The Backus Area Welcomes You
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The Backus Area Welcomes You
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Community Organizations and Meetings Economic Development Corporation Pine Mountain Lake Association
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Pine Mountain Lake Association Gathering with friends and family to improve our lake for generations to come! for more information click here Pine Mountain Lake Facts: Size: 1,567 acres Maximum depth: 78 feet, (about 47% of the lake is 15 feet or less) Water clarity: 6 feet Near headwaters of Pine River Watershed which embraces 450 square miles of Cass, Aitkin and Crow Wing Counties Approximately 120 lakeshore property owners 15 species of fish in lake Walleye stocking for 2001 and 2002 was over 1 million fry and fingerling! Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club (Circa 1945) Post Office Box 97 Backus, MN 56435 Purpose To preserve and improve, where possible, the quality of our lake and fishing. To provide an interface with state and county agencies that support our lake. To protect the natural wildlife essential to a healthy lake. To create fellowship among members and neighbors. Opportunities to Serve Committees include: Aquatic Vegetation: to manage lake foliage and wildlife. Land Use and Zoning: to protect and improve lake quality and shoreline. Organizational Development: to increase membership and fellowship. While you are not required to join a committee, there is strength in numbers – we can do more together! Member Commitment Attend one (or both) meetings o Spring meeting: Saturday after Memorial Day at 10:00 a.m.o Summer meeting: third Saturday in August at 3:00 p.m. (potluck follows)Pay $10 annual dues Name(s): Address: Phone: ( ) - e-mail: To join: Print, clip, complete and send with $10 annual dues to: Pine Mountain Lake PO Box 97 Backus, MN 56435.
Pine Mountain Lake Presented by, Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club January 2005 Table of Contents Introduction *Healthy Lakes Plan Summary: *Priority #1: Aquatic Vegetation *Goals * Objective * Introduction * Ecological Factors * Sociologic Factors * Concerns * Actions * Priority #2: Land Use and Zoning *Goal * Objective * Introduction * Concerns * Non-conforming Septic Systems: * Shoreline Management: * Preserving Natural Shoreline * Organizational Development *Goal * Objective * Introduction * Concerns * Organizational Development * Organizational Support: * Community Awareness and Involvement: * IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIONS 12 Summary 16 Glossary 16 The Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club was formed in the 1940s. The driving force in forming the Conservation Club was walleye management. There was walleye hatchery established on the west side of the lake and was managed by the Conservation Club and the DNR for years. Pine Mountain Lake is a 1,567-acre lake with a maximum depth of 78 feet. Pine Mountain Lake is near the headwaters of the Pine River Watershed. The Pine River Watershed embraces nearly 450 square miles of Cass, Aitkin, and Crow Wing counties. It includes 72 lakes and four streams-- the Pine River itself, Daggett Brook, Pelican Brook and Little Pine River-- all draining to the Pine River and on to the Mississippi, providing drinking water for one million people. The immediate watershed size is approximately 28,000 acres. The majority of the watershed is in forestry. There is very little agricultural land use influencing the watershed, the agricultural use is mainly pasture. Figure 1 shows the Pine Mountain Lake Watershed. In 2004, the Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club had approximately sixty paid members. There are approximately 150 lakeshore properties in the immediate area. Membership requires annual dues of $10. The association is run under bylaws. There are elected officers and board members. Priorities have been decided at open meetings with general input from all interested parties. The most recent meeting utilized a facilitator with excellent success. In August 2001, the Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club was invited to participate in the Initiative Foundation’s Healthy Lakes and Rivers Partnership program along with eight other Lake Associations in Cass County. Under the coordination of John Sumption (Cass County Water Planner and Deputy Director of Environmental Services), representatives attended two days of training on strategic planning, communication, and nonprofit group leadership. Representatives of many state and local agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations also attended the training sessions in order to offer their assistance to each group in developing a strategic Lake Management Plan. The Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club was represented at the Healthy Lakes & Rivers training sessions by: Candice Alstadt, Ken Bartes, Don Jacobson, Norm Nolte and Lynda Peterson. Following the training sessions, each Lake Association held an inclusive community planning/visioning session designed to identify key community concerns, assets, opportunities, and priorities. The Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club held this planning session in July 2002, facilitated by Shelli Urness. Approximately 20 people were in attendance, with less than 5% of the participants describing themselves as year round residents. Details of the public input received at this session are provided within this plan. This