CWLA Board Meeting October 10, 2024, 6:30 pm, Warsaw Town Hall

CWLA Board Meeting

October 10, 2024

6:30 pm

Warsaw Town Hall

Attending: Tony Langerud, Terry Heimer, Tim Mathre, Lisa Sammon, Keith Valentyn, Melissa Lutz, Tom Nass

Absent:    Michele Voegele

Agenda Items

Fall Social/Meeting

• Feedback from the meeting

• Concerns about the lake access.  Who is our contact?  (County Parks and Rec) - Keith will research

• Who is responsible for the dam and monitoring levels? - Keith will research

• Start later in the afternoon rather than 2 pm.

• Continue to market the event proactively and increase engagement throughout the year

• Could do something more active - like a bags tournament.

Web Site/Social Media

• The website has been updated by Westbrack Marketing. 

• Idea from another association: Hosted a fall photo contest from the lake on social media

• ACTION: Lisa - add the minutes to the webpage.

• Talk to Holly about updating the look and the feel of the website

• Add the board cell phones to the website

Limnopro Aquatic Science presentation - Dan McEwen

• Dan presented information on both an overall lake management strategy, as well as chemical treatments for the 2025 season.

• Overall lake management strategy:

  • Cannon-Wells are impaired lakes due to the high nutrient content that lives in the bottom of the lake (sediment/mud).

  • The first step would be to gather data related to the lake to develop a long term lake strategy.  This could include a diagnosis study, lake member survey, plant studies. 

  • Cannon-Wells also has a higher than typical carp population, which is contributing to the impairment. 

  • RECOMMENDATION:  Cannon-Wells doesn't not have historical water quality numbers with the MPCA. Recommendation to engage a water testing firm to analyze and report this data beginning in 2025 and continue this annually.  Typical annual cost is $400.

• Weed Management for 2025.

  • The chemical used for 2024 was diquat. This is a contact herbicide that is the most cost effective chemical treatment.  Based on the type of lake, it may bind to the sediment which could impact the effectiveness.  Because of the unusual circumstances for 2024, it was recommended to try this chemical again for 2025 to see if there is a better result.

  • Recommendation is to complete two treatments (June 1st + end of July).  Estimated cost for two treatments is $11K.

  • If Diquat is not effective in 2025, then the recommendation would be to go to Flumioxazin, which would be an estimated cost of $22K.

Next Meeting – November 20th, 6:30 pm (TBD)

• Topics:

• Contacts (Keith)

• King Mill Dam

• Lake Access

• IRS Non-Profit Status (Tim)

• Limnopro

• Plan/schedule for 2025 mailing

• Committee to begin work on 2025 events