dockside - fall 2014 edition

D CKSIDEN

SD CKSIDEEW

A MAGAZINE FOR LAKE AND RIVER LIVING

FALL 2014

Yoga group usespaddleboards on Lake Ripley

DNR identifies zebra mussels,milfoil in two KandiyohiCounty lakes

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Finding serenity& simplicity onLake Stella

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Vision 16

2 DOCKSIDE | FALL 2014

Cover: Lake Stellafeatures a serene

setting for visitors, as wellas property owners

FALL 2014 | DOCKSIDE 3

D CKSIDEN

SD CKSIDEEW

FALL 2014 • Vol. 6, No. 3

PUBLISHED BYLitchfield Independent ReviewP.O. Box 921Litchfield, MN 55355320-693-3266

Hutchinson Leader170 Shady Ridge Road NWSuite 100Hutchinson, MN 55350320-587-5000

PUBLISHERBrent [email protected]

EDITORJuliana [email protected] Litchfield office320-234-4172 Hutchinson office

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSJenny Berg, Jeremy Jones, Stan Roeser

ADVERTISING DIRECTORKevin [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTION OR ADDRESS CHANGEMichelle [email protected]

PRINTED BYCrow River Press170 Shady Ridge Road NWHutchinson, MN 55350320-587-2062

Dockside is published three times a year(April, June, September) by the LitchfieldIndependent Review and Hutchinson Leadernewspapers. It is distributed free to lake andriver property owners around Litchfield andHutchinson. No part of this publication maybe reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,or transmitted in any form by means, elec-tronic, mechanical, photocopying, recordingor otherwise, without the prior consent ofthe publisher.

12 Waterways: Two women make a push for paddleboard rental on Lake Ripley

14 Currents: State uses Kouba’s artwork on license plate

26 Waterways: Keep your septic system from freezing

28 Ship’s log: Listing of coming events, meetings

30 In the galley: Spinach-Stuffed Fish Fillets, Fire-Roasted Jalapeño Onion Dip, S’more Meltaway Pie

Waterways: Thosewho share their

experiences on the CrowRiver can earn a paddlepatch from CROW

6

�

�

Waterways:If you care about clean

water, volunteer to help collect trash from the CrowRiver in September and geta free T-shirt and lunch

916

�

STOWED INSIDE


Lake Stella doesn’t have the popular swimmingbeach that its neighbor Lake Manuella has, northe size its other neighbor Lake Washington has,

but property owners aren’t complaining. Instead, they rave about how clean the water is, the

lake’s beauty and the fishing opportunities they have. It’sanother gem that our local counties are so fortunate tohave. Yet, it takes work by volunteers to make this gemsparkle. Lake Stella Association has worked to reduceEurasian watermilfoil and is trying to prevent otheraquatic invasive species. Inside this magazine, we take acloser look at Lake Stella.

One of the greatest threats to the ecosystems in ourlakes and rivers is the increasing number of aquatic inva-sive species, according to Conservation Minnesota, a non-profit organization with a mission to protect the great out-doors. AIS are any type of aquatic species that are notnative to Minnesota and have no native predator. As aresult, they often out-compete native species for food andhabitat. Many local lake associations have undergonetraining with the Department of Natural Resources sothey know what to look for and how to look for AIS asboaters come and go from public accesses.

The training paid off for Lake Sylvia near South Haven.On the Greater Lake Sylvia Association website, the asso-ciation reports that a boater arrived Aug. 5 at the publicaccess. As a matter of practice, a man who helps monitor

boats for AIS began inspecting theboat. When he crawled under theboat, he found under the hull and hid-den by the trailer, dozens of full-grown zebra mussels stuck to theboat. He sent the boater to a localmarine, which spent three hoursdecontaminating the boat. He alsonotified the Department of NaturalResources, according to the LakeSylvia website. We have several sto-ries about AIS inside this magazine.The DNR reminds boaters to closely inspect their boats,and lakeshore owners should examine their docks, boatlifts and rafts as they remove them in the fall.

This year, I have heard from several readers with greatstory ideas. I am researching one, and will follow up ontwo others for the spring edition. Please call or email me ifyour lake association is working on a project, whether it’sshoreline restoration or a fun lake event. With 39 lakes inour coverage area, I know there are stories out there.However, there’s only one of me, but many lake associa-tion members. My contact information is on Page 3, and Ienjoy hearing from readers.

This will be our last edition of 2014. We will see you inspring 2015.

— Juliana Thill, editor

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The Minnesota PollutionControl Agency is seekingcomments on a water qual-

ity improvement report for theNorth Fork Crow River watershed.The report, known as a TotalMaximum Daily Load, focuses onpollution caused by excess nutri-ents, bacteria, and turbidity. A pub-lic comment period began Aug. 11and continues through Sept. 10.

The North Fork Crow Riverwatershed includes parts ofKandiyohi, Meeker, Pope, Stearns,and Wright counties. The reportaddresses water quality impair-ments in six river and streamreaches, and in 34 lakes throughoutthe watershed. The pollution ismainly caused by excess nutrients,bacteria, and turbidity. The NorthFork Crow is joined by the SouthFork Crow River in Rockford, andeventually drains into theMississippi River near Dayton.

The TMDL report is part of anationwide effort under the federalClean Water Act to identify andclean up pollution in streams, riversand lakes. Every two years, statesare required to submit a list ofimpaired waters to the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency.A TMDL report is a scientific studythat calculates the maximumamount of a pollutant a water body

can receive (known as the “loadingcapacity”) without exceeding waterquality standards.

PHOTO BY JULIANA THILL

Minnesota Pollution Control Agencywill accept comments on a waterquality improvement report for theNorth Fork Crow River watershedthrough Sept. 10.

CURRENTS

MPCA seeks comments on waterquality report for North Fork

Crow River watershed

Water quality improvement draft report The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s water quality improvement draft report,

known as a Total Maximum Daily Load, is available on the MPCA’s TMDL projectswebsite, or at the St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Road N. Comments can be submittedto Margaret Leach, MPCA, 7678 College Road, Baxter, MN, 56425, or by email [email protected]. For more information, contact Leach at 218-316-3895,or toll-free at 800-657-3864.

Written comments must include the following:1.A statement of your interest in the draft TMDL report;2.A statement of the action you wish the MPCA to take, including specific refer-

ences to sections of the draft TMDL that you believe should be changed; and3. Specific reasons supporting your position.More information on the state's impaired waters list and TMDL studies is available

online at www.pca.state.mn.us/water/tmdl/index.html, or toll-free at 800-657-3864.

The Crow River Organization ofWater is offering a paddlepatch to encourage outdoor

recreation on the Crow River.After the North and South Fork

Crow rivers converge at Rockford, theCrow River flows 24.8 miles to theMississippi River. The river’s course isused to define the boundary betweenWright and Hennepin counties.

With the Minneapolis skyline in thebackground and a barn in the fore-ground, the patch showcases the ruraland urban interface upstream of theMississippi River.

To receive a patch, send CROW apicture or a story from a two-hour min-imum adventure on the Crow River.

CROW might use images and sto-ries for future promotion of future pro-gramming via online and print medi-ums.

For more information, contact DianeSander or Charlene Brooks at 763-682-1933 ext. 3, email [email protected] orcharlene.brooks.mn.nacdnet.net, orsend mail to 311 Brighton Ave.,Buffalo, MN 55313.

CROW offerspaddle patch

to those willingto share river

adventure


With the Minneapolis skyline in thebackground and a barn in the fore-ground, the patch showcases the ruraland urban interface along Crow River.


CURRENTS

Showing how land use directly affects water quality justgot easier with a new feature on the Minnesota PollutionControl Agency’s website called, “How’s the Water?”