document is intended to create a record of historic and existing conditions and influences on Pine Mountain Lake, and to identify the goals of the Pine Mountain Lake community. Ultimately it is meant to also help prioritize goals, and guide citizen action and engagement in the priority action areas. Clearly state agencies and local units of government also have a vital role and responsibility in managing surface waters and other natural resources, but above all else this Lake Management Plan is intended to be an assessment of what we as citizens can influence, what our desired outcomes are, and how we will participate in shaping our own destiny. This Lake Management Plan is also intended to be a "living document;" as new or better information becomes available, as we accomplish our goals or discovered that alternative strategies are needed, it is our intent to update this plan so that it continues to serve as a useful guide to future leaders. In discussing lake management issues, it is impossible to avoid all scientific or technical terms. We have tried to express our goals, measures of success, and other themes as simply and clearly as possible, but have included a glossary of common limnological terms at the end of the plan to assist the reader. Finally, we would like to thank the funders of the Healthy Lakes and Rivers Partnership program for Cass County, including The McKnight Foundation, Laura Jane Musser Trust, Cass County Water Plan, Don Hickman and Sandra Kaplan, and Mary Beth Grams. HISTORY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS Over the past 60 years, the Conservation Club has taken an active role in walleye management. The DNR eliminated the walleye rearing pond in the 1980’s. There hasn’t been a much direction for the Conservation Club since not having the walleye rearing pond to focus on. Since 1999, the Conservation Club has started to focus on water quality. We have contracted with Cass County on assisting in monitoring the surface water quality during the summer months. Below are the average secchi disk readings over from June through October: 1999 2000 2001 2002 Secchi disc 7.25’ 9.4’ 7.625’ 8.75’ It is the hope through this lake management plan that we can identify problem areas within our lake and focus on correcting them. Healthy Lakes Plan Summary: Organization: Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club Geographic Area: Pine Mountain Lake is located in Deerfield, Bull Moose, Powers and Pine River townships, and the City of Backus. It resides within the Pine River watershed. HLP Schedule: Second round - Cass County, 2001. Project Focus: Develop a Lake Management Plan, implement top priorities. Vision Statement: We have no formal vision statement; however, our philosophy is to enjoy the present lake and to preserve the resource for future generations. Key Accomplishments: We have held a visioning session facilitated by Shelli Urness, in July 2002. We established focus areas for priority efforts and formed task forces with timetables for follow-up reports. Below are the top three Priorities the Conservation Club would focus on over the next five years Priorities: Vegetation Management: Create and improve existing aquatic plant management strategies to protect natural habitats and allow quality surface use. Land Use and Zoning: Work with property owners in implementing best management practices on their lakeshore and to work with Cass County on regulations that help protect the quality of the lake. Organizational Development: Strive to increase membership and educate lakeshore owners on the benefits and responsibilities of owning lakeshore property. Issues such as: Wildlife, Fisheries, Wildlife, Exotic Species, water use conflicts and public water access; were addressed, however, the top three priorities were determined to be the over all concerns and that other issues would be addressed at a later date. Priority #1: Aquatic Vegetation To improve lakeshore condition to allow for easy access onto the lake for boaters and allow for swimming from lakeshore property, while maintaining or improving the number and size of walleyes and northern pike and the lake water quality. Work with property owners, DNR and other government agencies to identify executable options eliminating and reducing the vegetation problems on the lake while maintaining or improving the game fish and wildlife populations and lake water quality. Educate property owners on on-going actions they must take to control the vegetation and improve or maintain the fish population and size and the water quality. Historically, Pine Mountain Lake was a lake with a large population of large walleyes and northern pike. Its shoreline was sandy and emergent vegetation was limited. Property owners could swim on their property and had easy access onto the lake by boat. Over the years, the situation has changed. However the walleye and northern pike populations and fish size have remained constant. See the attached DNR Fisheries Survey from 1999. Emergent vegetation is invading the shoreline and lake. Submerged vegetation is so plentiful that access onto the lake by boat is often difficult and swimming is only possible at the city beach and a few other locations on the lake. Long time property owners say the water quality and lake level has decreased. The submerged vegetation issue seems to indicate that the overall water clarity is good, as vegetation growth increases when clearer water allows for greater penetration of light to the bottom of the lake. However, lower water levels on