Category: Aquatic Invasive Species

Goldfish Eradication Project

by Chisago - Lindstrom Lakes Association, posted in Aquatic Invasive Species, Water Quality

Hundreds of goldfish have been found in the two retention ponds at Lakeside Woodlands development near Kroon Lake. To ensure that the goldfish do not migrate into the lake, the City of Lindstrom has contracted to have the ponds dewatered. This project will start next Monday, October 24, 2022. The contractor will install a rigid pipe system to lower the water level of the two ponds to activate a deep freeze this winter.

A large silt bag will be placed on the south side of the Lakeside Drive to catch any remaining gold fish and silt that gets through the intentional screen at the pump. Please do not disrupt the project.

Remember, dumping your aquarium into local waterways is a bad idea!

Notice of Upcoming Euasian WaterMilfoil Treatment

by Chisago - Lindstrom Lakes Association, posted in Aquatic Invasive Species, Water Quality

The Chisago-Lindstrom Lakes Association has received permission from the MN DNR to treat for the Aquatic Invasive Species, Euasian Water Milfoil in the lakes of our Association. Treatment will occur on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, weather permitting. If treatment is postponed, we will post a notice with the rescheduled date.

Euasian Watermilfoil

The CLLA has levereaged our member dues with Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District funds and MN DNR Grants to pay for the treatment of the areas outside of the 150 foot mark. In some instances, property owners on North Lindstrom and Kroon Lake have authorized and will pay for treatment within 150 feet of shore. Weed surveys (delineations) were conducted earlier in the month and treatment plans were approved by the MN DNR.

Lakes Management, a DNR certified/trained application company will be conducting the weed spraying. They will either be using the systemic herbicide chemical, 2-4 D or Triclopyr. Both of these chemicals are safe to use around the water ecosytem. Out of extreame caution, please refrain from swimming or letting your pets in the areas that have been treated for 24 hours.

The maps linked below indicate the areas to be treated.

N.Lindstrom_Chisago_EWM_Map_2022Download
s.lindstrom_ewm_2022_mapDownload
chisago_ewm_2022_mapDownload
kroon_2022_ewm_approvedDownload

Chisago Lakes Paddle Club

by Chisago - Lindstrom Lakes Association, posted in Aquatic Invasive Species, Recreation, Volunteer Opportunity

Do you enjoy paddling the area lakes?

Would you like to meet other paddlers?

Interested in more paddling opportunities this summer?

Want to learn about AIS invaders & how you can help?

The Chisago Lakes Paddle Club is holding an organizational meeting on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 from 6:30 – 8:00 at the Uncommon Loon. The CL Paddle Club is open to any person interested in Kayaking/Canoeing on our area water bodies.

Guest Presenters from the MAIRC (Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Research Center) AIS Detector Program will explain how paddlers can assist in the early detection of invasives in our area lakes.

2021 Phragmites Treatment Successful

by Chisago - Lindstrom Lakes Association, posted in Aquatic Invasive Species, Volunteer Opportunity

On Thursday, September 23, 2021, forty-two stands of invasive Phragmites were treated with the DNR approved herbicide, glyphosate or imazapyr. In the past three years, CLLA has found and treated over 60 stands of the invasive Phragmites on North Lindstrom, South Lindstrom and Chisago Lake. No invasive Phragmites stands have been found on Kroon Lake.


The Chisago Lakes Area Foundation provided CLLA with a grant in 2017 that enabled us to inform the local community of the invasive Phragmites problem. Once invasive Phragmites gets established, it quickly pushes out native plants and takes over shorelines.

CLLA collaborated with the University of Minnesota MAISRC (Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center) to develop a management plan to identify and treat the invasive Phragmites. Also, our local lake associations have worked closely with MAISRC and the MN DNR to define the state-wide protocol for the eradication of Phragmites.


Funding for the actual treatments was obtained from the Chisago Lake Lakes Improvement District and our lake association (through member dues). The invasive Phragmites stands were treated by Lakes Management, Inc.


We expect the eradication of invasive Phragmites will be an ongoing project as more infested stands are likely to be found and any treated stands will have to be revisited each year to ensure that regrowth does not occur. If you would like to be part of the AIS weed inspectors, please contact us at chisago.lindstrom.lake.assc@gmail.com.

