Support Long Lake: Your Donations to the Long Lake Area Association Foundation Matter

 by Jim Seifert, LLAA Foundation Board Member. 

Since being formed in the early 1900s from five small lakes dotting the Hubbard Prairie, Long Lake has been one of the premier recreation lakes in north central Minnesota. Over the past 125 years, since the first cabins and fishing camps were established, Long Lake’s beautiful and vibrant ecosystem is  increasingly under pressure from the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), recreational use, expanded home ownership, and a higher number of visitors. Long Lake Area Association’s mission is to keep Long Lake healthy and thriving. The Long Lake Area Association Foundation (LLAAF) is central to that mission. The Foundation works tirelessly to protect and preserve the lake’s natural resources through the generosity of the LLAA member donors —like you! By supporting the LLAAF, you play a crucial role in safeguarding the lake for future generations to enjoy. Being a member of the LLAA (the Association) is important, thank you! However, your donation to the LLAAF (the Foundation) is crucial in continuing responsible, proactive stewardship of the lake that we love. Here’s why your donations are essential.

 #1 Ensuring Rigorous AIS Inspections 

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) such as zebra mussels and starry stonewort have been found in Long Lake.They along with other invasive species can wreak havoc on the health of Long Lake. They disrupt native ecosystems, reduce water quality, and make it challenging for recreational activities. According to our recent survey of members, preventing AIS from entering Long Lake should be THE top priority of the LLAAF, and thorough inspections at lake accesses are a critical first line of defense. For the past two years, LLAAF has contributed $25,000 annually to supplement and extend the coverage by 1000 hours for the watercraft inspection program funded through the State AIS Prevention Aid, administered by Hubbard County. For 2025, the cost per hour has increased $1 to $26/hour so LLAAF will pay $26,000 for the same number of supplemental hours. Without supplemental funding, Long Lake watercraft inspections would be limited currently to 642 State-funded hours which is 80 days split between the two accesses. This would work out to be 8-hour shifts on Sat, Sun, and Holidays for the summer from opening of walleye fishing through the weekend after Labor Day.  

 #2 Combating AIS 

When AIS prevention efforts fall short (boat inspections, clean-drain-dry, etc.), direct action is needed to mitigate and manage the invasive species that have already entered the ecosystem. You may remember from the LLAA’s communications that Long Lake has been actively engaged in fighting an infestation of Starry Stonewort at the south boat launch area since August 2023, which has continued through this fall. The LLAAF employs various techniques to control invasive species. LLAA member volunteers work hand-in-hand with the Minnesota DNR to combat invasive species. The LLAAF contracts AIS mitigation firms to safely and under permit combat AIS proliferation in Long Lake. This work is expensive but unavoidable. Your generous donation to fund these critical projects is reducing the impact of AIS on Long Lake. 

 #3 Lake Water Quality Monitoring 

Water quality monitoring is essential for tracking the lake’s health. LLAAF regularly tests for contaminants, pollutants, and changes in pH levels that impact the lake’s ecosystem and water safety. Ongoing monitoring also enables the LLAAF to detect and address issues early, before they become larger problems. These tests require significant financial resources for equipment, lab analysis, and expert staff to interpret results. Your donation is critical to sustain these efforts to maintain and improve Long Lake’s water quality. 

 #4 Preserving Game Fish Populations 

 Long Lake is home to diverse fish populations, including walleye, bass, and northern pike, which are vital to the lake’s ecology and draw anglers to the area. However, game fish populations in Long Lake are vulnerable to habitat degradation, shoreline erosion, pollution, and competition from AIS. Global warming and increased recreational activities are putting more pressure on naturally reproducing fishing stock. In response, using donated funds to the LLAAF, we actively support fish stocking efforts, looking into possible habitat restoration projects, and engage in research to maintain healthy fish populations. Your donation helps ensure that Long Lake remains a thriving habitat for fish and a premier destination for anglers.

Your Role in Protecting Long Lake 

The work of the LLAAF is only possible through our donors’ generosity. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps fund AIS inspections and mitigation, water quality monitoring, and fish habitat preservation. By donating to the LLAAF, you are investing in the future health of Long Lake, supporting biodiversity, and preserving a cherished natural space for all to enjoy. Long Lake is a treasure that so many families have loved for generations. Almost everyone that lives on the lake has a story of how they came to be here. Whether it was grandparents, parents, or a vacation at a resort that caused you to fall in love with the lake, the generational love we have of the lake is the constant thread that connects us. Together, we can ensure that Long Lake remains a beautiful, healthy, and thriving environment for years to come. Please donate to the LLAAF today to engage in this vital conservation effort—thank you! 