By clicking through maps, graphics and information,browsers can see the challenges facing Minnesota waters atwww.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/water/hows-the-water/index.html. They also can access the science and data— in layperson’s terms — behind the issues. For example,clicking on “lakes” leads to a page explaining the threats ofrunoff, erosion and sediment, along with road salt and inva-sive species. The MPCA developed the “How’s the Water”feature to offer a snapshot of water quality across the statein four areas: lakes, rivers and streams, wetlands, and

groundwater. The MPCA gathers and analyzes ahuge amount of environmental data, butoften that data is embedded in long andtechnical reports. “How’s the Water?” offers a

broad and accessible look at the threats tostate waters, the current water quality in

regions around the state, and the stepsthe MPCA and other groups are takingto restore and protect our waterresources.

How’s the water? Click to find outwith new MPCA web feature

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By Jeremy JonesCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Minnesota has about 175bodies of water infestedwith zebra mussels, which

is why Department of NaturalResources officers find it so frustratingthat there is a 26 percent violationrate at enforcement check stations.

“Far too many people are still notfollowing the law,” said Greg Salo,DNR central region enforcement man-ager. “Violators should know better bynow.”

So far this season, watercraftinspectors have found more than 1,300boaters at public water accesses withaquatic plants, invasive animals orwater in or on their boats and equip-ment. The DNR has issued 169 cita-tions and 375 warning tickets toboaters for aquatic invasive speciesviolations.

Though the problem of AIS contin-ues to threaten state waters, McLeodCounty has remained in fairly goodshape.

Nick Brown, an AIS specialist at theHutchinson multi-discipline office,said McLeod County hasn’t seen manyproblems so far. The only infestationon record is at Cedar Lake, whereEurasian water milfoil is growing.

“It’s an invasive plant that creates arecreational nuisance. It’s dense andhard to get a boat through, and diffi-cult to fish around. It can out-compete

some plant species,” Brown said.He said Cedar Lake had seen an ebb

and flow with the trouble caused bythe milfoil plant, but it has only beenon the lake for around two years.

“AIS are a big environment problemstatewide,” Brown said. “But less sohere. We don’t have big recreationallakes. Areas that draw people fromaround the state, Minnetonka forexample, are a concern.”

Just because lakes in McLeodCounty aren’t popular sites for fishingenthusiasts around the state doesn’tmean they’re immune to danger. Iflocal boaters aren’t checking theirboats, and cleaning them of invasive

species, plants or mud, an AIS can stilllatch on and be transferred. In addi-tion to cleaning boats of mud, plantsand any animal species, Brown saidboaters also need to be sure to draintheir boats, and not transfer over bait,or bait water, from other lakes.

“Those zebra mussel larva aremicroscopic, and can move around eas-ily in any water,” Brown said. “Whatwe need is for people to be as diligentas they can when inspecting boats.”

So far, it appears McLeod Countyboaters are taking the necessary pre-cautions. In his talks with DNR enforce-ment officers, Brown said he haslearned McLeod County residents arebeing responsible. “It looks like morepeople have been following the rules,compared to other places,” Brown said.

Similar to most McLeod Countylakes, the Crow River is also clear ofAIS so far, but the DNR is concernedsome state rivers could become infest-ed as invasive carp are found furthernorth.

“There is always a chance for one ofthose species to get into our smallerrivers and streams from the largerones,” Brown said.

To stay ahead of the spread of AIS,Minnesota approved the MinnesotaAquatic Invasive Species PreventionAid program. As part of the program,McLeod County is receiving $75,700 tocreate and execute a plan to furtherprevention efforts. On July 1, theMcLeod County Board gave countystaff the go-ahead to work with theCrow River Organization of Water todevelop a plan, and see if there could becooperation with neighboring counties.

Jeremy Jones is a staff writer at theHutchinson Leader.


WATERWAYS

County will use state fundsto create plan that

continues prevention efforts

McLeod County sees few AIS problems

FILE PHOTO

Signs like this one have been installedat numerous area lakes where theMinnesota Department of NaturalResources maintains public accesses.

Meeker County will receive about $332,000 instate money through Dec. 31, 2015, to curb inva-sive species in county lakes.

The County Board appointed five people — MikeSolbrack, John Decker, Leo Bauer, David Thompson andKaren Langmo — to a county committee to determine the

best way to spend the funds to combat invasive species inthe county’s lakes.

Also serving on the committee will be the sheriff, CountyAdministrator Paul Virnig and two County Board mem-bers.

— Stan Roeser, contributing writer

Meeker County focuses on ways to spend state funds to curb invasive species


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The Crow RiverOrganization of Wateris planning its annual

Clean-up Day from 8 a.m. tonoon Saturday, Sept. 20 in com-munities across the watershed.

Volunteers walk along thebanks of the Crow River and itstributaries, as well as paddlethe river collecting trash.Volunteers will receive a T-shirtand enjoy a sponsor-providedlunch as they admire their pilesof collected trash.

It’s an activity for everyone to participate in, includingindividuals, families, and organizations such as Boy Scouttroops, Cub Scout packs, Girl Scout troops, 4H clubs,church or school groups, and businesses.

For more information, including communities nearbythat are participating, contact Diane Sander, CROW coor-dinator at 763-682-1933, ext. 112 or email her atdiane.sander@ mn.nacdnet.net.

CROW seeks volunteers forCrow River Clean-up Day

WATERWAYS

Minnesota’s waterfowl seasonwill open a half-hour beforesunrise on Saturday, Sept.

27, under a similar season structure tolast year, with similar bag limits andwith season dates that vary for north,central and southern zones, accordingto the Department of NaturalResources.

The waterfowl seasons are based ona federal framework that applies to allstates in the Mississippi Flyway.

“While the season structure is simi-lar to recent years, there is an adjust-ment in the duck season dates in thesouth duck zone,” said Steve Cordts,DNR waterfowl specialist.

In the south duck zone, hunting opens for three daysfrom Saturday, Sept. 27, through Monday, Sept. 29, andthen closes. The season then reopens from Saturday, Oct.11, through Saturday, Dec. 6.

In all zones, the daily bag limit remains at six ducks perday. The mallard bag limit remains at four per day, includ-ing two hen mallards. The wood duck bag limit remains atthree per day. The only bag limit change from the 2013waterfowl season is the canvasback limit, which decreasesfrom two to one per day.

Mallard abundance from a continental spring survey thatincludes Minnesota is used to set overall duck seasonlength. This year’s estimate was 11 million mallards, whichwas similar to last year’s estimate of 10.8 million mallardsand well above the long-term average.

In another measure of Minnesota duck populations, a

population index of resident breedingmallards was down slightly from lastyear, but 13 percent above the long-term average.

“Continental breeding duck num-bers were good this year, and followingheavy rains in the spring, wetland con-ditions in the major waterfowl breed-ing areas were favorable,” Cordts said.

Additional details on the duck,goose, sandhill crane, and other migra-tory bird hunting seasons are availablein the 2014 Minnesota WaterfowlHunting Regulations, available in inbooklet form and online atwww.mndnr.gov/ hunting/waterfowl.

Duck seasonsIn the north duck zone (north of Highway 210), the duck

season will run from Saturday, Sept. 27, through Tuesday,Nov. 25.

In the central duck zone, the duck season will run fromSaturday, Sept. 27, through Sunday, Oct. 5, and Saturday,Oct. 11, through Sunday, Nov. 30.

In the south duck zone (south of Highway 212), the duckseason will run from Saturday, Sept. 27, through Monday,Sept. 29, and Saturday, Oct. 11, through Saturday, Dec. 6.

Canada goose hunting Canada goose hunting is open in the three duck zones,

and also in an intensive harvest zone. For a map of theintensive zone and other information, seewww.mndnr.gov/hunting/waterfowl. Hunting dates and


The early September Canada goose season will open statewide on Saturday, Sept. 6.