2021 legend key prior to treatment
2021 Chisago Lake Phragmites Stands
2021 South Lindstrom Phragmites Stands
2021 North Lindstrom Phragmites Stands

Eusasian Milfoil found In Kroon Lake

by Chisago - Lindstrom Lakes Association, posted in Aquatic Invasive Species, Water Quality

On October 7, 2021 Chris Jurek, the MN DNR aquatic invasive species specialist for our area confirmed the presence of Eurasian Milfoil in Kroon Lake. The Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District’s AIS Specialist, Camden Droppo mapped out the different locations of the invasive milfoil using a sonar device. The coordinates will be used to draw up a recommended treatment area for next spring.

eurasian watermilfoil
Eurasian Milfoil

The Chisago-Lindstrom Lakes Association will apply for the permit to treat this invasive and request grant funding from the Chisago Lakes LID for any Eurasian Milfoil present 150 feet away from the shoreline. Please note that the LID will not approve grant funding for any invasive weed treatments within 150 feet of the shoreline.

Therefore, the CLLA will help facilitate homeowners on Kroon Lake that are interested in treating inside of the 150 feet from the shoreline. If you would like to be part of the group, please contact the CLLA via the contact form on this website or emailing chisago.lindstrom.lakes.assoc@gmail.com.

More information about Eurasian Watermilfoil can be found at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticplants/milfoil/index.html

2021 Invasive Phragmites Survey Completed

by Chisago - Lindstrom Lakes Association, posted in Aquatic Invasive Species, Water Quality

The Chisago-Lindstrom Lakes Association (CLLA) Aquatic Invasive Species Subcommittee has finished surveying the lakes in our association and found an additional five stands of the Invasive Phragmites. All of the stands that were treated last year were revisited and notations were made as to which need additional treatment this year. There are currently 60 stands in various stages of treatment. Five new sites, 37 previously treated sites that need retreatment and 18 eradicated stands.

This treatment will occur in mid September and the DNR approved herbicides glyphosate or imazapyr, alone or in combination will be used. This treatment is at no cost to the lakeshore property owner. Funds for treatment come from our lake association (member dues) and grant funding from the Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District.

Notice in the Chisago County Press dated August 26, 2021

If you have invasive Phragmites on your shoreline and would like to opt out of this treatment, please fill out the opt-out form located on our Phragmites Eradication Project webpage located at https://clla-lakes.com/phragmites-eradication-project/ and mail back to us at the address listed on the form.

AIS committee updates 5-29-20

by Chisago - Lindstrom Lakes Association, posted in Aquatic Invasive Species, Volunteer Opportunity

The Chisago-Lindstrom Lakes Association’s Aquatic Invasive Species subcommittee has been busy this spring taking care of business! Weed inspectors surveyed North/South Lindstrom and Chisago Lakes for the presence of Curly Leaf and Eurasian Milfoil. Most of the weeds were found in areas within 150 feet of shore or intermixed heavily with native weeds. Matching treatment funding is not available for these areas, so the committee will continue to monitor them. Inspections on Kroon Lake will happen next week.

Eurasian Water Milfoil
curlyleaf pondweed
Curly Leaf Pondweed

The inspectors also checked on the Phragmites stands that were sprayed last fall and recorded that 87% of them show significant die-back. The committee will continue their inspections throughout the summer looking for new stands. A fall treatment is being planned to spray any new growth and stands that weren’t mitigated last year.

Phragmites stand near County Road 20 Bridge

Today a carp barrier was installed on a small creek that leads from Kroon Lake to the slough area off Schlimmer’s Bay on Chisago Lake. This barrier will keep the carp from spawning in Kroon Lake. These invasive fish start looking for a place to spawn when the water temps are over 62.5 degrees. This is the third year that the barrier has been installed and a big thank-you to the owners for letting us on their properties. CLLA volunteer, Gary Schumacher and LID Supervisor, Jerry Spetzman assisted with the efforts.

Kroon Lake Carp Barrier

CLLA Spring 2020 Updates

by Chisago - Lindstrom Lakes Association, posted in Aquatic Invasive Species, Meeting Notice, Recreation, Volunteer Opportunity

The Chisago-Lindstrom Lake Association Board met online and in consideration of the Covid-19 pandemic made several important decisions.  A letter with more detail is below.

