A City Proud Of Its Lakes
One of Howard Lake’s most significant features is its lake- right in the heart of the city. The lake is enjoyed not only by passersby traveling along Highway 12, but by the residents who take pride in its care and welfare.
A person doesn’t have to live on Howard Lake to be involved with its care and environmental maintenance. The Howard Lake Watershed Alliance is open to all Howard Lake residents concerned about the lake’s welfare.
The organization’s main objective is to provide people with education on how to best interact with the lake and lake shore, according to Curt Forst, alliance president.
“This isn’t a lake owner’s association,” Forst clarified.
He is hoping to get more people involved with the alliance who don’t necessarily live on the lake, but use the lake for recreational uses.
“You don’t have to live on the lake to be better stewards of the lake,” Forst said.
The alliance provides education through newsletters, quarterly meetings with educational speakers and programs, and working with the local newspaper.
The alliance makes the opportunity available for lakeshore owners to control swimmer’s itch and weed control.
Also, the alliance obtains a permit from the Department of Natural Resources to treat the landings and beaches for milfoil.
In general, the alliance monitors the lake for clarity and algae.
“If we can identify the problem, we can fix it,” Forst said.
Howard Lake is a good recreational lake, offering the opportunity for fishing, boating, swimming, sailing, and other water sports.
“We have a nice walleye and northern population,” Forst commented.
At its deepest point, the lake is 35 feet deep with 43 percent of it being less than 15 feet deep.
“This is good and bad,” Forst said.
It’s good for the fish population, but bad for boating with the overgrowth of aquatic plants, Forst explained.
This year, the lake is the clearest it’s been in five to six years which is partially due to the increased awareness, according to Forst.
To help maintain clarity, the alliance provides the opportunity for lakeshore owners to buy barley straw which inhibits growth of certain types of algae, according to Forst.
The barley is put into bags, tied to docks or anchored, and decomposes, giving off a by-product which makes the area unfavorable for algae growth.
Another advantage to alliance members is the decreased cost for purchasing barley straw.
“The $25 membership is worth it,” Forst said.
They meet quarterly at the Community Center above the Howard Lake library.
“People need to get involved and be aware of man’s impact on our environment,” Forst said.
To become involved in the Howard Lake Watershed Alliance, contact Forst at (320) 543-3736.
Lake Mary Homeowners Association
Organized in 1987, the Lake Mary Homeowners Association was formed in an effort to improve water quality of the lake and protect its natural resources, according to the association’s president, Mike Ollig.
Located just miles southeast of Howard Lake, Lake Mary is spring fed. It is approximately 180 acres in size, with its deepest point being 47 feet.
According to Ollig, Lake Mary is one of the deepest lakes in the area and recognized as a good recreational lake.
The lake also offers a good pan fish population including sun fish, crappies, bass, and walleyes. The lake is stocked biannually with walleyes as well.
In 1998, the association worked in conjunction with the Wright County Soil and Water Conservation District on the installation of five agricultural French drains which replaced five open field inlets, according to Ollig. The drains allow for filtering of run-off water before entering lakes.
Past president, Denny Ructi has been involved in taking water samples and directly planning and working with Soil and Water.
“This has helped water quality tremendously,” Ollig said.
Board member, Andy Jude has been taking water samples in 2007 as well.
“Over the years we have been able to get a scientific prespective of the health of Lake Mary water quality which is very good,” Ollig said.
In 2004, the association began a five-year joint venture program with Wright County Soil and Water Department and a local area land owner where one acre of farm land has been set aside as a buffer zone. The land was planted with native grasses to help remove sediment, phosphates, and chemical before they enter the lake. The Department of Natural Resources also monitors the lake’s wildlife on a yearly basis.
Volunteers from the association submit water samples to and check for clarity for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
The association’s board organizes an annual meeting and potluck picnic each year and has an annual “ice out” contest guessing when the ice will go off of the lake. All the proceeds from this event goes to restocking the lake with six-inch fingerling walleye. From these efforts, more than 6,000 walleye, including 2,000 more in 2007, have been introduced to Lake Mary since 1999.
Also with the $15 yearly membership fee for homeowners, members will receive a quarterly newsletter stressing communication, community interaction, and articles of interest, according to Ollig.
Lake Ann
Located two miles south of Howard Lake off of Wright County Road 6, Lake Ann is 386 acres an 18.5 feet at its deepest point. The Lake Ann Improvement Association was originally formed in 1984 but has reorganized with new by-laws and board members in 2003.
The association’s objective is to protect, restore, and preserve water quality of the lake and its watershed. To maintain these ideas, the association has established more than 32 acres of buffer in the watershed and committed more than $4,000 to such programs.
The association has cooperated with farmers and the Wright County Soil and Water Conservation District to install French drains and other diversions to minimize runoff.
With the initiatives listed, the association has received the Outstanding Wright County Conservation Cooperator of the Year award in 2000 and has been an initiator in developing the Wright County lakes monitoring program.
To become involved in the Lake Ann Improvement Association, contact current President Debbie Stenberg at (320) 543-2440.
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