Category: Volunteer Opportunity

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

2021 Annual Meeting

by Chisago - Lindstrom Lakes Association, posted in Meeting Notice, Volunteer Opportunity

Have questions about the channel between North Lindstrom and North Center? Want to know more about Aquatic Invasive Species? Or do you have questions regarding Water Patrol Issues?

The Chisago County Lake Improvement District and the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office will give a short presentation and answer your questions at the CLLA Annual Meeting this Thursday, July 29, 7PM at the Uncommon Loon.

Elections for President, Vice President and Secretary will be held. Volunteers are always welcome on our AIS and Social Subcommittees. Please consider joining CLLA and become part of an active community of local lake lovers.

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/

Ice-Out Clean Up

by Chisago - Lindstrom Lakes Association, posted in Volunteer Opportunity

Our annual Ice-Out Clean Up is Sunday, March 1st at the DNR Boat Launch in Chisago City. All CLLA members are invited to meet at the launch at Noon to hand out garbage bags, remind people to tidy-up, and help clean up. Around 2pm we’ll be finished up and head over to the Uncommon Loon. Come lend a hand!

Dress for the weather and bring your snowmobile, ATV or a vehicle with a trailer. It is also helpful to bring an ice pick, shovel, and/or a 5-gallon bucket. Let’s keep the trash from getting into our lakes!

Ice-Out Clean Up Crew

Volunteers need to Reforest Allemansrätt Park

by Chisago - Lindstrom Lakes Association, posted in Volunteer Opportunity

Volunteers are needed on Saturday, September 14 from 9:00 am – 1:00 p.m. to plant trees in the Allemansrätt Wilderness Park in Lindström, MN

Allemansrätt Wilderness Park is home to high quality oak forest, wetlands, lake-shore, diverse wildlife, unique glacial geology, and several miles of hiking trails. Come help improve this local gem of a park!

Some considerations:

  • Open to all ages (Family Friendly), children under 12 must be supervised
  • Difficulty level of restoration task: Easy to Moderate (Depends on work unit)
  • Terrain: Mostly flat
  • Hike to Site: 1/4 – 1/2 a mile walk to site
  • We supply: Tools and equipment (gloves, shovels, safety glasses, etc.), drinking water, and all training
  • This event will occur rain or shine
  • Light breakfast, snacks, and lunch provided

Register at: https://www.greatrivergreening.org/events/allemansratt-tree-planting/

Fall Clean Up for Water Quality

by Chisago - Lindstrom Lakes Association, posted in Volunteer Opportunity

What – Volunteers needed for Fall Cleanup – Saturday, Oct.27 from 9 – 11 a.m.

leaf cleanupJoin the Chisago Lakes Coalition of Lake Associations in cleaning up the local area DNR Boat Launches by removing leaf debris and garbage from the following sites:   Green Lake, Little Green , Chisago Lake, Kroon Lake, North Center Lake and South Center Lake.

Why – Fight Water Pollution Near Your Home

Phosphorus is a major source of water pollution that causes excessive growth of algae. Surfaces, such as city streets and parking lots, provide a pathway for phosphorus to get into our local lakes. Phosphorus on streets comes from decaying organic matter such as leaves, branches and loose dirt.

Bring work gloves and rakes if you have them. All leaves raked will be bagged and brought to the area compost site by the Lake Association Volunteers. Event is canceled in case of rain.

Further questions? Contact Mary Kay Ripp at 651-257-8020