Lake Service Providers: Planning Ahead
Protect & Preserve Square Lake from AIS Infestation
November 27 2024
We recently shared a collective sigh of relief, having finished the job of hauling out our boats, docks and boat lifts, and packing away the paddleboards, floats and life jackets for the season. But it’s not too soon to look ahead to 2025, and start planning for next spring’s dock/lift installation.
Planning ahead is mission critical for all of us - in light of new information shared below about the high risk to our precious lake of hiring Lake Service Providers (LSP) who do not follow AIS management best practices.
Why should you read this Post?
Very simply, to help us avoid this dreadful message: ZM Violation Big Marine Park – 7/23.
According to Matt Oldenburg-Downing, AIS Program Coordinator, Washington Conservation District:
In 2024, we confirmed Zebra Mussel infestation in Big Carnelian, Clear and Long Lakes. All of these infestations are likely 2-3 years old, and none were discovered at a public access. In fact, Long Lake does not have a public access.
The best theory that we have for this sudden Zebra Mussel uptick is COVID fallout. During lockdown we know that there was a huge boom of sales of water related equipment. These purchases likely resulted in the movement of used equipment making way for new, as well as increased traffic of LSP’s.
The last confirmed ZM violation that our program has detected was by a LSP (see attached). The summary written by the inspector speaks to your point of not all LSP’s are created equal.
How have we gathered this information for you?
Jim Seidl, Lynn Mecum, and I have recently participated in a series of informative meetings with leaders of the Washington Conservation District and the Carnelian Marine St Croix Watershed District. We discussed many important strategies to help prevent AIS from infesting Square Lake, but there is at least one that delivered a gut punch:
The dock installation removal companies that many homeowners are hiring have been identified as a major source of AIS contamination, and are likely responsible for the Zebra Mussel infestation in Lake Carnelian, Long Lake, and Big Marine.
In response, Lynn Mecum has conducted significant research to source and screen companies that follow the DNR established Lake Service Provider protocol, as recommended below.
Why is Lynn’s research important for Square Lake homeowners?
Very simply:
Engaging a Lake Service Provider who diligently follows DNR regulations will help us collaboratively Protect & Preserve the lake we love.
The two Lake Service Providers who have passed Lynn’s screening criteria, as further explained below, are highly motivated to work with multiple Square Lake homeowners, and will provide pricing discounts if we coordinate their Spring and Fall engagement.
In short, it will be more cost effective and efficient to coordinate this engagement process, for those of you who use these services.
Thanks to Lynn’s due diligence screening of numerous Lake Service Providers over the past two months, we can confidently recommend two Lake Service Providers who do not use barges (a proven causal agent of AIS intrusion) – and apply AIS management best practices in accordance with DNR regulations for reducing the risk of AIS introduction.
Going forward, the following two best-in-class Lake Service Providers are willing to provide dock/lift services to multiple homeowners in one day. Spring and Fall are extremely busy months for both providers - so we recommend contacting either or both providers well in advance, using two different methods for fastest reply (ie, cell phone and email). Please include Square Lake in your request, and be patient for a reply.
Sunset Marine and Services LLC
Sunset Marine will apply AIS management best practices by removing docks and lifts by hand on Square Lake. Contact them with questions, your choice of days or other days that fit your schedule. In the words of Sunset’s owner:
“We prioritize not just efficient service, but also environmental responsibility. Proper removal of docks and lifts is crucial in preventing the spread of invasive species and harmful bacteria that can threaten our local ecosystems. By choosing us, you’re ensuring that our equipment is cleaned thoroughly before taking your docks and lifts out of the water, helping to protect the natural beauty of our lakes.
Our experienced team uses best practices and specialized equipment to guarantee a safe and thorough removal process. To ensure clean equipment while installing and removing docks and lifts from lakes, we follow these steps:Educate staff on the importance of preventing the spread of invasive species.
Pressure washing to clean equipment and tools before and after the operation.
Spray waders before and after.
Only focus on one lake per day, preventing any extra risk of contamination.
Here are a few names that we already service on your lake: Allie & Robbie Pohlad, Jim & Donna Pohlad, John Rickey, Lynn and John Mecum.
Let’s work together to keep our lakes healthy and beautiful! I’d love to discuss pricing, as well as the dates you'd like us to come out. We’re committed to providing exceptional service, and we take pride in safeguarding our environment while keeping your property pristine.“
Dallas Carpenter
Sunset Marine and Services LLC
715-494-1383
sunset_marine@yahoo.com
2. Complete Cabin Care
Don and Joanne Josephson have utilized Complete Cabin Care for 4+ years and are very pleased with their service quality and value. They are an insured and certified Lake Service Provider for dock/lift installation and removal. They carefully inspect and remove any plants from their equipment and rinse after use.
Office: 320-237-3496
Cell: 763-898-0474
Lynn will continue to research other possible providers, and we also plan to work with Washington County to:
Include a more stringent requirement for Lake Service Providers in their legislative platform (at the state level).
Define, advocate, and adopt more stringent and enforceable standards for all Washington County Lake Service Providers.
What to do if you’re using a different Lake Service Provider?
Please ask:
What is their procedure to decontaminate their equipment?
Which lakes do they service? (FYI- Zebra mussels and other AIS are found in Bone Lake, Forest Lake, White Bear Lake, Lake Carnelian and the St. Croix River and the list grows every year).
How long do they “dry out” the equipment between jobs?
Have they have completed the DNR certification process?
Most importantly, please avoid choosing “a guy with a trailer who will give you a good deal. ”
Many companies claim to have the "DNR certification", but are clueless about what they actually need to do to comply with the DNR regulations.
The certificate alone is insufficient. We intend to pursue legislation to strengthen those criteria so they could actually be helpful in rewarding companies that do the right thing, and helping lake residents make more informed choices.
If you know of a Lake Service Provider that doesn't hop between infested and clean lakes, that properly washes/decontaminates their equipment with hot water, and dries out their equipment, etc. please let us know.
Spring Meeting
We plan to host a Square Lake Association Informational Meeting in early April to further inform you of our AIS best practice recommendations, but in the interim, we are eager to put this on your radar, and inform you of our research, so we can avoid unintentional introduction of Aquatic Invasive Species into the lake we all treasure.
Let’s ALL do what we can to Protect & Preserve the lake we love.
Thank you!
Jane Krentz
SLA Vice President and Square Lake resident for nearly 5 decades