Square Lake’s 2023 AIS Inspection Program

Congratulations to Administrator Mike Isensee, Riparian Permit Specialist Tom Langer, and their Carnelian Marine St Croix Watershed District (CMSCWD) team for receiving the 2023 Watershed District of the Year award from the Minnesota DNR: Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District recognized as 2023 Watershed District of the Year.

The lakes, rivers, woodlands, wildlife, and watersheds surrounding Square Lake and Wilder Forest have greatly benefited by our shared Protect & Preserve commitment and care.

On behalf of our SLA Board of Directors, our collective thanks for everything Mike, Tom, and their CMSCWD team are doing to make our Square Lake world a better, more beautiful, and better protected place.

Mike recently wrote, “We greatly appreciate the ongoing partnership with the Square Lake Association to increase ramp inspections as part of the Washington County AIS Prevention Program. Thanks to our partnerships, the CMSCWD contributed an additional $33,000 to inspections of public accesses within the watershed, including the access on Square Lake. I recommended this “Our Lakeshore Connection” video be added to your Square Lake AIS reference materials.

And a continual reminder for all Square Lake Shoreland Owners: The Washington Conservation District has highly qualified and experienced Landscape Architects and Landscape Designers who are available for FREE to help shoreland landowner develop plans and identify cost share to install projects that treat stormwater and/or improve shoreland health.  It would be great if more landowners would take advantage of this unique service and opportunity.”

Importantly, here is the AIS Inspections Summary Points for 2023 shared by CMSCWD and Washington Conservation District (WCD): AIS Inspection Summary Points – 2023

According to WCD’s AIS Program Coordinator Matt Oldenburg-Downing: “Results for Square Lake were very good this year, including: 

• 2 incoming plug violations.

• 4 incoming plant/animal/water violations.

• 3 plant violations.

• 1 labeled as “mud”.

We have seen a downward trend in violations, indicating our efforts on education and enforcement are having a positive impact.”

For additional background, here’s a DNR article with “boat plug violation” information (see #2 DRAIN “Q&A - Boat draining, drain plugs, and bait container draining” link): https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/preventspread_watercraft.html.

Matt recently confirmed that 408 hours of AIS boat inspections were incurred on Square Lake from May 20 through Labor Day, 2023 – for which SLA contributed $3000, with a matching grant from CMSCWD.

Attached is the position description and the Job posting location, for AIS Water Inspectors, for those of you who may have family members seeking summer employment: http://www.mnwcd.org/employment-opportunities.

Please contact Jim Seidl (jim.seidl@legalresearch.com) with further questions about our continuously improving AIS Inspection Program on Square Lake.