the shoreline would also contribute to the increase in vegetation. Lake documentation indicates the water level has been an ongoing issue with low water complaints going back to 1950. Presently, there is a control structure on the lake as it enters the Pine River. According to the DNR the control structure has remained intact since its installation. Landowners have been constantly arguing over the lake level. The Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club is interested in developing and implementing a vegetation control plan for Pine Mountain Lake that would both assist with water surface use and not compromise natural habitat needed for the fish and area wildlife. Ecological Factors The total surface area is 1567 acres with a maximum depth of 80 feet. The current secchi disk reading is averages from 9.4 ft. to 7.25 ft for the four years of monitoring. The lake is 47% littoral. The littoral zone of the lake is the area of a lake from 0 to 15 feet depth where plants normally grow. Submerged plants grow to a water depth of 12 feet. The Minnesota DNR Fisheries Section conducted a survey in 1994, which indicated there were about 122 lake homes on Pine Mountain Lake, double of the number of lake homes in 1968. The city of Backus is located on the east side of the lake, as is the public access. The lake is used for the following recreational purposes: Fishing Water Skiing Jet Skiing Boating Canoeing Waterfowl Hunting Paddle boating Swimming Emergent and Submerged Aquatic Vegetation levels may hinder recreational use of the surface water. The emergent and submerged aquatic vegetation has increased over the years and has reached a point where access to the lake for boating and swimming is limited. Chemical and manual harvesting of submerged aquatic plants have been attempted in the past. The property owners have not been satisfied with the short-term results. Chemicals must be applied several times throughout the summer. Application is difficult for older lakeshore owners and licensed applicators have not been willing to travel to Pine Mountain to apply the chemicals. Manual harvesting is also not an option for senior lakeshore owners. Another concern with the manual harvesting is that some lakeshore owners rake the submerged vegetation, but leave it in the lake. This eventually causes floating bogs. Determine best way to identify weed and bog problem areas on Pine Mountain Lake – Visits around lake, property owner survey, etc. Document problem locations. Discuss with the DNR all possible factors leading to the increase in vegetation. This discussion may lead to additional action items Talk with the DNR to determine what impact the removal of submerged vegetation will have on: a. Spawning beds for walleye and northern pike populations and size b. Water quality c. Condition of the lakeshore soil, particularly for swimming. Collect and document samples of the submerged vegetation from each location and work with the DNR to document the specific submerged vegetation plant names Work with the DNR to determine the most efficient and effective methods on vegetation removal in the problem areas and associated costs. Determine Conservation Club versus property owner roles in the removal of submerged vegetation. If the Conservation Club has a role, establish a timeframe for implementation. Determine best method for educating property owners on the rules and regulations for emergent and submerged vegetation removal and on their on going role for controlling vegetation while maintaining or improving the water quality and the fish population, particularly walleye and northern pike. Priority #2: Land Use and Zoning To sustain or improve the water quality of Pine Mountain Lake through sound land management. Work with property owners in implementing best management practice on their lakeshore and to work with Cass County on regulations that help protect the quality of the lake. Lakes and their tributaries collect runoff from within their watershed. The land use within a watershed ultimately impacts – either positively or negatively – the quality of the runoff and, in turn, impacts a lake’s water quality. Land use activities can impact the waters in many ways. Non-conforming septic systems can discharge nutrients and fecal bacteria to either surface or ground water when they are improperly designed, constructed or managed. Livestock operations can degrade water quality by increasing nutrients that eventually reach the water and by eroding stream banks. Erosion can be a major problem for water quality because of phosphorus that is transported to the lake attached to soil particles. Development includes concerns over wetlands that are sometimes filled for residential or commercial development. Steep bluffs can also be a development related problem if the site is destabilized and eventually begins to erode. Storm water runoff can contribute major quantities of nutrients. Non-conforming Septic Systems: Non-conforming septic systems are a concern to lake residents, water resource managers, and public health officials because of the dual threat they present to lake and drinking water quality. Many lakeshore areas depend on septic systems as their only feasible option for treating wastewater. Because of this fact, only achieving a high rate of compliance for septic systems can we protect lake and drinking water quality. In the Spring of 2003, the Cass County Environmental Services provided us a summary of inspections and upgrades that have taken place of each lot on the lake. There have been 143 lots inspected over the years. Below is a status list of when each lot was inspected. 