Author: Lake Melissa/Sallie

AIS Treatment Notices & Maps

Sponsored by the Becker County Coalition of Lake Associations (COLA), the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) at the University of MN, Hubbard County, Ottertail County, The Pelican River Watershed District, and Becker County Soil & Water. There is no charge for this event, but registration is requested. Lunch will be included with a free will donation.

Links are live here: Agenda

Registration link

25 March 2022
Dear Members,

Just a short note to update you on the status of the Pelican River Watershed District’s (PRWD) decision to stop roadside weed pick up. I attended the PRWD Board of Manager’s Monthly Meeting on 22 March and they made the decision with a unanimous vote to continue the weed pick up for the 2022 season only, and then it will stop in the future. This will allow for contractors to prepare for picking up responsibility for future weed pick ups around the lakes.
Steve Olson, owner of the Beachcombers, also attended the meeting and apparently has already prepared a proposal to submit to the PRWD to continue the pick up for this season.

The PRWD Board of Managers will hold a special meeting on April 7, 2022 at 5:00PM to review, accept/reject, quotes submitted for a one time roadside pick up for the 2022 season (May 31 -Sept. 30). Information can be found on the website at www.prwd.org. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call me.

Warm Regards,
Mike Becraft
President
c: 571-213-0420
email: mikebecraft@verizon.net

Some may have seen the recent DL Newspaper article about a meeting called by the Pelican River Watershed District to discuss the discontinuation of the program for roadside pickup of aquatic plants. Thank you to the LMSA Board Members who attended the meeting via Zoom to hear the information and state the desire to have the program continue on behalf of the membership. The LMSA and LDA (Lake Detroiters Association) Presidents have sent a letter to the PRWD to affirm their plea (see below).

link to dl-online article

Friday, August 20, 2021

• DEAR MEMBERS, AS YOU RECALL WE ARE NO LONGER COLLECTING FOOD FOR THE FOOD PANTRY ON LABOR DAY.

• THIS YEAR AS LAST YEAR WE ARE ACCEPTING MONEY DONATIONS.  WE KNOW THAT $1 WILL BUY $8 WORTH OF FOOD FOR THE PANTRY WHICH IS A GREAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

• LAST YEAR YOUR GENEROSITY RAISED $6,395.00 WHICH INCLUDED A $500 CHECK FROM THE ASSOCIATION.  WE WILL AGAIN ACCEPT DONATIONS IN THE FORM OF CHECKS WITH THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS:

• MAKE YOUR CHECK OUT TO THE  “LAKES MELISSA AND SALLIE ASSOCIATION,” ON THE MEMO LINE ON THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF YOUR CHECK WRITE FOOD PANTRY DONATION.

• MAIL YOUR CHECK BEFORE LABOR DAY TO:

          MELSAL ASSOCIATION

          P.O. Box 1003

          DETROIT LAKES, MN  56502

• SAVE YOUR CANCELLED CHECK IF YOU ITEMIZE YOUR CHARITABLE DEDUCTIONS, YOU SHOULD ALSO RECEIVE A THANK YOU LETTER FROM THE BECKER COUNTY FOOD PANTRY FOR YOUR TAX PURPOSES.

• THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR THINKING OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE.

WARM REGARDS.

MIKE BECRAFT, PRESIDENT

LAKES MELISSA AND SALLIE ASSOCIATION

14 JULY 2021

Dear Friends,

          I want to take an opportunity to update you on some things that came up at the Annual Meeting in June and to address some new issues that have come up since then.

