Newsletter: Issue 48
Message from the Board
With hopes to get to know and build a relationship, Shaun Collier and Tony Vavoulis of the BMLA Board visited Girl Scout Camp Lakamaga and met the Senior Director of Property Services and the On-site Property Manager. Camp Lakamaga’s 170 acres and nearly a mile of shoreline has a significant presence on Big Marine. Under a blanket of snow, Tony and Shaun saw the camp as beautiful and very natural. The Camp personnel were very welcoming and interested in developing a closer relationship with BMLA and other agencies impacting the lake.
Originally the Rask Farm, the camp was briefly used by the Boy Scouts beginning in 1926 and then purchased by the Girl Scouts in 1930. Today the Camp's summer program, focusing on water activity hosts approximately 800 girls over the summer. The balance of the year the 15+ sleeping quarters, with sleeping capacity ranging from 6 to 24, plus a variety of general gathering spaces are rented out. Scouts and scout troops are provided a discount. The general public can rent space at the Camp for special events such as weddings, family reunions, and some other types of non-scouting events. For anyone interested in rentals at the Camp, here is a link to the Camp website.
https://camp.girlscoutsrv.org/rentals/.
Structures are spread throughout the property, resulting in a very light touch on the land, and almost invisible from the lake during the summer! Being spread out, there is no single central septic system, but several grouped systems. These are all tested and in full compliance. The need is recognized to expand shower and bathroom facilities for today’s campers, and planning for an expansion is in process. Some beach area upgrades and modifications are being considered, so Tony and Shaun put them in touch with Mike Isensee of the Carnelian Marine St. Croix District for shoreline design and management assistance. With water activity a prime focus and a growing interest in science/environmental programs for the campers there may be an opportunity for the BMLA to work together on some type of project – such as hybrid cattail harvesting, shoreline planting, Board meeting location, lake-wide Meet & Greet site, etc…The Camp and the campers are a big resource. We agreed to keep in touch. Thanks to Tony and Shaun for making this visit and the Camp personnel for their time. Special thanks to Shaun who has agreed to
be designated as the lead Girl Scout contact for the BMLA.
Lake Ice Maintenance
Dan Cartier who resides at the east end of the east bay expressed concerns about ice fisherpeople leaving trash
on the lake. He has volunteered to take responsibility for keeping the ice clean on the east bay during ice fishing season and upon the end of the season. Note that Jeff Dahlberg has done this task on the entire lake for years (with help from others). More volunteers are needed. Who will follow Dan and Jeff’s lead? Please contact the BMLA if you are willing to assist.
AIS Inspections
The Washington Conservation District report on 2022 inspections at County launch sites has been added to the BMLA website.
Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM)
Expectations (and hope) are that herbicide treatment for 2023 will be similar to that for 2022, about 5 acres.
BMLA Annual Meeting
The meeting is scheduled for:
Date: Wednesday April 19, 2023
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: The main hall at the Scandia Community Center.
Please plan on attending. It should once again be a very informative meeting.
BMLA All Lake Gathering
This event will again be held at the Veteran’s Camp on
Big Marine Lake. Last year’s event was a huge success,
providing a time to kibbitz with long-time and new lake
neighbors, including vets. Great tacos will again be
catered by the Vet’s Camp, and the BMLA will be
providing free root beer floats.
Date: Friday June 9
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Minnesota Lakes & Rivers Advocates
Following is a recent message from Jeff Forester of MLRA that should be of interest to all users of BML.
“When Covid-19 limited our ability to travel, Minnesotans took to the lakes. And this is a good thing. The more people that know and love our lakes, the more people will be willing
to invest in them.
We have all seen the increased boating traffic on our lakes and rivers and we have seen the increased problems, the unsafe operations, boats overtaking on the wrong side
cutting us off, operating in shallows and damaging aquatic plants, the disturbance of lake sediments, the shoreline erosion.
Minnesota is one of just a few states that does not require all boaters to take an education course and test before launching on our lakes and rivers. Currently a person with no boater training can buy a boat capable of going 70 mph or putting up a five foot wake and launch
with no training or experience. These problems are largely due to a lack of under-
standing. A lack of training. This session MLRA is working to change that.
Current bills in the Minnesota House and Senate, House File 949 & Senate File 553 would create an online boater education course that includes best practices for boater safety, aquatic invasive species prevention, etiquette to reduce user conflicts, and an understanding of lake ecology so boaters know how poor boating operation can cause damage to the fishery, shorelines and water quality.
Contact your legislators and urge them to support
HF 949 & SF 553. Educating all boaters in the state is
the first, best step to protecting not only the lakes and
the good times we have come to value as Minnesotans
on those lakes.
Thank you for your advocacy,
Jeff Forester, MLRA”
As has been mentioned before in BMLA newsletters, MLRA is the main thrust in Minnesota for advancing the concerns of lake/river property owners and users at the Legislature. The BMLA donates to MLRA every year. In addition, donations from private citizens are very much needed. You can get more information on MLRA and make a donation at -----
https://mnlakesandrivers .org.