Newsletter: Issue 35
Message from the Board
All in all, 2019 was a good year for BML with regard to AIS issues:
The total amount of Eurasian Milfoil (EWM) treated by our licensed applicator, PLM, was the smallest yet at about 8.4 acres.
The forecast for licensed applicator EWM treatment in 2020 is 5 acres.
The 2015-19 goal of the five-year grant from the Initiative Foundation to reduce EWM to less than ten acres was achieved.
Surveys by Blue Water Science (BWS) found no evidence of Starry Stonewort (SSW) or zebra mussels (ZM).
ZM were found at the public access on nearby Bone Lake and, miraculously, a quick response treatment appears to have eradicated them.
The BMLA funded additional public access watercraft inspection (matched by the Carnelian Marine St. Croix Water Shed District - CMSCWD) done by the Washington Conservation District.
An inspector at the BML southeast main lake public access found ZM on one boat, preventing ZM from being introduced to BML.
Action by the CMSCWD aided water flow from the lake, hopefully relieving some of the high water level threat and 2020 shoreline erosion.
As for AIS challenges for 2020, the BMLA will continue its work to minimize EWM and retain our SSW and ZM-free status. As for how to achieve these goals, funding will be of great concern as our major grant sources have been reduced and/or eliminated. The hope of the BMLA Board is that every BML lakeshore property owner and every person that uses or has an interest in BML takes the health of the lake and AIS threats seriously and supports the efforts of the BMLA with dollars and time.
Statewide, 31 more MN bodies of water were reported by the DNR to have ZM in 2019. Included are Lake of the Woods (reported to have ZM on November 9, 2019) and 2 more lakes in Ramsey County, McCarrons and Long. In Ramsey County 12 lakes remain ZM-free, 5 lakes are infested with ZM, none have SSW. For BML, this is very threateningly close to home.
Here is to a healthy and happy new year for all and for BML!!
As 2019 closes, there are many thanks to be given:
To the BMLA Board for all its work.
To all BMLA members for their donations.
To the Vet’s Camp for its continued wonderful support.
To the Girl Scout Camp for its donations and interest in the work of the BMLA.
To the Scandia/Marine Lions for their donation.
To Steve Kronmiller for his work in setting up and maintaining the BMLA website.
To Ginny Johnson for taking on the task of preparing the “Our Neighbors” section of the BMLA newsletter.
To Judy Jessup and Brad Bergo for an excellent job in updating contact information for their neighborhoods.
To the City of Scandia and the CMSCWD for funding BML public access watercraft inspections.
To the CMSCWD for lake water flow action.
To the Washington Conservation District for public access watercraft inspections and BWS surveys for SSW and ZM. To Washington County for the annual grant.
To the Initiative Foundation for its grants over the life of a five year project.
To all of the unmentioned folks that contribute in some way to our wonderful Big Marine Lake....THANK YOU!!
Membership
It is time to begin paying 2020 dues. Be advised that the BMLA Board has agreed that the minimum suggested membership dues payments will be increased to $50.00. This increase is critical because, as has been mentioned countless times in past communications, our grant funding from the Initiative Foundation has dried up and Washington County grants have gotten smaller. The hope would be that all members who paid more than the minimum in the past would also increase their donations. Our annual expenses are not expected to significantly diminish any time in the future.
Please send your membership donations to the BMLA – 12614 182nd St. N. Marine, MN 55047. We thank everyone who has been a BMLA member in past years and who has already donated for 2020.
Upcoming Events
BMLA Annual Vintage Snowmobile Show, Swap, and Ride Saturday Feb. 8, 2020 on the lake at the Veterans Campground. All-day fun starting with show and judging at 11 a.m.
BMLA Annual Meeting at the Scandia Community Center Thursday March 19, 2020 at 7 p.m.
Our Neighbors
A note from Charlie Kaiser:
“Diana Phillippi and I moved into our house on BML in June of 2016. Since then we have met a lot of nice neighbors and are really enjoying the lake. Our favorite time on the lake is on the 4th of July watching the fireworks display from our pontoon. I grew up in Bayport, MN and am self-employed doing paintless dent removal. Diana is originally from Shoreview, MN and works for the Mounds View School District. We are both very excited about many coming years of great times on the lake.”
