and radio to educate citizens and politicians on water issues,
  • Support local partnerships that build capacity and give local water advocates a seat at the table,
  • Support funding for world class science to identify issues and discover on-the-ground solutions to our water problems and then make this science available through the Aquatic Invaders Summit, the press and direct communications.
In the articles below, you will find a lot of great information that we hope will help your lake association advance its mission and draw membership. As our grassroots and media efforts continue we gain a larger voice in water related debates and get greater authority to do work to protect the lakes we love.
Stay tuned for outcomes from this legislative session. There are bills advancing that would provide grants to lake associations to manage invasive aquatic plants, fully fund the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center, create grants to do outdoor education programs. By partnering with local schools to include aquatic sciences and AIS education in local school curriculum, some lake associations are increasing their civic stature in their local community, engaging younger people with children, and building the next generation of lake and river advocates.
Minnesota will not be able to meet its water quality goals without engaged lake associations and a statewide association working to advance our goals. Quite simply you and other lake associations in partnership with MLR are building the largest and most effective water group in the state.
protect_the_lake_you_love.docx
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testing_civic_governance.docx
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northern_water_alliance_update.docx
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Annual Meeting August 10

​Are you willing to share your talents with the Lake Association?  Nominations for Vice President will be taken at the Annual Meeting.  Contact any of the Board Members to learn more.
Picture
Jeanne trying out the new Bass Lake Facebook page!

Crow Wing County Updates

The County Board approved the 2019 AIS Plan on March 23rd. 
2019_cwc_ais_prevention_plan_.pdf
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2019_ais_plan_public_comments.pdf
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REPORTS/ORGANIZATIONS


Water Quality (Catherine McGoldrick):

See separate water quality page for more info.
Secchi disk readings (this tells us the clarity of the lake's water by measuring how deep one can see a white disk under the surface at the deepest part of the lake).

5/19                  21.5'
6/2                    20.5'
6/16                  18.5'
7/1                    16.5'
7/14                  14.0'
7/30                  12.0'




Water Level:
level gauge set:  4/29    5.40

5/24                             5.51
6/2                               5.46
6/9                               5.40 
6/16                             5.36
7/1                               5.48
7/14                             5.38 
7/30                             5.40       

Good News:
Test results from the annual water sample submitted in mid July to look for zebra mussel veligers came back negative.

Local Rainfall Report:
https://www.cocorahs.org/ViewData/Station
PrecipSummary.aspx?station=MN-CW-16


MN Lakes and Rivers Advocates
Joined in 2015.
Mission:  To protect Minnesota's lake and river heritage for current and future generations by forging powerful links between lakes, lake advocates, and policy makers.
http://mnlakesandrivers.org/
  
Crow Wing County Lakes and Rivers Alliance (LARA)
Joined in June 2012. 
LARA represents dues-paying lake associations in Crow Wing County.
Interesting article in Summer 2019 Newsletter regarding  concerns about VRBO's impacts on the lakes.

Mission Township Park
(Michael Blassey)
 
The shelter is available to Mission Township residents for use by reservation. Contact town clerk, Anna Anderson, at 765-4377
Also, please call Michael if you have questions or issues about the trail system at 765-3863.



ais_decontamination_policy_.pdf
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People spread Aquatic Invasive Species, people are the solution.

Wired2Fish graciously produced a short video on the impacts of AIS for the recent Aquatic Invaders Summit.