50 - lots are connected to Backus City sewer 4 - lots have a privy system 3 - lots have cesspools 15 - lots have information of no on-site septic system 22 - lots have record of no on-site septic system 49 - lots have record on site wastewater treatment system Sewer installation date: 1980 or sooner – 11 lots 1980-1990 - 8 lots 1990-2000 – 30 lots The Conservation Club would like to conduct a compliance survey and educate the landowners on proper management of their ISTS. The current secchi disk reading is averages from 9.4 ft. to 7.25 ft for the four years of monitoring. Soil erosion and sedimentation are the largest pollutants by volume of Cass County’s lakes and streams. Soil erosion consists simply of the availability, detachment and transport of soil particles into a lake or stream. Soils can reach the lake from direct shore land erosion or in water flowing into the lake that has received soil particles from stream bank erosion. The amount of eroded soils reaching a lake is directly proportional to the distance of erosion source from the lake. Shore land erosion can have nearly a 100 percent sedimentation delivery rate. Phosphorus – a soil nutrient that in excess in a lake can cause severe algae growth and oxygen depletion leading to degradation of water quality – is tightly bound to the soil carried into the lake. Since 76 percent of Minnesota’s soils test high to very high in phosphorus, reducing soil erosion controls a major source of phosphorus to our lakes. Cass County has regulations requiring shoreline re-vegetation when lakeshore has been manipulated. Pine Mountain Lake has approximately 8.6 miles of shoreline. Approximately half of the shoreline is developed. The eastern edge of the lake encompasses the City of Backus. The lake is classified as a General Development for zoning purposes. For riparian lots the minimum lot area is 30,000 sq ft, buildable area is 12,000 sq ft, and minimum width is 100 ft. The Conservation Club sees a benefit in maintaining the present development to a minimum. Action: Survey the compliance of ISTS around the lake. Educate the landowners on proper management of their ISTS. Work with the County on upgrading non-conforming ISTS. Establish a surface water quality monitoring program to determine a baseline of water quality. Work with large landowners to preserve the land. Continue to work with Cass County to insure proper shoreline re-vegetation. Educate lakeshore owners on the benefits of "natural" buffers between houses and lakes. Continue to conduct surface water quality monitoring program to establish a baseline of water quality. To increase the membership and activity of the club to better serve the lake, land owners and community. To encourage area residents and land owners to become an active part of Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club. The Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club has approximately sixty paid members. There are approximately 150 lakeshore properties in the immediate area. Membership requires annual dues of $10. The association is run under bylaws, which direct election of officers and board members. The original Conservation Club included members from three area lakes, with Pine Mountain being that with the strongest membership. It was originally when formed to focus on walleye population. Attendance and activity were strong. Activity, especially from other lakes, declined and the club fell apart in the late 1950s or early 1960s. Over the net two decades it rose and fell again, but this time it included only Pine Mountain residents. A new effort was made in 1997 to re-energizer the club. Since then, we have seen an increase in both number of members and activity of members. Increasing membership is difficult when you don’t have a "purpose" to describe. A Mission Statement and setting goals will provide the Club a focus, which in the end will lead to the Club accomplishing more. Action: Establish a Mission Statement. Set short-term goals. Prioritize short term goals. There is strength in numbers. With more members and more active members we can accomplish more. We are seen as a more "serious" group when approaching county or state governmental agencies. We have more resources, both in members and dues revenue, to take on more projects to better our lake and community. Action: Increase membership. This may involve various types of membership. Increase attendance at meetings. Increase member involvement in activities. Community Awareness and Involvement: Knowing your neighbors and those in the community, naturally instills a more caring and cautious environment. The more we know each other, the more we care about providing a cleaner, safer and more enjoyable environment for ourselves and each others. There is currently nothing in place to provide newer land owners Club members with a roster and contact information for others on the lake. Actions: Develop roster of lake area land owners for distribution to all land owners. Provide Lake Management Handbook. Host social event and invite all land owners. IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTION SCHEDULE The Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club will implement the following schedule based on the priorities established by the facilitation workshop. The lake management plan is an ongoing 5-year plan. Below is the order of implementation. 