1.  First I want to apologize for not listing one of our members and neighbors who passed away this past year.  Gary and Zo Karlstad reminded us of the passing of David Ramsett a long time neighbor of theirs on Fern Beach after a long battle with cancer.  David passed away in February of this year.  Our condolences go out to his wife Maureen.
2. I have received many emails and calls about the condition of the DNR Launch Site on Lake Sallie.  We know that lake levels are down around a foot in just about all the lakes in our region because of the drought and evaporation.  The big problem at the Sallie Launch Site is the boat owners who “Power Load” their boats onto their trailers when they take them out.  This process creates sink holes for trailers but more importantly the prop wash create mounds of gravel and sand behind the sinkholes thus denying other boats from launching altogether or causing damage to their props.  This is a recurring problem year after year.  I have contacted Dave Schotzko, Regional Director for Parks and Trails for the DNR in Bemidji, Dave also has responsibility for Launch Sites.  Dave has always supported my requests for help each year.  We talked last Friday, again on Monday and Tuesday, and Tuesday he had a heavy equipment team on site who dug out the mounds and restored the launch site.  This problem will continue to exist until they can control the power launching.  The drought is not helping and this issue is across the Northwest region of Minnesota, we are not the only ones with this problem.  I want to thank Dave for his continued great support for the Lakes Melissa and Sallie Association.
3. The following comes from Sandi Gruhot one of our fine Beach Captains.  Sandi did some follow up to a few things going on at the lake and wanted to share with us in case others may be asking:  A.) Low flying airplanes over the lake, the DL airport says it is not flying from here, they speculate it is flying from another close airport.  It is illegal to fly close over the top of water or houses.  If anyone can get the tail number of the plane you are encouraged to call the FAA in Fargo.  B.) The super thick green “muck” that was floating in right before the 4th was an algae, but not the dangerous blue green algae.  If you are interested in learning more, you may go to https://.www.pica.state.man.us/water/blue-green-algae-and-harmful-algal-blooms.  C.) The Pelican River Watershed District is finding lots of sticks, rocks, and junk in their weed pick up.  As you know Tera Guetter briefed us at the Annual Meeting they will not pick it up if the weeds have sticks and junk in it.  Thank you Sandi for these suggestions.
4. Bev Hefte has some suggestions for watering care of our lawns.  Bev remembers the time White Bear Lake was at its lowest level and the purported reason was residential watering.  Some considerations during these extremely hot days and periods of drought are as follow.  DONT water in the heat of the day, watering at that time encounters a significant evaporation.  Early morning is the best time to water lawns, before 10 am.  (This is Mike Becraft’s experience, Rainman maintains our sprinkler system, they set run time to 20 minutes max per area, starting at 7 am three days a week.). Bev continues with sharpen your blades.  Dull blades tear grass, which stresses it and forces it to use 40% to 60% more water.  Leave your grass longer than you would normally, this establishes deeper roots.  Finally she suggests leaving the clippings on the lawn to help slow evaporation and allow the grass to retain more moisture.  Use this info as you see fit.  Consult an expert if you have concerns.

5.  Lastly, this issue came up at the Annual Meeting from several people and was a very emotional issue.  The Lakes Melissa and Sallie Association has made it policy not to get involved in neighbor disputes, we defer to the individuals involved, their lawyers, the Township, the County, the State, and Law Enforcement if required.  But the issue of these large tent covers for boats and pontoons is becoming a concern.  People who have owned homes on the lake for many, many years and have enjoyed the views are now facing restricted views by their neighbors placement of the lifts and these large tent covers right on the property line.  There is no clear guidance from the State nor the County on this issue.  Another complaint is that people are putting their docks out on a diagonal and crossing in front of their neighbor’s property.  Now this issue is a bit more debatable given that all I have researched says the property line extends into the bed of the lake.  Clearly we would hope that neighbors would take their neighbor’s concerns/views into consideration when placing your docks, lifts, and water equipment.  We all want to enjoy the lake and build great memories for our families.  Please give these concerns consideration, my experience has been most neighbors want to have a good experience with their neighbors.

6.  Enjoy your Summer and pray for rain, lots of rain.

Warm Regards,

Mike Becraft

President

Lake area residents experienced a special treat this Fourth of July.
Two F-16s flew over The Lakes area at 11:30 AM on July 4 kicking off the Melissa and Sallie Lakes Association boat parades. These fighter jets were piloted by Lt. Col. Scott Meyer and Capt. Jake Brenholdt from the 148th Fighter Wing, MN Air National Guard in Duluth. Part of this commemorative flyover was to serve as a memorial for a fellow pilot, Capt. Eric Ziegler, (a Fargo native), whose family created a military family retreat on Holbrook Lake just a few miles south of Lake Melissa. This retreat was created to serve as a respite for surviving families of military heroes. The Meyer family has lived on Fern Beach, Lake Melissa, since grandparents Butch and Shirley Meyer purchased a cabin in 1970. Their sons Jeff and Bruce Meyer have homes on Fern Beach now.  Bruce’s son, Scott, has followed in his father’s footsteps.  Both Bruce and Scott attended the Air Force Academy. They also pursued careers as Air Force pilots, and then as pilots for Delta Airlines.    A special thanks to these pilots for giving the area lakes people an emotional 4th of July tribute.