  • The annual meeting has been canceled.
  • 2020 Membership fees are waived for existing and new members.
  • Please ask your neighbors to join the association.
  • Please consider donating and/or purchasing merchandise at clla-lakes.com
  • Secretary and Treasurer officer terms end this year. Please consider applying for one of these open positions. The board will appoint people to the open positions in June.
  • Some events will be canceled or modified as necessary.
  • Spot treatment of phragmites will take place in the fall.

Dear Association members,

            These are unprecedented times and the Chisago-Lindstrom Lake Association (CLLA) and I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well.  Some good news is that the lake levels are high again this year which means we will have plenty of lake to enjoy (and socially distance ourselves across) this summer.  The weirs are open and flowing. High water along with the permit the LID received to define a passage and remove bogs means we should be able to navigate the channel from North Lindstrom over to North Center Lake.  If this is as important to you as it is to me, please make sure to let your local elected officials know you value it; not everyone wants the lakes to be linked and navigable. We also think that the high water will mean that weeds like Milfoil and Curly Leaf will not require mitigation this year.  Regardless, the CLLA Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) team will continue monitoring. CLLA and the LID have funds to mitigate AIS if it becomes necessary.  We plan to contract Phragmites mitigation again in the early fall.  You will see more information on the Phragmites work in our next update.

            Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, some of the events we had been planning will not be possible or may need to change this year. While the 4th of July boat parade should be able to go ahead mostly as it has in the past, the Poker Run that was being planned will not happen this year.  Flotillas may or may not happen. The CLLA Board will announce our plans one month in advance (e.g. early June for July events). We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

            The CLLA Board met online and made several important decisions regarding the association. The annual meeting scheduled for May has been canceled. The terms of the offices of Secretary and Treasurer end this year.  Secretary Mary Kay Ripp and Treasurer Steve Paquay have done excellent work in their roles but they would be happy to hand over their responsibilities to new people. If you are interested in either position please contact us.  The board will appoint people to these positions in June. The organization is in a strong financial position, we do not expect significant expenses this year, and understanding the financial strains many in our community may be facing, we have decided to automatically renew existing memberships at no charge for 2020.  Additionally, new members may join in 2020 at no charge.  We hope you will stay an active member and encourage your neighbors to join. It will be important for CLLA to have a strong and active membership as we advocate for continued funding for our lakes. Donations to the organization are still welcomed and very appreciated.  Your gift is tax deductible as allowed by law.  Your purchase of CLLA merchandise helps support the association, now’s the time to get the CLLA flag, hat, or shirt you’ve always wanted. Please visit our website clla-lakes.com for more information, to join, donate, or make a purchase.

            Good weather and better times are just ahead. We all look forward to getting out and enjoying our wonderful lakes. Enjoy, stay well, and I look forward to seeing you (from an appropriate distance) on the water soon!

CLLA President

Dan Lydon

 Chisago-Lindstrom Lakes Association  

    PO Box 44 Lindstrom, MN 55045

    chisago.lindstrom.lakes.assc@gmail.com      clla–lakes.com     

https://www.facebook.com/ChisagoLindstromLakeAssociation/

Phragmites Treatment

by Chisago - Lindstrom Lakes Association, posted in Aquatic Invasive Species

The Chisago Lakes Phragmites Eradication Project reached a milestone last week, with the commencement of Non-native Phragmites treatment on North and South Center Lakes.

Lakes Management Inc. is spraying Imazapyr, which is a non-selective herbicide used to control emergent aquatic weeds like Phragmites australis . They are following the recommended protocol set up by the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

North Center treatment of the shoreline by the Government Center in Center City.

Treatment of Chisago Lake, North and South Lindstrom Lake stands happened today. Lakes Management and a team of volunteers will go back out in two weeks to assess the effectiveness of the treatment. If needed the Non-native Phragmites stands will be retreated. This winter lake association volunteers will cut or burn the dead stands.

South Lindstrom shoreline being treated.

We anticipate this project to be ongoing until we successfully eradicate this menace weed from our shorelines. Please continue to inspect your property and report any phragmites present using our contact form. We will be happy to come out and inspect your shoreline!