Jim Seifert is a third generation resident of Long Lake. Jim and his family consider themselves stewards of the family home and the lakeshore that has been a part of their family’s lives for almost 100 years.

LLAA October Newsletter:

 

Long Laker’s Encourage Membership in LLAA

By Deanna Frazier

Long Lake is home to hundreds of summer and permanent residents, who not only enjoy “lake life” but also share a a commitment to preserve the lake environment for the future. From short-timers to long-timers to everyone in between, membership in our Long Lake Area Association (LLAA) is paramount to the organization’s conservation efforts, especially educating lake residents about Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) and ways to minimize their effect on Long Lake.


“I appreciate the work being done on aquatic vegetation, lake conservation, and combating invasive species to keep our lake beautiful for future generations,” explained JoAnn Manlove, who is not only a 53-year resident on Long Lake, but a third-generation family to the lake as well.


Ken Retzer, a Long Laker since 2007, echoed Manlove’s sentiment. The LLAA’s conservation and education efforts are key, Retzer said, “to ensure Long Lake is healthy for decades to come and for future generations.”


Though they are very new to Long Lake and the Association (June, 2024), Steve and Anne Skoe agree the LLAA makes a vital contribution to life on Long Lake. Feeling it was the least they could do to join the Association, they joined immediately upon receiving the LLAA packet to encourage those who are helping the lake. The more people that can volunteer to help, the less work for each person in the group, they explained, adding, “It takes a village to keep a lake healthy.”


And a healthy lake makes it possible for family memories to be made on Long Lake, explained Manlove, like beautiful sunsets on the dock, boat rides, and the Fourth of July Flotilla. She also described how relaxing it is to just be around the water, watching all the birds and animals, especially the bears, “as long as I’m in my house,” she chided.

Making memories shapes life on Long Lake for Retzer as well. “All the family gatherings that have made many happy memories,” are what he remembers most about life on Long Lake. The Skoe’s may be new to the lake, but they are not new to the area. Steve grew up in Park Rapids during the 1960s, his family owning the old Park Drug, where Walgreen’s stands today. They look forward to getting to know their new neighbors and participating in LLAA activities next summer. 


In a parting word, Manlove encouraged Long Lake residents to join LLAA. “If they want their families to enjoy lake life into the future,” Manlove explained, “they need to support the organization which has their backing!”


Click here to join the LLAA:  If you have questions about joining LLAA, email office@longlakeliving.org
 

If you did not receive our latest monthly newsletter, check your spam folder. If its not there, let us know you would like to be added to our email list.  office@longlakeliving.org

Our Starry Stonewort mitigation journey continues

These first pictures were taken by Jeff Martin on August 13th during the latest chemical treatment application to tackle the starry stonewort that has been found at the south access. PLM Lake and Land Management Corp. used a lake safe chemical for treating the area that starry stonewort was found. The underwater photo was taken by Sharon Natzel.

More details will be in our newsletter coming out later this week. 

Thank you to the Long Lake Area Association Foundation's fund raising efforts. These efforts allowed us to quickly pay for the needed expertise and tools to "fight this battle". 

photo of burlap covering starry stonewort taken by Sharon Natzel

Volunteers Needed: Fall Roadside Clean Up

Ready to help with the annual fall roadside cleanup of County Road 20? 

Join Long Lake Area Association (LLAA) members, friends and families on 

Saturday, Sept.14,2024 at 2:00 p.m.

This seven-mile cleanup comes at an important time of the year. It allows us to collect debris before the fall winds blow it into the lake prior to winter.

Where to Meet 

Gather on the gravel road (130 th street) by the tree farm where Hwy. 87 and Cty.
Road 20 meet (near Hubbard) and receive supplies and instructions.
NOTE: Hwy. 87 road construction continues. Use an alternate route if need be.

How to Sign Up to Help on Sept. 20th

Email volunteer@longlakeliving.org with your name and number of people.

How to Request an Alternate Date 

Email volunteer@longlakeliving.org;  to request a section for you to clean on your preferred date.

Thank you for your continued support in helping to preserve Long Lake!

LLAA Fisheries Committee Update

by Charlie Garr (published in the LLAA Spring Newsletter)

The LLAA Fisheries Committee was formed as a team in 2022 with the purpose of monitoring the overall Long Lake fishery and to build a relationship with the DNR Park Rapids area fisheries. One objective the LLAA team identified early on was to work with the local DNR to increase walleye stocking levels in Long Lake. In the fall of 2023, LLAA was awarded conditional approval to supplement walleye stocking in Long Lake, starting in the fall of 2024. This a big win for those that like to fish for walleye in Long Lake.