WATERWAYS

Youth Waterfowl DayYouth Waterfowl Day will be

Saturday, Sept. 13. Hunters ages 15 andunder may take regular season bag lim-its when accompanied by an adult age18 or older. The accompanying adultcan’t hunt that day and does not need alicense. Canada geese, mergansers,coots and moorhens may be taken froma half-hour before sunrise to 4 p.m.Motorized decoy restrictions are ineffect. Five geese may be takenstatewide.

DNR announces fall duck, goose seasons


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The early September Canada goose season will openstatewide on Saturday, Sept. 6, and run through Monday,Sept. 22. Bag limits for Canada geese are 10 per day in theIntensive Harvest Zone and five per day in the remainderof the state. A $4 permit is required to hunt Canada geeseduring September season.

The restriction prohibiting hunting within 100 yards ofsurface water remains in effect in the Northwest GooseZone, Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area, OchedaLake Game Refuge, and an area surrounding Swan Lake inNicollet County. Early season goose hunters should consultthe 2014 Waterfowl Supplement for zone maps and addi-tional details.

Minnesota’s regular goose season will open in conjunctionwith the duck season statewide on Sept. 27, with a bag limitof three Canada geese per day the entire season. Goose sea-son will be closed in the central and south duck zones whenduck season is closed. In the north duck zone, goose seasonwill run from Saturday, Sept. 27, through Thursday, Dec.25. In the central duck zone, goose season will run fromSaturday, Sept. 27, through Sunday, Oct. 5, and Saturday,Oct. 11, through Tuesday, Dec. 30. In the south duck zone,goose season will run from Saturday, Sept. 27, throughMonday, Sept. 29, and Saturday, Oct. 11, through Monday,Jan. 5, 2015.

WATERWAYS

By Jenny BergCONTRIBUTING WRITER

To make the most of Minnesota’s short summers,Kateri Kormann sometimes moves yoga classesfrom her downtown Litchfield indoor studio to the

outside deck overlooking Lake Ripley.A few times this summer, she even moved yoga classes

onto the lake itself — with the help of stand-up paddle-boards.

“You think you know your inner thighs until you get on apaddleboard,” Kormann said with a laugh, referring to the

workout a paddleboard provides aperson’s leg and core muscles.

Kormann was able to share thepaddleboard yoga experience withattendees of Open Sole Yoga inLitchfield through certified paddle-board yoga instructor Juli Rathke,who visited Litchfield this summer.Rathke graduated from LitchfieldHigh School in 1992 and now ownsMeta Yoga Studios and Schools inBreckenridge, Colo.

“We have so much water here. Why not use it,” saidRathke during a paddleboard yoga class Aug. 1 on the southshores of Lake Ripley.

Rathke, who regularly instructs stand-up paddleboardand regular yoga classes in Colorado, said she was disap-pointed last summer when she visited Litchfield and could-

n’t find a local place to rent a paddleboard. This summer,Lakawa (Lakes Area Kiting and Windsurfing Advisory)loaned Rathke a few boards to bring to Litchfield.

Paddleboarding — one of the fastest growing sports inthe world, Rathke said — involves a person kneeling orstanding on a long board made of plastic, fiberglass orinflatable material. If standing, the person can propel

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MANDALA LIFE PRODUCTIONS

Juli Rathke, second from left, leads a paddleboard yoga class on Lake Ripley the evening of July 31. Participatingin the class is Kateri Kormann, far right, who runs Open Sole Yoga in Litchfield.

Paddleboards allow people to enjoy thelake, relax,get exercise

Yoga instructor Juli Rathke, a Litchfield graduate whonow owns a yoga studio in Colorado, performs a half-moon pose on a paddleboard in Lake Ripley. Besidespaddleboarding offering an excuse to get out in nature,it provides a good workout — especially for the leg andcore muscles, Rathke said.

A balancing act on Lake Ripley



himself or herself using a single paddle.“The nice thing about the paddleboard is it’s for every-

one,” Rathke said. “If you can stand and you can find yourbalance, you can do it.”

Kormann’s children — 4-year-old Antonia Muellerleileand 6-year-old Augustin Muellerleile — proved Rathke’spoint Aug. 1 as they effortlessly stood up on the paddle-boards and floated around near the shore of Lake Ripley.

“The biggest thing is balance,” Kormann said. “You haveto really balance out your left and right.”

The evening of July 31, Kormann tipped off of her paddle-board while attempting a “wheel pose,” which involvesarching the back and lifting the body while facing upwards.Despite the quick splash into the lake, practicing yoga onthe water is relaxing, Kormann said. It’s also a great work-out. “It’s like being on a sailboat, but you’re working hard.”

Even if people are not interested in performing yogaposes on paddleboards, the boards still offer a fun recre-ational activity, according to both Kormann and Rathke.

“Not only is it fun for yoga, but just paddleboarding aloneis awesome,” Kormann said.

The biggest downfall to the sport is the price, according toRathke, who said an average board is about $800.

“So it’s not super cheap, but once you make the invest-ment, you have it for the rest of your life,” Rathke said.“And with all the lakes around here, everyone should haveone.”

Rathke said she hopes a local retailer will begin rentingpaddleboards so anyone who wants to try paddleboardingwill be able to. She also hopes to teach a weekly or bi-week-ly paddleboard yoga class next summer, she said.

“My dream is that there is a boat house out here,” shesaid, referring to a place where people could rent paddle-boards at Lake Ripley Memorial Park.

Kormann said she will spend the winter months trying tofind a way for local people to rent paddleboards.

“We have the teacher. We have the lake. We need theboards,” she said.

Jenny Berg is a staff writer for the Litchfield IndependentReview.

STAFF PHOTO BY JENNY BERG

Antonia Muellerleile, 4, paddleboards behind KateCarlson on Aug. 1, demonstrating that people of allages can do the popular sport.

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CURRENTS

Minnesota motoristscan support conserva-tion with a new criti-

cal habitat license plate featur-ing moose art by the late LesKouba, a renowned wildlifeartist formerly of Hutchinson.

“Moose are synonymous withMinnesota’s north woods andits outdoor heritage,” saidMinnesota Department of NaturalResources Commissioner TomLandwehr. “Nothing captures theessence of being up north better thana bull moose feeding in the shallows ofa boreal lake, and that’s exactly whatthis new license plate depicts.”

The new moose plate, which dis-plays a never-before-published paint-ing by Kouba, is the eighth criticalhabitat plate offered. Other platesdisplay the loon, pheasant, chickadee,showy lady’s slipper, a fishing sceneand white-tailed deer.

Moose critical habitat plateThe Minnesota Legislature created

the critical habitat license plate pro-gram in 1995 to provide additionalopportunity for Minnesotans to con-tribute toward conservation.Motorists who purchase a criticalhabitat plate make a minimum annu-al contribution of $30 to the Reinvestin Minnesota program. Every dollargenerated through the sale of thelicense plate is matched with privatedonations of cash or land.

Critical habitat license plate rev-enue has generated more than $25million toward the purchase of 7,700acres of critical habitat and helpedfund non-game wildlife research andsurveys, habitat enhancement andeducational programs.

Revenue from the sale of the newmoose plate will go to RIM CriticalHabitat and not be used for mooseresearch and management.

Kouba research partnershipKouba, a Minnesota wildlife artist

noted for his paintings of pheasantsand waterfowl, died in 1998. The

DNR worked with Les KoubaOutdoors, the company that holds therights to the late painter’s artworksales, to design the license plate usingpreviously unpublished art. The twoorganizations also signed a partner-ship agreement that will use some ofthe proceeds from the sale of Kouba’smoose imagery to help fund researchand management projects.

