Long Lake Waters Association

Feb 28, 2019

LLWA, in partnership with WSB & Associates, is tracking the carp movements under the ice on Long Lake!

In May 2018, in response to anecdotal evidence of high numbers of carp within the Long Lake Creek Sub-Watershed, Long Lake Waters Association (LLWA) with support of the City of Long Lake, the City of Medina, and the Orono Lions Club began an effort to gather scientific data regarding the specific population levels of invasive carp within the watershed.

LLWA coordinated the hiring of WSB & Associates to conduct a biomass/population estimate.  In October 2018, WSB provided a formal estimate of approximately 17,000 carp, equivalent to about 167,000 lbs of carp or 570 lbs/acre. Ecological damage is projected for values at and above 89 lbs/acre[1]. The levels of carp in Long Lake Creek Sub-Watershed are more than five times the threshold level that impacts water quality and ecological integrity.

WSB also surgically implanted radio-tracking devices in the carp to track their movements within the sub-watershed.  

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Tracking of the carp is currently underway! 

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Using electrofishing and radio telemetry surveys, WSB is identifying the migratory patterns of the carp over the seasons. A variety of techniques and technology are used when doing this work during the harsh Minnesota winters. Snowplows are used on the ice to 'herd' the carp, as the vibrations and noise help drive the carp together.  Underwater submarines are used to place ropes under the ice that will guide the nets for a biomass harvest.  

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This information will help assist commercial fishermen to find and remove a large volume of carp from the watershed to help improve the water quality. 

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Jan 14, 2019

MCWD to assess water quality and develop water quality improvement implementation guide for Long Lake Creek Sub-Watershed!

The Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources (BWSR) has awarded the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) a $112,000 accelerated implementation grant to assess water quality issues and guide implementation of water quality improvement projects in the Long Lake Creek subwatershed. The grant is a result of a collaborative effort between MCWD; the cities of Medina, Long Lake, and Orono; and the Long Lake Waters Association (LLWA).

The purpose of the grant is to identify specific factors causing poor water quality in lakes in the Long Lake Creek subwatershed. Several lakes are impaired due to excess nutrients and low water clarity, which impacts the health of aquatic life and recreational enjoyment. The project will create a watershed model that pinpoints the areas in the watershed that are contributing high levels of pollutants to lakes and streams, and to calculate how much pollution the water quality improvement projects would remove. The pollutant reductions will then be entered into a lake model to determine their impact on water clarity.

Nov 13, 2019

"Members of the Long Lake Waters Association thought there were a lot of common carp in Long Lake, but now they have scientific evidence proving there are more of the invasive fish than there should be. And it’s affecting water quality in the lake..."

Oct 16, 2018

The City Council of Long Lake issues a Certificate of Appreciation at the October 2018 City Council Meeting

In recognition for our commitment to the local community's future, and our ongoing advocacy for the environment, the Long Lake City Council issued a Certificate of Appreciation to Long Lake Waters Association.  We are so grateful for their support, and the support of all our members!

Oct 14, 2018

Neighbors and friends gathered at Birch's to celebrate the hard work and progress LLWA Members have made in the last two years!

Friends and Neighbors gathered at Birch's on the Lake mid-October, to celebrate our efforts to improve the water quality within the watershed, and share plans for the future.  Specialty "watershed" drinks were served, a watershed trivia contest was conducted, and a good night was had by all! 

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Thank you to Birch's on the Lake for their support, and to all the members, friends and neighbors who attended!  

May 23, 2018

Phase One of efforts to improve the water quality in Long Lake Watershed

LLWA is very excited to announce that after a year and a half of planning, we have started Phase I (carp radio tagging) of our long-term plan to improve the water quality in Long Lake watershed!

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Thanks to our partners, WSB, the wonderful efforts of the LLWA Board as well as the continued support from the cities of Long Lake and Medina, and the Orono Lions, as well as our LLWA members, we were able to successfully kickoff this multi-year carp management project. Radio transmitters were implanted in the mature fish which will provide data to help track the invasive carp within the entire watershed over the next year. Be sure to follow our website to see updates on the survey maps, once available in Fall 2018.

Apr 03, 2018

Thank you to the Orono Lions Club, for their very generous gift of $1,000 to LLWA!

On April 3rd, the Orono Lions Club presented a leadership check for $1,000 to LLWA at the Long Lake Town Council Meeting, to support the Clean Water Initiative.  This is a wonderful donation, which will to go towards the Phase 1 project on Carp Data Collection and Biomass Removal.  We are very grateful for the community support and awareness LLWA is receiving, and especially thankful to have the support of the Orono Lions Club.

The check was presented by Bradley Hanson, President of the Lions Club, with fellow Lions Club members Roger Adams attending as well.

Feb 28, 2018

5:30pm

LLWA Annual Meeting and Social Hour!​  On 2/28, we held our Annual 2018 Water Summit featuring keynote speaker Steve Woods, Executive Director of the Freshwater Society.  Refreshments and snacks were served, with many thanks to Country Cake Cupboard and Lakeview Wine + Spirits).

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Orono City Hall: 2750 Kelly Parkway, Orono, MN 55356​  Questions?  Please contact LongLakeWaters@gmail.com

May 28, 2023

The Long Lake Waters Association is one of two new citizen-led lake associations formed in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District

Two new citizen-led lake associations formed in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) in 2016, bringing the number of resident groups organized around lakes and streams in the district to an all-time high. One of them, Long Lake Waters Association, consists of residents from the cities of Medina, Long Lake and Orono.

Feb 28, 2023

Join a network of citizen scientists and learn how to identify and report AIS.

Registration is now open for AIS Detectors, MAISRC’s new volunteer network and science-based training program launched in partnership with University of Minnesota Extension.

If you are a concerned, motivated citizen over the age of 18 who wants to learn more about AIS and do your part to protect Minnesota’s precious lakes, this program is for you!

Jan 16, 2017

​... bringing the number of resident groups organized around lakes and streams in the District to an all-time high.  

There are now 30 documented lake and stream groups that have formed in the MCWD, which has been supporting citizen efforts to protect their local waters for more than ten years.
 
The newest members of MCWD’s Watershed Association Initiative (WAI) are the Friends of Lake Hiawatha in Minneapolis and the Long Lake Waters Association in Long Lake.