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Cedar Lake Improvement District (CLID) Annual Meeting Minutes, held on April 12, 2016, 7:00-8:30 pm at the New Prague Fire Station

Attendees: Marie Jaeger, Dave Nielsen, Gary Morrison, Jon Nordrum, Sam Dresow, Melissa Bokman of SWMO, Joel Larson & Barbara Novotny (nominees for two board positions) and approximately 30 district residents.

Agenda:

• Introduction                                                                     Marie Jaeger
• Board Member Elections                                                   Jon Nordrum
• Treasurer’s Report                                                           Dave Nielsen
• Curly Leaf Pondweed Treatment Update                           Sam Dresow
• Carp Netting & Carp Kabob Tournament                          Sam Dresow
• Lake Vegetation Management Plan & Various Programs     Melissa Bokman

Marie opened the meeting with introductions by current board directors and Melissa Bokman.
She also briefly discussed the map showing the 452 properties included in the CLID and the main roads as boundaries.

Jon Nordrum reviewed board requirements and election terms.  Two board directors, Brad Eller and Theresa Juhl, were up for re-election this year but both declined to run for another three-year term.  Jon and the board expressed appreciation for all of their contributions for the last few years.  Jon then introduced two candidates who applied to fill the vacant 3-year terms:  Joel Larson and Barbara Novotny.  Both were unanimously elected by a vote from the property owners in attendance.

Dave reviewed 2015 (4/1/2015-3/31/2016) expenses.  He also presented the 2017 budget detailing expenses for weed treatment, carp management, liability insurance, and general expenses.  No objections were raised to the proposed budget.

Sam reviewed the bids for the 2016-2018 chemical treatments that was won by PLM, displayed a lake map detailing the treatment areas, and provided a yearly breakdown of budgeted and actual costs since 2012.  The CLID is well under budget due to the optional grant funding by the DNR and the competitive bidding by the lake treatment company (PLM) over the years.   The DNR’s budget was slashed in 2016 so funding for any lake projects were much smaller if awarded.  Melissa Bokman applied as soon as possible to request the maximum grant of $4,999 which was awarded by the DNR for this year’s treatment.  Past awards were $15,000-30,000.  Sam also provided an overview of the 2016 curly leaf pondweed treatment plan which is to treat 600 acres which covers the largest acreage.   The area being treated is approximately 75% of the central part of the lake from the north end of the lake going south.  Each area is treated over three years per the DNR-approved plan.  With this northern section being done this year, all areas of the lake will have been treated at least once.

Sam advised that the Carp Kabob Tournament would be held May 20-21 with June 3-4 as back-up dates if poor weather forces postponement.  He has applied for funding from SWMO which has been awarded in past years.  We are again allowing 10 boats this year. Additionally he reviewed the lack of commercial carp seining of the lake due to the one DNR-allotted commercial fisherman not choosing to seine Cedar Lake after numerous requests.  The Carp Kabob is one way to remove them with 85 carp harvested last year but additionally the prefishing by the bow fishermen removed another 250 carp.

Melissa Bokman from SWMO spoke about aquatic invasive species, laws concerning the cleaning and draining of boats and water-related equipment, the required 21-day dry time for lifts and docks and the authorization form required by law to transport such equipment. She also discussed permit requirements for weed removal and treating private shorelines.  Another topic she discussed was the aggressive growth of native weeds in July-August of 2015.  After researching possible reasons, she learned that one of the problem weeds, elodea, can grow excessively for 1-3 years and then return to normal growth for many years.  Different lakes have shown varying results with the duration of excessive growth of natives after the management of curly leaf.  There were no conclusive variables in the research that would help us to know what to expect for Cedar Lake.  But elodea did create nuisance conditions in some areas of the lake in 2015. 

Melissa reported that zebra mussels are in Lower and Upper Prior Lake.  In order to help with early detection if they spread to Cedar Lake, she brought a device that attaches to docks by a rope that residents simply pull up and check for attached mussels about every two weeks.  She asked for volunteers who were interested in participating.

Melissa reported that the Scott Watershed Management Organization (WMO) has contracted with Carp Solutions, LLC to conduct a carp study in Cedar Lake starting this fall.  The scope of work includes four objectives: 
1.) Develop a population/biomass estimate of carp in Cedar Lake;
2.) Assess the spatial usage of carp in Cedar to identify areas where they are vulnerable to removal;
3.) Assess the age structure of carp to determine if recruitment of young is occurring;
4.) Develop recommendations to reduce carp populations to a density level that will protect critical habitat for native species in the lake.  The recommendations/strategies will also include a recommendation on whether a carp barrier is needed on the outlet of the diversion structure at Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park.

The study is being funded solely by the Scott WMO.  Twenty (20) carp will be caught in the fall and implanted with radio transmitters to track their movement throughout the study.  The study will conclude in the spring of 2017 and Carp Solutions will give a presentation on their findings at the April 2017 CLID Annual meeting.

Meeting concluded with a question/answer segment but no questions were raised by those in attendance so meeting adjourned by 8 p.m.

Next board of directors meeting is at 6:30 pm at the New Prague Library on May 10, 2016.