“This is a unique public-private part-nership formed to help pay for wildliferesearch and habitat work that wehope keeps moose on Minnesota’s land-scape,” said Lou Cornicelli, DNRwildlife research manager.

The partnership offers Kouba’smoose imagery as incentives for indi-viduals and organizations to join Callof The Moose Minnesota as a member,sponsor or licensee. Les KoubaOutdoors will direct a significant por-tion of the proceeds to Minnesota’smoose research and management. I

“Les Kouba, the man and hiswildlife art, have long epitomized thelove of nature and wildlife conserva-tion,” said Greg Meyer, Les KoubaOutdoors president. “We are all chal-lenged to conserve, restore and man-age our precious natural resources sothat generations to come can enjoyMinnesota’s bountiful outdoors to thegreatest extent possible.”

The new license plates are availableat deputy registrar offices statewide.For more information, call theDepartment of Public Safety-Driverand Vehicle Services at 651-297-3304.

The moose license plate displaysa never-before-published paint-ing by the late Les Kouba.

Groups that want to restore,protect or enhance publicland can apply for Conser-

vation Partners Legacy grants thathelp pay for work on Minnesotaprairies, forests, wetlands, or onhabitat for fish and wildlife.

Nonprofit organizations and gov-ernment entities are eligible to sub-mit applications until 4:30 p.m.Friday, Sept. 19, on the MinnesotaDepartment of Natural Resourceswebsite at www.mndnr.gov/cpl.

Projects must be on public land orland permanently protected by con-servation easements. Applicantsmay request up to $400,000 with atotal project cost not exceeding$575,000. Projects also must have10 percent of the funding come froma source outside a state agency.

Information about the grants canbe found at www.mndnr.gov/cpl.Potential applicants are encour-aged to review the request for pro-posals and the “how to apply” tab atthe website, which guides usersthrough the application process.

Questions can be directed to:Jessica Lee, DNR CPL grant pro-gram coordinator, [email protected] or call 651-259-5233, orKelly Pharis, DNR natural resourcegrants specialist, [email protected] or call 651-259-5174.

Nonprofits groups,local governments canapply for ConservationPartners Legacy grants

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By Juliana ThillEDITOR

The air was cool, yet humid.And the heavy cloud coverhid the sun, allowing thefog to hang low on Lake

Stella for most of this calm, mid-August morning.

It was a good day for fishing, rea-soned Roger Taylor, a member of theLake Stella Association. Unfortunate-ly, fewer children than usual partici-pated in Lake Stella’s youth fishingcontest this year.

However, that boosted the six chil-dren’s chances of catching a prize fish.

Avery, Bailey and Carter Broich ofClearwater headed out in a boat withtheir grandfather, Dave Gorham, who

lives on Lake Stella, and his friendJerry Betker, who lives on LakeWashington.

Avery, 9, used a nightcrawler tocatch a 1.7 pound bass. It was largeenough to win her first place forlargest bass. Bailey, 7, won first placefor largest sunfish with a 0.4 pounder,edging out her brother and anotherangler, Hannah Wadholm, 9, of Delanoby 0.1 pound.

“It was the perfect way to spend theday,” said Judd Wadholm. He broughthis daughters, Hannah and Abby, tofish with their grandparents, Rick andCheryl Molenaar, who live on LakeStella.

The youth fishing contest is anactivity that the Lake StellaAssociation hosts to encourage lake

property owners to become involved inthe association.

The contest is open to youth — chil-dren, grandchildren, nieces, nephewsand friends — of those who are lakeassociation members.

“A member of the lake associationhas to be in the boat to take part in thecontest,” said Rod Portele, who is co-chair of the association’s board ofdirectors. It’s a way to encourage lakeproperty owners if they want to partic-ipate in the contest, to join the associ-ation, he added.

Lake Stella, which is nestledbetween and connected to LakeManuella (to the southwest) and LakeWashington (to the east), has about144 property owners. In addition, 20campers take up near-permanent

Nestled between two lakes south of Darwin, Lake Stella offers a clean, quiet location for fishing, boating and relaxing — alone or with friends and family

PHOTOS BY JULIANA THILL

Fog mutes the landscape around Lake Stella on a cool, humid August morning. As one angler returns to shore,two other boaters with children prepare to cast a line during the Lake Stella Association’s youth fishing contest.

Lake Stella offersserenity & simplicity

residency in the campground on thewest side of the lake. And four campersare located along the road separatingLake Stella and Lake Washington.

“It’s a very clean lake,” said RickMolenaar, who moved to Lake Stella in2001. “We have wonderful neighbors.On the east shore, where I live, it’s justbeautiful.”

A sandy beach extends out severaldozen feet on the east side wheremany homeowners live.

“The lake is ideal for kids and forswimming,” said Portele, who had acabin on the lake for years, and even-tually built a permanent home in itsplace 17 years ago.

Lake Stella Association helps manageand maintain the lake. The associa-tion’s mission is: to protect, operate, andimprove Lake Stella and its properties,in a fiscally responsible manner, withappropriate planning for the future.

An active lake associationThe association was established

July 22, 1988, and bylaws were adopt-ed July 30, 1988. The board of direc-tors is active and has brought on new,younger members, which KevinCompton, who is the other co-chairwith Portele, likes to see.

“If we can get everyone involved, itwould help. We need funding to treatmilfoil,” Compton said, adding that theassociation treats areas in the lakeeach year for Eurasian watermilfoil,an aquatic invasive species.

“An active lake association is neces-sary to protect the lake from all theinvasive species including milfoil,curly leaf pondweed, zebra mussels,and Asian carp,” said Rick Steinbach,who serves as secretary on the associ-ation’s board of directors. “In addition,run-off and other threats can definite-

ly impact the water quality.”To pay for spot milfoil treatment,

which runs into the thousands of dol-lars, the association depends onincome such as annual dues from asso-ciation members, lake directories theyprint and sell advertising for, and prof-its from Lake Stella sweatshirts and T-shirts they sell.

Among the association’s other lakeconcerns are zebra mussels and cor-morants.

“We try to be ahead of the game onzebra mussels,” Compton said. “It’sanother invasive species that’s goingto show up, it’s just a matter of when.”

To help educate others on zebramussels and other aquatic invasivespecies, Compton helped coordinatetraining in June with lake associationmembers from Stella, Manuella andWashington and the MinnesotaDepartment of Natural Resources.


MAIN DECK

Avery Broich, 9, used a nightcrawler to catch a 1.7pound bass during Lake Stella’s youth fishing contest inmid-August. Her sister, Bailey, 7, won first place forlargest sunfish while fishing with their grandfather,Dave Gorham, who lives on the lake.

At left, Abby Wadholm, 7, and her sister,Hannah, 9, each caught a sunfish during the Lake Stella youth fishing contest Aug. 16.The girls take part in the contest each yearwith their grandparents, Cheryl and RickMolenaar, who live on the lake.

“We learned what to look for andwhat to do if it happens,” Comptonsaid. “The lake association will sit here(at the public access) during peakpoints — Memorial Day, Labor Day,Fourth of July,” and watch boats andinspect them.”

Following the training, the associa-tion installed a sign in August at thepublic access to warn boaters that thelake association will make periodicinspections for aquatic invasivespecies and asks for cooperation.

“They do it (inspections) on a lot ofbigger lakes,” Compton said. “LakeSylvia is doing it quite religiously upthere. The DNR can’t afford to put aperson in (at each public access), so ifthe lake association or homeowners onthe lake can do it, it just makes sense.”

This year, cormorants were heavy inthe spring, but have mostly left thearea, Portele said. “There have beenyears that they’ve been out here allyear.”

