To: All Interested Persons
From: Bob Nielsen, President
Lake Lida Property Owners Association

Re: Benefits of membership to LLPOA

This is in reference to numerous requests to get a summary of some of the projects that member “dues” support. I am pleased to respond to these requests, as it gives me a chance to inform others of the work we are doing to improve an already excellent lake and watershed. The work being done is to be credited to the dedication of a few active volunteers who serve LLPOA in various capacities. Hundreds of hours are given to the association every year by these individuals in order to continue to sustain the water quality and the beautiful watershed of the two Lida Lakes.

I. Water Quality and Clarity
We take monthly Lida (North & South) water samples that are tested and recorded in the Otter Tail County Lakes Association (COLA) annual book. This has an annual fee (for testing) at about $400.00. Lida currently has excellent water quality, and we are continuing to work on projects that will insure the quality for years to come.
A lake management plan is currently underway and a consultant has been hired for $4,000.00 over a two-year period. A grant in 2002 supplied funds for an initial “watershed mapping” project so we know what we are looking at. (See V. below)

II. COLA meetings
Currently, Gerry Langseth, a member of the LLPOA Executive Board attends monthly COLA meetings. Information gained from these meetings is very valuable in lake management and in seeing what is happening on other lakes in the county. COLA membership fee is established by lake membership. Lake Lida membership is approximately $380.00 each year.

III. Walleye Stocking
In past years we have supported the 6000 6-10 inch walleyes that are stocked into the lake every year. We have contributed about $500.00 each year for this project. Currently, we are working together with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to coordinate stocking efforts in order to stock additional walleyes only on years that the natural hatch has been poor. The DNR suggests that this will be a far better use of additional “private” stocking efforts.

IV. 5th grade Lakes Ecology Project
We contributed to an education project for a curriculum involving lakes ecology for the 5th graders in Pelican Rapids. The one time cost of $200.00 was paid in 2002. Additional money was supplied by a grant that made it possible to purchase curriculum materials and textbooks for this unit. This ecology unit has been taught each year since its initial funding.

V. Lida Lakes Watershed Mapping Project
In 2002 we wrote a grant that was successfully funded for GIS mapping of the Lida Lakes. We have some cost from the Association but it is minimum in comparison to the grant that was awarded. The results of this project have formed a foundation for current and future lake improvement projects such as the development of a Lake Management Plan (currently in process). Future projects are anticipated to be funded by grants also, but matching money from the Association is necessary in order to be eligible for the grants.

Other:

I. Annual Meeting
This year’s Annual Membership Meeting was held at the Pelican Rapids Fine Arts Auditorium on June 23rd. Expenses involve; mailing notices, paying guest speakers, renting auditorium meeting space, and other miscellaneous costs totaling about $350.00 each year.

II. Lake Lida Directory
This is an expensive project and needs to be updated approximately every three or four years. Selling advertisements covers much of the cost, but anything over what is brought in by this means needs to be picked up by the LLPOA. The Directory last year was a fairly expensive venture, but it is a very accurate and high quality directory. A second printing of this is expected in the spring of 2005, and the cost will be approximately $1000.00. This cost would have to come from Association dues.

III. Misc.
There are always unanticipated costs therefore money in the bank is a necessity. All of the above items are accomplished by a great deal of volunteer time, and the dues do not pay any labor costs. For an annual fee of $20.00, property owners on Lake Lida are really getting a great “bang–for-their-buck”.

Current dues are $20.00/year.

.(this page updated 9/3/2004)