SUMMER 2025 NEWSLETTER
- Long Lake Waters Association
- Aug 5
- 5 min read
Long Lake Waters Association
Our mission is to provide collaborative leadership in improving and protecting the water quality of the Long Lake Creek Watershed for the enjoyment of present and future generations
SEVEN LAKES - THREE CITIES - ONE WATERSHED
Welcome to Summer in the Watershed!
Summer is a good time for celebration and for taking steps to benefit our lakes and the surrounding area. Healthy watersheds support biodiversity and clean water for both wildlife and people to enjoy!
Save the Date:
Mark your calendars for July 12th and head down to Nelson Lakeside Park for Buckhorn Days! This annual summer festival, hosted by the Long Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, promises a day of fun for the whole family.
Enjoy live music throughout the day!
Activities for kids, dogs, and adults!
Educational and Community Booths!
and....
A FREE CARP FISHING CONTEST (Awards sponsored by LLWA)
Rain Barrels:
A big THANK YOU to all those who participated in the Rain Barrel Sale againt this year! It was a great success and a wonderful local project to help the watershed. Also, a heart-felt thank you to Harrisons Bay Association for their efforts to make the project possible. To learn more about the benefits of using rain barrels, visit The University of Minnesota.
Watershed Projects: County Road 6 Stormwater Pond Project:
The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) is retrofitting an existing stormwater pond on County Road 6 in Orono to improve the water quality of Long Lake. This project, a key component of the Long Lake Creek Partnership Roadmap, involves adding a sand filtration bench to enhance the pond’s water treatment capacity. Use of this improved technology will increase the pond’s ability to treat water from the surrounding area before it reaches Long Lake and maximize the pond’s water storage. The project is projected to remove 67 pounds of phosphorus annually, helping to reduce nutrient impairments in the lake. Visit the MCWD's website to learn more about this exciting project!
You can also learn more about other aspects of the Long Lake Creek Roadmap and get updates on the project at https://minnehahacreek.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Long-Lake-Creek-Partnership-Roadmap.pdf
Be A Good Water Steward:
When putting a boat, jet ski, kayak, paddle board or canoe in or out of Long Lake, remember to use the CD3 Waterless Cleaning Station at the public boat launch. This self-serve station provides easy-to-use tools that help you remove weeds, zebra mussels, and other unwanted aquatic hitchhikers from your watercraft and equipment.
In addition to cleaning, State law requires that boaters drain all water-related equipment—including ballast tanks and portable bait containers—and properly dispose of unwanted bait like minnows and worms to prevent the spread of AIS.
By taking a few moments to clean your gear, you play a vital role in minimizing the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species (AIS) between lakes.
For more information on AIS and to contact a representative visit the DNR https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ais/id.html
Take the Lake Pledge!
If you are interested in protecting the lake from aquatic invasive species (AIS), join the community and take the LAKE PLEDGE to stop the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species. The Lake Pledge is a FREE, creative, family-fun program with interactive short videos showing how to protect our lakes from AIS that can cause damage to native fish and plant populations.
JOIN TODAY at https://www.lakepledge.com/
What’s moving: Sandhill Cranes
Have you heard the loud, rattling call of a Sandhill Crane lately? These impressive birds, standing about four feet tall with a wingspan of nearly seven feet, are increasingly making our area their home during breeding season.
Sandhill Cranes were once rare in Minnesota, with only an estimated 10-25 nesting pairs in the mid-1940s. Thanks to conservation efforts, their populations have made a remarkable recovery. Sandhill Cranes typically nest in lowland emergent marshes and meadows with sedges and grasses. These areas are often interspersed with wooded ridges, open prairie, and agricultural fields, providing ideal habitat for these birds. The Sandhill Crane is not threatened, but its close relative—the whooping crane—is endangered.
Keep an eye out for these magnificent birds and enjoy their presence in our Long Lake area, before they migrate south for the winter!
What’s Blooming: Native Pollinators
Bergamot, commonly known as wild bee balm (Monarda fistulosa), is a native plant in Minnesota and is well-suited for gardens and natural landscapes in the Long Lake area. This perennial is recognized for its attractive lavender flowers and its value to pollinators, especially bees and butterflies.
Bergamot also offers a wide range of benefits, both medicinal and ecological. The Minnesota Wildflowers website provides detailed information and identification guides for native plants and can help you confirm the species and learn about its habitat needs. The UMN Extension provides extensive guidance on selecting and growing native plants in Minnesota, which can help ensure successful establishment in your landscape.
How to help:
Personal Steps:
We can help reduce phosphorus in our lakes by cleaning up grass clippings and pet waste, and controlling erosion on our property. These simple steps can have a big impact, by helping reduce algae blooms and promoting the biodiversity of aquatic and terrestrial native plants.
Volunteer!
Long Lake Waters Association is looking for watershed residents to volunteer for special projects and to be lake liaisons, especially on School, Holy Name, Dickey, Wolsfeld, Long Lake and Tanager.
What do you see?
Please let us know what you are seeing in the watershed, either conditions or problems you are concerned about, or positive feedback and community actions. You can reach out by email to longlakewaters@gmail.com, or share on our Facebook or Instagram feeds.
Help us grow!
Spread the word about LLWA, check out our website at https://www.longlakewaters.org/ follow us on Instagram or Facebook, share this newsletter with friends and neighbors.
Did you know?
Facts about the Long Lake Watershed:
The Long Lake Watershed covers 7,619 acres and spans the cities of Orono, Medina, and Long Lake. It includes all surface and groundwater in the area—lakes, streams, wetlands, and reservoirs. The watershed contains seven large lakes. Water from these lakes, streams, and wetlands ultimately flows into Tanager Lake, which is a bay of Lake Minnetonka.
Learn about the Long Lake Creek Watershed Roadmap:
Since 2018, the Cities of Long Lake, Medina, Orono and LLWA and Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) have been working together toward a common goal of improving water quality in the Long Lake Creek Sub-watershed. The Long Lake Creek Roadmap, created from this partnership, guides these efforts, focusing on data-driven, high-impact projects to improve water quality.
Long Lake Waters Association
PO Box 195, Long Lake, MN 55356
A Minnesota 501(c)(3)
Comments