Lake Stella historyGary Otto, who has lived on Lake

Stella for 19 years, has been activelyresearching and compiling a history ofthe lake. According to a written histor-ical account by Otto:

� The earliest date of land procure-ment (later Oakwood Shores) was onMarch 3, 1855. It was deeded to Alfred

C. Hitchcock by Register A.C. Smith.� Prior to the city of Darwin being

platted, on the bend of Lake Stella,which some historians referred to asLake Casey, was a townsite platted andnamed Rice City. When the railroadwas built, Rice City was abandoned andDarwin was built up along the railroad.

� Harry Clemenson operated TwoLakes Resort in the late 1930s withseven or eight cabins, a baithouse anda bath house. Henry Hagen alsoapparently operated a resort in thesouthwest corner of the lake, whereboats and bait were available.

� Around 1963, the Barricks’ camp-ground was constructed on the south-west side of the lake.

� In the summer of 1964, CountyRoad 14 was rebuilt and the culvertbetween Lake Stella and LakeWashington was installed.

� In the summer of 1970, CountyRoad 9 was rebuilt and the culvertbetween Lake Stella and LakeManuella was installed.

� Prior to July 1988, a new channelleading from Lake Stella to LakeWashington was created to the east ofthe original channel. County Road 33was rebuilt with major departuresfrom the route of the previous roadway.This also affected the path of streamsand ditches it crossed and changed thenature of some of them, in that someportions are now underground. The


MAIN DECK

Lake StellaLocation: Southwest of Darwin in

Meeker CountyState public access: A boat launch is

on the lake’s south side along CountyState Aid Highway 33

Water clarity: 5 feetMaximum depth: 75 feetLake acres: 596Aquatic invasive species present:

Eurasian watermilfoilFish species: Black bullhead, black

crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, greensunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass,northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouthbass, walleye, white crappie, yellow bull-head, yellow perch, bowfin (dogfish), com-mon carp, white sucker, banded killifish,bluntnose minnow, brook silverside,Johnny darter, logperch, tadpole madtom.

The Minnesota Department of NaturalResources conducted a fish populationassessment in 2008. Thirteen differentspecies of fish were sampled, plus hybridsunfish. Stella is one of the few lakes inMeeker or McLeod County that containsa fishable population of smallmouth bass.

Website: www.lakestella.comFacebook: Lake Stella AssociationLake association: The Board of

Directors meets at 9 a.m. the secondTuesday of the month from April throughSeptember at Litchfield American Legion.To join the lake association, contact any ofthe board of directors or email RickSteinbach at [email protected] dues for 2014 are $50.

Lake Stella Association members Rod Portele, Roger Taylor, Kevin Compton, Rick Steinbach, Dee Dee Reiner,Lynnae and Tim Sellner, gather at the public access for a meeting in August. Board of Directors are Portele andCompton, who are co-chairmen, Steinbach, who is secretary,Taylor and Tim Sellner. Board members not presentinclude Dave Franzen, Gene Putzier, Craig Reiner, Grant Wurdell, Ryan Severance, John Decker, and Galen Witte.


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MAIN DECK


relocation did away with the old bridgeover the inlet from Birch Lake, afavorite carp spearing location.

� The DNR created a boat launchand paved parking area on the southside of the lake in 1992.

Origin of Lake Stella’s nameWhile interested in the area’s histo-

ry, Otto also wanted to know how LakeStella earned its name.

“The origin of the Lake Stella namehas been a topic of interest for myselfand others. After moving to the lake in1995, it became a mission to search forthe answer,” he said.

In Otto’s early research, he tried tofind a link to the name of early settlersof the area. However, searching 1860U.S. Census documents listing everyMeeker County resident failed to iden-tify a single person with the nameStella, Otto said.

Undeterred, Otto then focused hissearch on land surveyors, who arrivedfrom Dubuque, Iowa. He obtained acopy of the original survey from theMeeker County Recorder’s Office. Thisdocument was a certified copy of theoriginal plat, surveyed in 1856 byDeputy Surveyor Dennis “D.S.”Langton and Mortimer Hayden.Coincidentally, Hayden had a 4-year-old daughter named Stella.

“‘Stella’ is a family name given toLake Stella by the Haden/Langtonsurveying party in 1856,” Otto said.

Many offeringsMore than 150 years later, Lake

Stella is a popular lake appreciated by

individuals and families.“It’s a nice, clean lake; a nice bunch

of people, and it’s got a good lake asso-ciation,” Gorham said.

Steinbach agreed. He and his wife,Joni, live in Savage, Minn., and want-ed to buy lake property that was with-in a two-hour drive of their home thatwould avoid traffic issues.

“We didn’t realize there were somany lakes in this area until we start-

ed performing research,” he said. Theysettled on Lake Stella in 2002. “Stellais a deep and relatively clear lake. I’ma darkhouse spear fisherman, so clearwater is a definite plus. The area hasmany things to offer, and it’s closeenough to do day trips to the Cities.We love being on and around thewater. We spend every possible week-end there, and usually have friends orfamily sharing the time with us.” �

Lake Stella Association installed a sign in August at the public access on County State Aid Highway 33 to warnboaters that the association will make periodic inspections for aquatic invasive species.

As the sun sets,anglers leaveLake Stellathrough thechannel to LakeWashington.The MinnesotaDepartment ofNaturalResources con-ducted a fishpopulationassessment in2008, and foundthat Stella is oneof the few lakesin Meeker orMcLeod Countythat contains afishable popula-tion of small-mouth bass.

PHOTOS BY JULIANA THILL


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YOUR FISHINGHEADQUARTERS

New finds of aquatic invasivespecies have been reportedin Green Lake near Spicer

and Games Lake near Sunburg, bothin Kandiyohi County, according to theMinnesota Department of NaturalResources.

During the week of July 14, a newinfestation of Eurasian watermilfoilwas reported to DNR Invasive SpeciesSpecialist Nicholas Brown, by alakeshore owner on Games Lake,about 7 miles east of Sunburg. Thereport was confirmed when the plantwas found growing in the lake near theoutlet from Norway Lake. NorwayLake is also infested with Eurasianwatermilfoil.

On July 21, a suspected zebra mus-sel specimen was brought into theSpicer DNR office for positive identifi-cation. The property owner said hefound the zebra mussel attached to adock post in about 4 feet of water inGreen Lake, but was unable to findanother. Brown confirmed that thespecimen was an adult zebra mussel,though it was dead at the time ofinspection. DNR personnel conductedadditional searches on Green Lake,July 22 and July 24, but no additionalzebra mussels were found.

Green Lake will be designated asinfested with zebra mussels. The DNRwill work with local partners to contin-

ue monitoring for the presence ofzebra mussels. If no additional evi-dence of a zebra mussel population isfound in Green Lake for the next fiveyears, the DNR may revisit the deci-sion to list the lake as infested withzebra mussels. As a precaution, LakeCalhoun in Kandiyohi County will alsobe designated as infested because it isdirectly downstream from Green Lake.

“These newest reports emphasizethe need for everyone to be on the look-out for zebra mussels and other aquat-ic invasive species,” Brown said.“Lakeshore owners should take extratime to examine docks, boat lifts andrafts, especially when removing themthis fall.”

Zebra mussels pose serious ecologi-

cal and economic threats toMinnesota’s lakes and streams. Heavyinfestations can kill native mussels,impact fish populations and interferewith recreation.

Minnesota currently has more than175 water bodies designated as infest-ed with zebra mussels. Designationdoes not mean each body of water isconfirmed to be infested, but thatzebra mussels have been detected in alake accessible by boat, and spread islikely between connected waters.

Preventing the spread of invasivespecies takes personal responsibility.Before leaving a lake, boaters mustremove all aquatic vegetation and ani-mals including zebra mussels or otherprohibited invasive species, drain allwater by removing drain plugs andkeep drain plugs out while transport-ing watercraft.