2005 Aquatic VegetationDetermine best way to identify weed and bog problem areas on Pine Mountain Lake – Visits around lake, property owner survey, etc. Document problem locations. Discuss with the DNR all possible factors leading to the increase in vegetation. This discussion may lead to additional action items Talk with the DNR to determine what impact the removal of submerged vegetation will have on: d. Spawning beds for walleye and northern pike populations and size e. Water quality Collect and document samples of the submerged vegetation from each location and work with the DNR to document the specific submerged vegetation plant names. WHO: Department Natural of Resources Aquatic Plant Specialist Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club Vegetation Committee WHEN: Summer of 2005 through summer of 2006 COST: $500 Land Use & Zoning 1. Continue to conduct surface water quality monitoring program to establish a baseline of water quality. WHO: Cass County Environmental Services Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club WHEN: Summer of 2004 – ongoing every summer COST: Minimal – volunteer work Organizational Development Establish a Mission Statement. Set short-term goals. Prioritize short term goals. WHO: Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club Organizational Committee WHEN: Summer of 2005 COST: Minimal 2006 Aquatic Vegetation Work with the DNR to determine the most efficient and effective methods on vegetation removal in the problem areas and associated costs. Determine Conservation Club versus property owner roles in the removal of submerged vegetation. If the Conservation Club has a role, establish a timeframe for implementation. Determine best method for educating property owners on the rules and regulations for emergent and submerged vegetation removal and on their on going role for controlling vegetation while maintaining or improving the water quality and the fish population, particularly walleye and northern pike. WHO: Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club Vegetation Committee WHEN: Ongoing - yearly COST: Minimal Land Use and Zoning Establish a surface water quality monitoring program to determine a baseline of water quality. Work with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to develop a Lake Assessment Plan for the lake. WHO: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club Cass County Environmental Services WHEN: Summer 2006 COST: Minimal – volunteer Organizational Development 1. Develop roster of lake area land owners for distribution to all land owners. 2. Provide Lake Management Handbook. 3. Host social event and invite all land owners WHO: Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club WHEN: Summer of 2006 – ongoing COST: $200 2007 Aquatic Vegetation Continue to implement aquatic vegetation management plan. WHO: Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club DNR Aquatic Plant Specialist Land Use and Zoning Survey the compliance of ISTS around the lake. WHO: Cass County Environmental Services Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club WHEN: Summer 2007 COST: $1,000 Organizational Development Increase membership. This may involve various types of membership. Increase attendance at meetings. Increase member involvement in activities WHO: Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club WHEN: Summer 2006 – ongoing COST: Minimal 2008 Land Use and Zoning Educate landowners on proper management of their ISTS and work with the County on upgrading non-conforming ISTSs. WHO: Cass County Environmental Services, Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club WHEN: Summer 2008 – ongoing COST: $1,000 – educational program Educate lakeshore owners on the benefits of "natural" buffers between houses and lakes. Work with Cass County to insure proper shoreline revegetation. WHO: Cass County Environmental Services, Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club, Cass County Extension Services WHEN: Summer 2008 – Summer 2009 COST: $1,000 – educational program Work with large landowners to preserve the land. WHO: Department of Natural Resources, Cass County, Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club WHEN: Summer 2008 – Summer 2009 COST: Minimal 2009 Ongoing implementation of previous projects. Also, review Lake Management Plan and develop new strategies to insure the protection of Pine Mountain Lake. Summary Under the Healthy Lakes Initiative and through the assistance provided by the Foundation, we believe our Club can address all of the objectives set forth in this plan. Through the management of land use, our water quality will not deteriorate, and should improve. The vegetation management, we will reduce or eliminate unhealthy vegetation and retain that which benefits the lake. Though strengthening the Pine Mountain Lake Conservation Club, our members will work together to ensure a continued and strong organization to maintain the lake and its surrounding community. In meeting these objectives, Pine Mountain Lake will be a healthier lake and the community will be stronger. Glossary Limnology is the state of lake conditions and behavior. Littoral is the area of a lake from 0 to 15 feet depth where plants normally grow. Seechi Disk is a tool to measure the depth of transparency (clarity) within a lake. Watershed is the area of land which contributes surface water into a water body. Emergent vegetation is vegetation growing within a lake along the shoreline at varying shallow depths. Riparian is the area of land which borders the lake or water body.
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