Minutes of the Annual Membership Meeting on June 22, 2024

1. Preliminaries:

  • Call to Order: Randy Schubert, President, at 10:03 AM
  • Attendance: Board:  Randy Schubert, Jeff Malison, Roger Nelson, and Todd Jirous. Directors: Terry Daulton, Jim Kohl, Randy Payne, Jeff Wilson and Joanna Vodicka via Zoom

Members and guests:  Mary Kohl, Becky Jirous, Leann Malison, Harold Clark III, Janet Clark, Kal Patzer, Joyce Patzer, Robert Melvold, Mary Nelson, Jim Solberg, Rita Solberg, Tom Mobray, Sarah Wolff, Beth Myers, Bill Steward, Sally Steward, Brian Gantner, Sue Gantner, Mike Hittle, Marcia Hittle, Jacob Utrie, Linda Bosquette, Rick Heinritz, Jeff Pichler, Marge Pichler, Jim Moore, Zach Wilson, Gary Schumacher, Lynn Schumacher, Jayme Malanczij, Don Craggs and Karl Gustavson, Dave Pierce and Judy Pierce via Zoom

A quorum was present

  • Members and Board members introduced themselves.
  • Minutes of the June 24, 2023 Annual Meeting were approved without correction. These minutes will be filed and posted on the website.
  • Treasurer’s Report was presented by Roger Nelson. The full report with itemized expenses will be posted on the website and filed with the minutes of this meeting. A move to accept the Treasurer’s report was made and seconded. The Treasurer’s report was approved without correction.

2. Elections: the following positions are open for election: The board presented a slate to fill these positions as follows:

Roger Nelson- Treasurer

Todd Jirous- Secretary

Randy Payne- Vice President (open from Jeff Malison)

Randy Schubert- President

Jim Kohl- Director

Karl Gustavson- Director

Millard Johnson- Director

There was some discussion about terms, and rotation of the various positions so that the entire board doesn’t roll over all at one time

3. Presentation

Zach Wilson providing an update

  • Currently doing “Clean Boats/Clean Water monitoring at the Boat Landings on Fridays
  • Currently doing a meandering shoreline survey for Invasive species on 220 miles of shoreline
  • Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) has been discovered near Murray’s Landing, covering approximately 90 acres. This is past the point of “Early Detection” already
  • Once an Invasive is discovered, a funding source through the DNR is then opened up
  • Zach Lawson and Zach Wilson have partnered with Peter Levi from Northland College.
  • Peter has written and submitted for a Grant as of last week, with the hope of doing a ‘Point Intercept” study yet this year for specific locations.
  • The Study is targeted from below Blair Lake, all the way up to and past Murray’s Landing. The intention is to determine where EWM is now, and where will it most likely migrate to in the near future.
  • One way to combat EWM is to draw down the water in the Winter to freeze out and kill the plant.
  • We’re seeing this year, clearer water, which is promoting the growth of weeds at deeper depths
  • Zach pasted out EWM Identification cards and is seeking assistance in locating EWM in the Flowage at Fisherman’s Landing at 10am. And, then doing a hands on survey in the water on July 3rd at Fisherman’s Landing at 10am.
  • We will doing the Annual PLS Survey at 9:30 on July 24th…we are winning on the PLS front!
  • Pet er Levi is also doing water level and water flow survey on the Flowage; not just this year, but into the future as well
  • Curly Leaf Pondweed (CLP) is in Rice Lake, and down river to just above Lake of the Falls
  • Pike Lake has gone from seven locations of CLP to now fourteen locations, as result of the warm winter and other variables that are changing all the time
  • The message on CLP and EWM is to not freak out, because the best defense is to have a health native plant community.
  • One of the best things we can do is stay out of the areas that are infested, and to NOT spread EWM and CLP to other lakes

Break at 11:00 am

Returned at 11:14 am

4. Updates on Current and New Activities

  • Highlights from the President, Randy Shubert include our having tweaked our Bi-Laws to be able to access Grants and Funds that are available for combatting CLP and EWM. We’re also continuing to improve our channels of Communication to all our members
  • Water level update from Tom Mobray and Jim Moore
  • Currently we’re within three inches of full pool
  • We have had good Late Spring and Early Summer rain
  • Last Summer we were mostly in a drought
  • We went into the Fall of 2023 within six inches of full pool
  • This Spring started out very bad with no snow cover to replenish the Flowage. The Spring refill was about 2.3 feet below expectation. It should be at 1571.5 feet at or about Ice Out, or April 20th.
  • We’re working to manage the water level for what’s best for the entire Resource
  • This is a year that we will likely lose a number of Loon nests, because of rising water after the Loons have nested.
  • This should be a good year for Eagles with the early Ice Out
  • Fish Management update by Jim Kohl
  • We are transitioning to a “Warm Water Fisheree”
  • We had an early spawn this last year, and were in a “Post-spawn” pattern during the Opener
  • We won’t know the spawning success until this Fall, but we’re expecting it to not be good with the low water levels
  • A fish survey was done on Walleyes and Bluegills, but it was a difficult survey due to the Wind and Rain
  • We now have a 50” minimum on Musky’s
  • There have been reports of Large Mouth Bass being caught
  • Water Quality update by Todd Jirous
  • Todd introduced those present that are involved in, past and present water sampling: Mike and Beth Meyer, Bill and Sandy Steward, Jim and Mary Kohl, RB and Jake Melvold
  • Sampling is going well and all seven locations are staffed with volunteers to take samples
  • Membership update- by Roger Nelson
  • Thank you Linda for all your efforts on the membership renewal
  • Currently at 155 renewals; down from the typical 175-185
  • Renewals were sent out via email
  • Also sent out to about 300 plus non-members that fall within the Flowage footprint, and received 27 new members
  • There was a question on dues not currently covering our expenses
  • Invasives update- by Randy Payne
  • Rice Lake has been struggling with Curly Leaf Pond weed (CLP) and hand pulling the weeds, and are moving to pulling by maching
  • A new NET proposal is being worked on to catch CLP before entering the Turtle River
  • Watch for the Invasive Events that are listed in the Driftwood
  • Are sponsoring Northland Discovery Center to pull CLP again this year
  • With the change that was done to our Bi-laws this year, we are now positioned to be able to apply for Grants in the future
  • CLP has not been detected in the TFF yet
  • There is no CLP in Lake of the Falls at this time
  • PLS is still being contained, and no new locations have been noted
  • Communications update- by Terri D.
  • Several folks have joined the communications team; welcome Troy Tipton and Mary Nelson
  • Wakeboats update- there are several articles out there on wakeboats, which are not necessarily the position of the Lake Association
  • Keep an eye on “Green Fire” and other sites for more information on wakeboats

 

Jeff Wilson- The plan was to have the “Flowage Manager” position filled by now, and it is not, and unsure when. The Mercer DNR station should be open in 6 weeks.

The 100th Anniversary of the Turtle Flambeau Flowage is fast approaching!

Next Year’s Meeting will be Saturday, June 21, 2025

  • Motion made to adjourn, seconded and approved at 12:06 pm.

Respectfully submitted by

Todd Jirous