“We want to stress that lake usersbe diligent in following the laws,including inspecting, cleaning, anddraining boats and dumping allunwanted bait in the trash,” Brownsaid. “Following these steps will slowthe spread of all invasive species.”

More information about aquaticinvasive species, how to inspect boatsand other water-related equipment,and a current list of designated infest-ed waters can be found on the DNRwebsite at www.mndnr.gov/ais.

DNR reports aquatic invasive speciesfound in two Kandiyohi County lakes

Lakeshore ownersshould take extratime to examine

docks, boat lifts and rafts,especially when removing

them this fall.NICHOLAS BROWN,

DNR invasive species specialist“WATERWAYS

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WATERWAYS

Water samples from about 90 wells in RenvilleCounty will be collected and analyzed for waterchemistry during the next two months by hydro-

geologists from the Minnesota Department of NaturalResources. Samples will also be tested to learn how long thewater has been underground.

The data are being collected for the Renville CountyGeologic Atlas, an effort involving staff from the MinnesotaGeological Survey, the DNR’s Ecological and WaterResources Division and Renville County.

DNR staff will contact residents to request permission forwell sampling, which involves collecting a water sampleand measuring the depth to water in each well. The selec-

tion of wells for sampling will be basedon geology, location, well depth andwell construction. The samples willcome from wells drawing water fromaquifers at varying depths. Owners ofwells that are sampled will receive areport of the laboratory results fortheir well.

Preserving the long-term quality ofthe region’s surface water and ground-water requires that policy makershave access to accurate informationbased on sound scientific principles. Acounty geologic atlas is a valuable tool

used by county planners, resource managers, and otherlocal government staff when making general planning, landuse management, and water resource protection decisions.

The Minnesota Geological Survey has already publishedPart A of the atlas, which illustrates details of each county’sgeology. In 2016, the DNR Ecological and Water ResourceDivision will publish the groundwater portion of the atlas(Part B). The Part B reports will include maps and descrip-tions of the hydrogeology, cross sections illustrating ground-water conditions, and the pollution sensitivity of groundwa-ter in the county.

The DNR County Geologic Atlas Program is funded inpart by the Minnesota Environment and Natural ResourcesTrust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-CitizenCommission on Minnesota Resources. Funding also comesfrom the Clean Water Fund, which receives 33 percent ofthe sales tax revenue from the Clean Water, Land andLegacy Amendment, approved by voters in November 2008.

A description of this DNR program and status reports foratlas products can be viewed at www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/groundwater_section/mapping/index.html.

For information, contact Jan Falteisek, DNR county geo-logic atlas program supervisor, 651-259-5665, [email protected] or Randy Bradt, DNR hydrogeologist,651-259-5728, [email protected].

DNR plans to collect,sample ground water in Renville County


WATERWAYS

For years, doctors have toldpeople to stick to a low-saltdiet. Minnesota waters

should follow the same advice, accord-ing to the Minnesota Pollution ControlAgency.

Winters in Minnesota bring slipperyroads, parking lots and sidewalks aswell as the application of de-icingmaterials to keep these surfaces safeand ice-free.

Road salt, which contains chloride,is the most commonly used de-icer.Chloride from road salt enters lakes,streams, and groundwater after snowmelts. Once in the water, it becomes apermanent pollutant and is harmful tofish, insects and plants.

During the past five years, theMPCA has assessed the condition ofMinnesota’s groundwater as part ofthe agency’s overall vision for cleanwater.

The chloride that enters surfacewater is eventually carried downwardinto the aquifers that provide thestate’s drinking water, and it can evenchange the taste of tap water.

“Salt is a real threat to water quali-ty,” said BROOKE Asleson, chlorideproject manager at the MPCA. “It onlytakes one teaspoon of road salt to pol-lute 5 gallons of water. If chloride con-tinues to increase in groundwater,more waters will likely exceed drink-

ing water and water-quality standardsin the future. We are trying to spreadthe word that less is more when itcomes to applying road salt because athigh concentrations, chloride canharm the fish and plant life in ourwaters.”

The MPCA remains concernedabout the need to provide safe roadsand paved areas, while also protectingwater resources from contamination.The agency recommends the followingtips for residents and individuals whoare responsible for winter pavement

maintenance:� Shovel first. The more snow and

ice you remove manually, the less saltyou will have to use and the moreeffective it can be. Then, break up icewith an ice scraper and decide if appli-cation of a de-icer or sand is even nec-essary to maintain traction.

� Slow down. Drive for winter con-ditions, and be courteous to slow-mov-ing plows. The slower they drive, themore salt will stay on the road whereit’s needed.

More salt does not mean more melt-ing. Use less than four pounds of saltper 1,000 square feet (an averageparking space is about 150 squarefeet). One pound of salt is approxi-mately a heaping 12-ounce coffee mug.And be patient: salt takes time towork. Applying more will lead tounnecessary contamination.

� 15 degrees is too cold for most saltto work. Most salts stop doing their jobwhen the temperature is below 15degrees. Instead, use sand for tractionin frigid conditions.

� Sweep up extra salt. If salt orsand is visible on dry pavement, it isno longer doing any work and will bewashed away. The excess can be sweptup and reused for the next snow or dis-posed of in the trash.

To learn more, visit the MPCA’swebsite: www.pca.state.mn.us.

MPCA recommends low-salt diet for state’s waters

Road salt, which contains chloride, is the most commonly used de-icer. Chloride from road salt enters lakes,streams, and groundwater after snow melts. Once in the water, it becomes a permanent pollutant and is harm-ful to fish, insects and plants.

Salt is a realthreat to waterquality. It only

takes 1 teaspoon of road salt to pollute 5 gallons of water.

BROOKE ASLESON,chloride project manager at the

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

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WATERWAYS

How healthy are Minnesota’srivers and streams? How doour land use choices affect

water quality and aquatic life? Do con-ditions vary in different parts of thestate?

These are some of the questions theMinnesota Pollution Control Agency isworking toward answering in itsnewly published report, “TheCondition of Rivers and Streams inMinnesota.”

From 1995-2006, and again in 2010-11, the MPCA conducted twostatewide water monitoring surveys,at randomly selected sites, to helpresearchers characterize the conditionof rivers and streams throughoutMinnesota.

This is known as probabilistic sur-veying. Probabilistic surveys allowresearchers to form conclusions aboutthe condition of rivers and streamsacross the state with a known degree

of certainty, much like a political poll.Information from the two surveys pro-vides insight on current conditionsand how different patterns of land useare associated with water quality andaquatic life. Now, for the first time,combined results of the surveys areavailable in the full condition of riversand streams report on the MPCA website.

A third survey will begin in 2015,which, “combined with this report willhelp further identify short-termchanges, build on our understandingof long-term trends, and aid in thedevelopment of watershed restorationand protection strategies throughoutthe state,” said MPCA biologist AprilLueck, co-author of the report.

Among the many findings in thereport, some highlights include:

� The likelihood of finding healthyaquatic life in streams is dependent onboth natural and human factors.

� Nearly 50 percent of Minnesota’sstreams have been altered to promotedrainage for agriculture and urbandevelopment.

� The state was divided into threeregions based on soils, vegetation,topography, and land use. River andstream conditions generally rangefrom very good in the northeast regionto poor in the southwest region.

The report established baseline con-ditions for Minnesota’s rivers andstreams, so that future surveys cantrack changes in overall river health.

The full report is available on theMPCA’s biological monitoring of waterin Minnesota web page, go towww.pca.state.mn.us, click on the“water” tab, then click on “monitoringand reporting,” then scroll down adclick on “biological monitoring of waterin Minnesota.”

For more information, call 800-657-3864.

