PELICAN GROUP OF LAKES IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (PGOLID)
Introduction:
Minnesota Statutes section 103 B.571 (4) require Lake Improvement Districts are to file an Annual Report to the County Board, the Commissioner of Natural Resources, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. This direction has been and will be interpreted to be the Otter Tail County Commissioners, Land and Resource Management, Bill Kalar, the DNR Director, and Tim James at the MPCA office in Detroit Lakes.
The Pelican Group of Lakes Improvement District (“PGOLID”) commenced 2005 with nine members: Dave Majkrzak, Don Meidinger, Butch Poolman, Vance Stueness, Faye Engkjer, Norm Robinson, Skip Duemeland, Mike Ostbye and Dan Crothers. At the 2004 Annual Membership meeting Mr. Poolman, Mr. Ostbye and Mr. Duemeland were elected to the board.
Current Program Status:
2004 was the third year of monthly evaluation of the water quality parameters of Fecal Coliform Bacteria, Total Suspended Solids, Chlorophyll A, Two kinds of Phosphorus (Ortho and Total), Total Dissolved Solids, and Temperature which are taken at nine sites including the several inlets and one outlet. This information continues to be incorporated into a Comprehensive Lake Water Quality Study.
Management for mosquito control has been assigned to the Mosquito Abatement Board, chaired by board member Stueness. The continued presence of the West Nile Virus encourages a continuing aggressive and expensive mosquito control program now.
Blue Water Science, 550 S. Snelling Ave, St. Paul, MN has completed its several year effort to prepare and present a comprehensive Water Quality Study and Evaluation of the water and land resources in the LID. Copies of the Report are available on PGOLID’s web site and at the Pelican Rapids Regional Library.
We remain encouraged that the water quality parameters in the PGOLID are rated in the satisfactory categories and that Eurasian Milfoil is not an imminent threat to the lakes in the LID. Northern Milfoil is a real nuisance in Little Pelican Lake and Curly Leaf Pondweed is a major weed in Pelican Lake.
The LID now owns 22 buoys that are marked as PGOLID property and they are strategically placed in the LID to mark channels, rocks, no wake zones, and other navigation needs.
Since the early 1930’s the water levels in the lakes in the LID have been controlled by a concrete structure of three weir levels, which is located in the Pelican River below Fish Lake. The dam was flooded during the high water years, but now due to erosion and age it no longer effectively limits the outflow. It has been determined that the dam is under the ownership and control of the DNR. PGOLID is working with the DNR to plan repairs to the dam.
The order establishing the LID contains a great deal of information and direction. However, the activities of the LID are becoming more complex and Rules of Governance were adopted at the Annual Membership meeting in 2004.
DIRECTORS INTENTIONS AND CONCERNS:
1. Septic system compliance and monitoring is a continuing worry since a significant number of private systems were found to be out of compliance over 20 years ago. The LID has assembled data and is working with Otter Tail County regarding future inspections.
2. Exotic weeds that have been introduced into the Pelican River chain of lakes are a real nuisance; especially bothersome is Northern Milfoil in Little Pelican Lake and Curly leaf Pondweed in Pelican Lake. The Directors are urged by many residents to control the weeds by chemical or mechanical means. Cost/benefit evaluations have been undertaken.
3. The PGOLID is in a predominantly farming community and has both livestock and cropland in the lake watershed. Several large agricultural efforts utilize shallow well irrigation on crops of corn, alfalfa, potato, and sugarbeet. All are high users of water and soil nutrients. The Directors are concerned that e-coli and weed-encouraging nutrients are being leached or transported directly into the streams and river feeding the LID. The Board is working with the lake coordinator to visually inspect nearby streams and drainages leading into the LID.
4. The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners stated in the Order establishing the LID, that “The PGOLID will benefit the property values and quality of life within the district by enhancing and maintaining the environmental quality of the Pelican Group of Lakes and the surrounding land areas”. The discovery of naturally occurring arsenic in deep water wells, the potential for nitrate and e-coli contamination of the shallow water wells, and the ageing septic systems all lead the board to continue to investigate alternative water and sewer accommodations for property owners in the LID.
5. An agreement with Cormorant Lakes Watershed and Becker County regarding the control of water flowing out of the Cormorant Lakes will expire in October of 2005. This agreement is especially important when the lake levels are at or exceed the Ordinary High Water Mark. Currently all lakes are below the OHWM. The Agreement will be addressed in 2005, and we will try include an Agreement with the Lake Ida property owners over their new outlet.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
The budget approved at the August 2004 meeting for 2005, of $136,000 will utilize $50,000 of the 2004 carryover for a total assessment to the LID property owners in 2004 of $86,000.
Respectfully submitted,
Board of Directors, PGOLID
Dan Crothers, Chairman
Mike Ostbye, Vice Chairman
Faye Engkjer, Secretary
Don Meidinger, Treasurer
Skip Duemeland
Dave Majkrzak
Butch Poolman
Norm Robinson
Vance Stueness