Stocking more walleye in Long Lake became one of the objectives for several reasons, a few of which follow.

Long Lake Can Sustain A Higher Level of Walleye Stocking

• The current “one size fits all” DNR fisheries stocking approach of walleye fingerling at 1 pound per littoral acre with no deviation does not optimize the overall walleye fishing on Long Lake. This lake can sustain a higher level of walleye stocking.

• DNR staff indicates that natural reproduction in Long Lake is insignificant; 95% or more of its walleye result from stocking. The LLAA depends on the DNR to stock the lake.

• Long Lake is truly a put and take fishery. Long Lake is a very densely populated lake that receives above average fishing pressure for area lakes. The default 1 pound per littoral acre stocking rate is not enough to keep up with the level of fishing pressure Long Lake experiences.

• Starting in 2016, DNR fisheries stocking levels were reduced in MN. So Long Lake began to again receive less walleye; 485 pounds every other year, down from the 935 pounds that had been stocked from 2006 to 2014. All lakes in the area that were stocked with fingerlings were being stocked at the same rate (one pound per littoral acre.) Only 24% of Long Lake is littoral acres (less than 15 feet deep) so credit for deep water was never granted. For comparison, at one pound per littoral acre, small Blueberry Lake near Menahga received more pounds of walleye stock than did Long Lake.

  Reduction in Fishing Success

• The collective experience of LLAA’s members who fish on Long Lake, day after day, all year long, year after year, is a valuable metric and very important. A widespread group – from casual anglers to retired folks that fish every day to guides that frequent the lake – shared that fishing was better in the years following the higher stocking rates.

• Slower walleye fishing has been noticeable for the last three seasons which roughly correlate with fish from the last higher stocking year of 2014 working their way out of the system. No evidence was observed of walleyes starving to death or baitfish being eliminated when the lake was stocked at the two pounds per littoral acre.

  Efforts With the DNR

  In addition to this reduction in angler fishing success, the LLAA fisheries team also wanted to consider the DNR’s every five-year fisheries survey
  The DNR survey metric from their 2019 survey of Long was 4.73 CPUE (catch per unit effort). This was lower than any other recent survey, a result that means fewer fish were sampled. The CPUE metric can help measure trends in fish populations. The LLAA fisheries team looks forward to the findings of the DNR’s survey of Long Lake this summer.

  With this and much other analysis in mind, we began working with the DNR to find a way to increase walleye stocking in Long Lake. The DNR stocks walleye in Long Lake in even numbered years so in the fall of 2024 when the DNR stocks the usual 485 pounds of walleye fingerlings, the lake association/ foundation will provide for the stocking of an additional 240 pounds of walleye fingerlings. The plan is that our conditional supplemental walleye stocking will be repeated in the fall of 2026 and the fall of 2028. During the summer of 2029 Long Lake is scheduled again for the DNR’s every fifth-year DNR fish survey, at which point the walleye stocking plan will be reviewed again by the DNR fisheries. Our expectation is that these higher walleye stocking levels will continue in 2030 and beyond.

LLAA Fisheries Committee Cont’d

Costs and Funding

The funding mechanism to pay for the supplemental 240 pounds of walleye fingerlings every other year will be through the Long Lake Area Association Foundation, This Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Donations are tax exempt. Donate here.

Current cost estimates for walleye fingerlings are about $21 per pound with a pound containing roughly 15 to 25 fingerlings, five to seven inches long. Walleye fingerlings cost a little over one dollar each at 20 per pound. The fish will cost about $5,000 plus delivery in fall of 2024. The fisheries team expects some future inflation. Estimated walleye stocking expenses are $5,000 for 2024 and $6,000 for 2026 and 2028 – a total commitment of about $17,000 - $20,000.

The LLAA has also been stocking some perch in the spring and fall, based on DNR concerns about a low food forage base for walleyes in Long Lake. The LLAA has completed stocking perch in spring of 2024 at a cost of about $1,200. Perch stocking will be re-evaluated once the summer of 2024 DNR fish survey data is available. See LLAA Fisheries walleye info summary and guidance by fish species.

Everybody needs to be patient with this process; it will take years to see results. DNR data on walleye growth rates in Long Lake indicate that fingerling walleyes will grow about three or four inches per year. With best case conditions it will be 2027 before some of the fish stocked in 2024 will reach the length of 14 inches, considered the minimum keeper size for walleye. We need to stick with the plan for several years before we see better walleye fishing.