MPCA publishes report on condition of state’s rivers, streams

As colder temperaturesarrive, it’s important forhomeowners to keep septic system from freezing in winter

Just as frost can cause problemswith underground pipes incities, it can also impact pipes

and other parts of septic systems thatare used to treat and disperse sewage.Cold temperatures combined with lackof snow in some areas may spell prob-lems for some Minnesota residentswho rely on subsurface sewage treat-ment systems or septic systems.

“Snow helps to insulate septic sys-tems and keep them from freezing,”said Dan Olson, public informationofficer with the Minnesota PollutionControl Agency.

Tips to prevent freezingWith cold temperatures spreading

across much of Minnesota, there areseveral things homeowners can do toprevent their septic system from freez-ing:

� Place a layer of vegetative insula-tion eight to 12 inches thick over thepipes, tank and soil treatment systemto provide extra insulation. This insu-lation can be straw, leaves or otherloose material that will stay in placeand not become compacted. Spread outseveral bales of straw on top of the sep-tic tank and drainfield area- and try toextend out a few feet around the out-side of the tank(s). Insulation is partic-ularly important for new systemsinstalled so late in the year that vege-tative cover has not been fully estab-lished.

� If you’re worried that your systemis starting to freeze, use water — thewarmer the better — as regularly aspossible. Spread out your laundryschedule so you run one warm/hot loada day. Use the dishwasher and takehot baths. However, do not leave waterrunning all the time, as this willhydraulically overload the septic sys-

tem.� Leaving for an extended period?

Have someone use warm water in yourhome regularly while you are gone, orhave your septic tank pumped outbefore you leave. If a shallow tank isleft full for several winter months, thesewage will become very cold and canfreeze.

� Fix any leaky plumbing fixturesor appliances in your home. This willhelp prevent freezing problems andhelp your system perform better allyear long.

� If you have appliances that gener-ate low flows, such as high-efficiencyfurnaces, you can put heat tape in thepipe, and have someone run warmwater for a while you are gone.Alternatively, install a small conden-sate pump that holds and dischargestwo gallons per cycle.

� Keep all vehicles, animal andhuman traffic off the system. This is agood rule to follow all year long ascompacted snow and soils cause frostto go down deeper and faster. Pay spe-

cial attention to the area between thehouse and the septic tank.

� Make sure all risers, inspectionpipes and manholes have covers.Making sure lids are closed tight andadding insulation is a good idea.Insulation may be added during con-struction particularly if the top of theseptic tank is within two feet of thesurface.

� Keep an eye on your system. Ifany seeping or ponding occurs, contacta septic system professional to helpdetermine the cause and remedy.

� Add more insulation to your sys-tem. This could include replacing pipewith insulated pipe, installing expand-ed foam panels over the septic tank, oradding more soil cover.

A common cause of freeze-ups ispipes that are not installed with theproper pitch or that have settled,resulting in dips in the line. Where adip or flat spot occurs, sewage can col-lect and freeze. Pump lines can devel-op a dip right next to or above the sep-tic tank as a result of soil backfilledduring tank installation settling.

If your septic system freezes If your septic system freezes, call a

septic system professional. The MPCAwebsite includes a search tool for find-ing certified installers, maintainers, orservice providers in your area. (Searchthe Internet for “MPCA SSTS licensedbusiness search”.) In addition tochecking your local area, also checksurrounding counties since licensedbusinesses frequently work in multi-ple counties.

If it’s not feasible to correct a prob-lem, the only option is using the septictank as a holding tank until the sys-tem thaws naturally. Have a septicmaintainer empty the tank when it isnearly full. To minimize pumping costsyou can reduce water use by limitingthe number of toilet flushes, takingshort showers, laundering at a laun-dromat, eating prepared meals, usingpaper plates and disposable utensilsand/or using the dishwasher only atfull capacity.

More information is available athttp://septic.umn.edu/.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MPCA

There are some things residentsshould never do to try to fix a frozensystem:

� Do not introduce antifreeze,salt ora septic system additive into the system.

� Do not pump sewage onto theground surface.

� Do not start a fire over the systemto attempt to thaw it out.

� Do not run water continually totry to thaw the system. This can over-load the system.

Keep Jack Frost out of septic systems


CURRENTS


1-800-657-0175 • 320-587-1066www.mnlawnscape.com

Call for a free estimate.

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or Toll Free: 800-635-0359www.lakeregion.com

Anglers and others who want to host fishing tournamentsin 2015 can apply now on the Minnesota Department ofNatural Resources website, at www.mndnr.gov/fishing/tournaments. The DNR said applicants should consider:

� The application period opened Aug. 1, and preference isgiven to applications received by Sept. 26.

� Permits are required for most tournaments with morethan 25 boats, or an entry fee more than $25, or ice fishingcontests exceeding 150 participants.

� A fee is required to apply, due at time of application,with fees typically ranging from $60 to $200.

� Permits are not required for certain types of contests,including youth tournaments.

� A lottery is used to allocate permits if the number ofapplications exceeds monthly limits.

The DNR limits the size and frequency of tournaments onmost waters based on lake size, and also keeps two week-ends each month free of permitted tournaments. The appli-cation fee is designed to recover administrative costs andfree up dollars for fish management programs.

For tournament regulations, call the DNR InformationCenter, 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367; online atwww.mndnr.gov/fishing/tournaments.

Organizers can start planningnow for 2015 fishing tournaments

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CURRENTS


SeptemberLake Washington Improvement

Association Board of Directors meetat 7 p.m. Sept. 2 at Dassel Rod andGun Club.

Belle Lake Association will meetat 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at Bonfire.

Lake Stella Association Board ofDirectors meets at 9 a.m. Sept. 9 atLitchfield American Legion.

Greater Lake Sylvia Associationboard meeting will be from 9 to 11 a.m.Sept. 13 at Southbrook Golf Course.

Lake Francis Area Recreationand Conservation Club Board ofDirectors meets on the third Saturdayof the month at 8:30 a.m. at Triple R inKimball.

Lake Jennie ImprovementAssociation board meeting is thethird Saturday of each month, exceptNovember and December. Contact aboard member for the time and loca-tion of the next meeting.

Crow River Organization ofWater annual Crow River CleanUp, will be Sept. 20. For more infor-mation, contact Diane Sander, CROWcoordinator, at 763-682-1933, ext. 112or email her at [email protected].

Lake Minnie BelleImprovement Association Boardof Directors meet from 7:30 to 9p.m. Sept. 17 at Bonfire Bar & Grille.

North Browns Lake AssociationBoard of Directors will meet at 9a.m. Sept. 20.

Greater Lake Sylvia AssociationBoard of Directors meet at 9 a.m.Sept. 13 at Southside Township Hall,8209 County Road 3 NW, Annandale.

OctoberLake Washington Improvement

Association Board of Directorsmeet at 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at Dassel Rodand Gun Club.

Lake Minnie Belle ImprovementAssociation Board of Directorswill meet from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 15 atBonfire Bar & Grille.

Lake Jennie ImprovementAssociation Board meets the thirdSaturday of each month, except

November and December. Contact aboard member for the time and loca-tion of the next meeting.

Greater Lake Sylvia AssociationBoard of Directors meet at 9 a.m. Oct.11 at Southside Township Hall, 8209County Road 3 NW, Annandale.

NovemberGreater Lake Sylvia Association

board meeting will be from 9 to 11 a.m.Oct. 11 at Southbrook Golf Course.

Lake Minnie Belle ImprovementAssociation Board of Directors

will meet from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Nov. 19 atBonfire Bar & Grille.

JanuaryEden Valley Sportsman’s Club

annual ice fishing contest 1 to 3p.m. Jan 17 by the public access.Limited number of tickets will be sold.

Lake Marion ImprovementAssociation meets at 6:30 p.m. Jan.15 (on the third Thursday in January,April, June and August) at theBrownton Rod and Gun Club, CountyRoad 87 at the south bay of the lake.

