Early in 2011, the CLID Board contracted with Lake Restoration, Inc. (LRI) to treat the lake for Curly Leaf Pondweed (CLP) and with Professional Lake and Land Management Corp. (PLM) to treat the lake for Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM). The same two firms were chosen in 2010, but the lake was divided into two sections for treatment control by both firms to receive experiential information relating to treatment controls for maximum benefit, and to be able to recognize differing treatment styles to be more aware of factors that might dictate results. Being both firms were successful with 90% kill rate and no major issues of results, it was decided to award this years contract to the lowest bidder. The Request For Pricing was sent out to nine firms for quotes and as in the past, these two firms came in with the best prices. The CLID board aims to be financially prudent acting on the behalf of over 450 homes and representing over 725 people and their monies.

The Coon Lake Improvement District (CLID) was accepted into a Bay-wide Pilot Project Program as per a Lake Vegetation Management Plan (LVMP) for the control of Curly Leaf Pondweed (CLP) in the east basin of Coon Lake for a period of five years from 2010-2014. Subsequently all 52.9 acres of the CLP delineated in Coon Lake was treated in May. All of the expense for the spring treatment for the east bay that included the $750 permit fee was reimbursed by a grant of $7,537.30. Last year, as specified in the 2010 Report, there was a miscommunication or lack of follow thru for treatment approval of CLP.  That was rectified for 2011 as this year all of the CLP in the east bay was treated. According to reports from many residents and spotter team members, the results of the 2011 treatments for CLP were very successful and the navigation has been greatly improved with expectations of improving water quality reports in the future. 

42.1 acres of the requested 106.3 acres for Nuisance EWM were treated in June. This is still an unacceptable ratio of invasive species left untreated and we are trying to hone in, understand and comply with the requirements and rules that the DNR is enforcing to either protect the invasive plants or their jobs. I’m not certain of which is more appropriate, and to use a cliché, am not a rocket scientist but I have a good guess! (To any MN DNR Staff that would like to discuss this, feel free to contact me). The CLID applied for and received a Nuisance EWM Grant for $10,000 as partial reimbursement for EWM treatment. We are grateful to the State and more specifically to the Grants Coordinator, Wendy Crowell for her work to inform us and to assist with our successful bid for these grants.

We experienced difficulty receiving signatures allowing treatments that might occur within the 150’ shoreward zone and missed treating over 2 dozen properties for the urgent temperature sensitive treatment of CLP. Legislation was recently passed to allow the signature requirement to be waived and we have requested to be approved for this waiver. With some minor detail work, that will be the case for the future and we will be sending the CLID annual letter in April informing property owners of the Annual Meeting and include how to opt out of herbicide treatments rather than expect them to furnish their signature allowing them to occur.

Reports of the EWM treatments on both the east and west lake appear to be successful, however there are still areas of nuisance EWM that many of the lake residents have commented should have received treatment. It is the intent of the CLID to determine what needs to be resolved to allow the treatments and treatment areas to satisfy the objective within the parameters of the LVMP.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to the individuals that have spent a considerable amount of their time to delineate (inspect and document) the entire lake for these invasive species and some of it was done urgently due to a time/temperature sensitive situation. As I am, if you have the opportunity, please be sure to acknowledge the efforts of Doug Tierney, Arlan Mercil, Lowell Efterfield, Carl Czeck, Mike Gaynor and Leon Mager.

Thank you to those of you attending the CLID Annual Meeting where the 2012 Budget of $88,950 and 2012 fee of $25 were approved. The CLID Board expects that unless some earthshaking expenses occur, the annual assessment fee will continue to remain low and the plan for the future, at least short term will be to replace the previous years expenditures.  Al Beck and Mike Bury were elected by vote to serve as CLID Directors for three-year periods. In the business meeting that followed the Annual Meeting on July 27^thit was decided for the following 12 months, Keith VonDeLinde will serve as Secretary, Lowell Efterfield will serve as Treasurer, Arlan Mercil will serve as Second Vice Chair, Al Beck will serve as First Vice Chair and Mike Bury as Chair.                             

Thank you all for your service to Coon Lake.

Ongoing efforts by CLIA, CLID, the DNR and private professional lake service organizations such as PLM, Lake Restoration and other interested parties will continue to protect the quality of Coon Lake and protect the best interest of the users and property owners of Coon Lake.

Mike Bury, CLID Chairman

(This information is being submitted to the MN DNR, MN PCA, Anoka County, Cities of Columbus, East Bethel and Ham Lake to comply with MN Statute 103B.571 Subd. 4 as part of the required Annual Report)