FebruaryFifth annual Litchfield

Wintercade ice fishing contestplanning is underway. In the past, thecontest has been the second Saturdayof February on Lake Ripley. For moreinformation, contact the LitchfieldVFW or Litchfield American Legion.

Lake Washington ImprovementAssociation board members meet at7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of themonth (February through October) atDassel Rod and Gun Club.

MarchLake Washington Improvement

Association board members meet at7 p.m. March 2 at Dassel Rod and GunClub.

AprilNorth Browns Lake Association

Board of Directors will meet at 9a.m. April 18.

Lake Stella Homeowner’sAssociation will meet at 9 a.m. April7 at Litchfield American Legion.

Lake Stella Homeowner’sAssociation spring clean-up will beat 9 a.m. April 25 at the public access.

Lake Marion ImprovementAssociation meets at 6:30 p.m. April16 at the Brownton Rod and GunClub, County Road 87 at the south bayof the lake.

Belle Lake Association meetingsare usually at 7 p.m. on the secondTuesday of the month at Bonfire Barand Grille.

Calendar of local events, meetings

Have your event listedIf your organization or lake associa-

tion has a meeting, coming event oritem to list in the calendar, we wantto hear from you. Email informationto Juliana Thill at [email protected] or call 320-593-4808 or320-234-4172.

SHIP’S LOG


SHIP’S LOG

Doug Huhn, P.L.S.

320-693-3710

888-699-3710310 Depot St. E.,

Litchfield

•Land Surveying•Topography Surveys

•FEMA Flood Certificates•Subdivision Design

Designing, Building& Remodeling FineHomes – Since 1977 –Homes Since 1977

For over 30 years, Kevin Compton has brought toHutchinson and the surrounding areas the finest

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Compton Anderson Construction Inc.18482 202nd Circle, Hutchinson, MN 55350

Kevin Compton 320-587-4422 • 320-583-5844Lic. #0002394

www.ComptonAnderson.com

Belle Lake Association• Facebook: Belle Lake Association

Brooks Lake Area Association• Website: www.brookslake.info

Collinwood Community Lake Association

• Website: www.collinwoodlake.com

Crow River Organization of Water• Website: http://crowriver.org• Facebook: Crow River Lakes and

Streams

Lake Francis Area Recreation and Conservation Club

• Website: www.lakefrancisarcc.com/lfarcc

French Lake Improvement Association

• Website: www.frenchlake.org

Lake Jennie Improvement Corp.• Website: www.lakejennie.com

Koronis Lake Association• Website: http://koronislakeassociation.org

Lake Minnie Belle Improvement Association

• Website:https://sites.google.com/site/lmbiaorg

• Facebook: Lake Minnie BelleImprovement Association

North Browns Lake Association• Website: www.northbrownslake.org

Lake Ripley Improvement Association• Facebook: Lake Ripley Improvement

Association

Lake Stella Homeowner’s Association• Website: www.lakestella.com• Facebook: Lake Stella Association

Greater Lake Sylvia Association• Website: www.lakesylvia.org

Lake Washington ImprovementAssociation

• Website: www.lakewashingtonassn.com• Facebook: Lake Washington

Improvement Association

Editor’s note: We are compiling alist of lake association websites andFacebook pages. If your lake associa-tion’s information is not included inthis list or if it changes, please con-tact Editor Juliana Thill at 320-593-4808 or email her at [email protected].

Information about area lakes can be found online

Spinach-Stuffed Fish Fillets

1 tablespoon corn oil1 large clove garlic, minced1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped

spinach, thawed and drained1/8 teaspoon nutmeg1/8 teaspoon pepper1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese1/3 cup Old London or Devonsheer

Plain Bread Crumbs*4 fish fillets (about 1 pound)Toasted bread crumbs for garnish

In skillet heat corn oil over mediumheat. Add garlic. Cook, stirring 30 sec-onds. Add spinach, nutmeg and pepper.Cook, stirring 2 minutes. Remove fromheat. Stir in cheese and 1/3 cup breadcrumbs. Spread about 1/3 cup mixtureevenly on each fillet. Roll up. Arrangeseam-side down in greased, shallow bak-ing dish. Cover and bake in 400-degree oven 15 minutes or until fish is firm but moist.Garnish with toasted bread crumbs as desired. Makes four servings.


Share your recipesShare your favorite outdoor

recipe,whether it’s for scrump-tious crusted fish, campfiretreats, or garden vegetables sal-ads. Selected recipes will bepublished in a future edition ofDockside. Email your recipesto Juliana Thill at [email protected] or sendthem to Juliana at HutchinsonLeader, 170 Shady Ridge RoadNW,Hutchinson,MN 55350 orat the Independent Review, 217Sibley Ave. N., Litchfield, MN55355. Include your name,address and phone number.

Hearty Beef Stew with Roasted Vegetables4 cups cubed winter vegetables (cut into1/2-inch pieces),

such as carrots, butternut squash, parsnips or sweet potatoes1 medium onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces2 tablespoons olive oil, divided1 1/2 pounds boneless

beef sirloin steak, cut into1-inch cubes3/4 cup chicken stock OR

chicken broth can be used1/4 cup dry red wine or

apple juice1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon McCormick

Black Pepper, CoarseGround

1/2 teaspoon McCormickThyme Leaves

3 McCormick BayLeaves

Preheat oven to 425. Tosscubed vegetables and onionwith 1 tablespoon of the oil. Arrange in single layer on largebaking sheet. Roast 20 minutes or until vegetables are goldenbrown. Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in largeskillet on medium-high heat. Brown beef in batches. Returnall beef to skillet. Add roasted vegetables, stock, wine, salt,pepper, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to boil. Reduce heat tolow; simmer 10 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened.Remove bay leaves before serving. Makes six servings.

SOURCE: WWW.CULINARY.NET/OLD LONDON FOODS INC.

Fire-Roasted Jalapeño Onion Dip 4 jalapeño peppers1 package (5.7 ounces) onion soup mix1 cup sour cream1/2 cup mayonnaisePreheat broiler. Place peppers on non-stick

cookie pan; broil, turning at least once, 6 to 7 min-utes or until blackened. Let stand 10 minutes.Remove stem and seeds; coarsely chop. In largebowl, stir together onion soup mix, sour creamand mayonnaise. Fold in peppers. Refrigerate atleast 2 hours. Serve with cucumber and zucchinislices, celery, carrot sticks, sliced bell peppers andother favorite vegetables. Makes about 1-3/4 cupsdip

Note: For spicier dip, include seeds from pep-pers.

IN THE GALLEY

SOURCE: WWW.CULINARY.NET/MCCORMICK

As the tem-peraturecools, turn upthe heat withthis Fire-RoastedJalapeñoOnion Dip

SOURCE: WWW.CULINARY.NET/WILTON ENTERPRISES

S’more Meltaway Pie 20 squares Honey Maid Honey Grahams, finely crushed

(about 1 1/2 cups) 1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted1 (12-ounce) jar hot fudge sauce, divided1 pint vanilla ice cream, slightly softened16 Jet-Puffed Marshmallows, halved

Mix grahamcrumbs and butter ormargarine until wellcombined. Press firm-ly on bottom and sideof 9-inch metal pieplate. Bake at 350 for10 minutes or untillightly browned. Coolcompletely. Carefullyspread about halfthe fudge sauce overthe bottom of thecrust. Spread with softened ice cream. Freeze, covered, forfive to six hours or until firm. When ready to serve, pre-heat broiler and remove pie from freezer. Place marshmal-low halves, cut-side down, on top of pie. Broil 4 inchesfrom heat source until marshmallows are golden brownand puffed, about two minutes. Serve immediately withremaining fudge sauce. Makes eight servings.


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dockside - fall 2014 edition

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