A note to our website visitors, notice that everything we do is somehow related to improving the water quality of our lakes.

• Testing water on over 30 lakes lets us see trends in water quality.
• Restoring lakeshore with native plants keeps phosphorus and sediment out of the water. Less algae, more fish 
• Working with upstream farmers as we look at all sources of water flowing into the lake; so the  Harvest Dinner
  
• Inspecting boats for invasive species in order to keep the natural balance of the lakes.
• Working for shoreline policies that permit only shoreline uses and activities that result in clean water.
  
• Maintaining focus on the two most important issues:  water quality and invasive species.

May 1, 2012   WAPOA Spring 2012 Newsletter  CLICK HERE

March 20, 2012    DNR/WAPOA create walleye spawning bed in Hay creek   CLICK HERE 

April 11, 2012        Spring is here, fish-stripping starts on Whitefish, ARTICLE VIDEO CLICK HERE

WAPOA Annual Meeting and free breakfast--Everyone welcome--Sat. June 9th   CLICK HERE

Darby Nelson, Scientist, PhD in Aquatic Biology

A dynamic speaker who describes the wonder of our lakes.

Then he tackles this paradox: that as we think and say we love the lakes, we are at the same time causing them considerable harm.

Enter WAPOA's Annual Shoreline Restoration Contest--June 6th and 20th, 2012   CLICK HERE

Register for WAPOA's Grandpa's Run for the Walleye--July 7, 2012  CLICK HERE

Pine River Watershed Alliance (PRWA) Annual Meeting--July 15, 2012 CLICK HERE

Current News Items and Hot Topics 

  Just in, May 4, 2012 Governor signs new invasive species bill, many changes, dock quarantine periods, increased fines, "new" invasive species sticker no longer required......more

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DNR aggressively takes invasive species fight to new level 

Enforcement rather than warnings for 2012

• fines and citations for traveling on highway with vegetation, zebra mussels, drain plug in, bait with water from previous lake
• mandatory road checks trailered boats diverted to roadside check area for inspection by enforcement officer 
• 150 more access inspectors 
• mandatory training, tests, certification for lake service providers

       →All information above covered in a "must read" Star Tribune article........ 

        →DNR video shows what you have to do to pass their boat inspection......

        How WAPOA is fighting AIS   

        a quick overview of WAPOA activities.....

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Do I have any responsibility for invasive species?

Ten things you can do to prevent invasive species  CLICK HERE

Score yourself, do you know at least 7 of these 10 action steps?

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 NEW LAW REQUIRES TEST/CERTIFICATION OF DOCK INSTALLERS

2012 Lake Service Provider Class Schedule    CLICK HERE

Lakeshore owners: dock installers and other waterfront workers are required to take this class and pass a test to be certified. They must have in their possesion evidence of having passed the test.

Permitted Lake Service Providers list  CLICK HERE

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Is your dock installer on this list? You must scroll almost all the way to bottom of the DNR page that appears to get the list! 

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 DEALING WITH ZEBRA MUSSELS

VIDEO OF THE WEEK:  The "right" way to clean a personal watercraft   CLICK HERE

December 1, 2011  DNR investigating zebra mussel found in Pelican lake    CLICK HERE

October 19, 2011  Crow Wing county lake newly infested, see new DNR list  CLICK HERE 

October 11, 2011  New Risk: Buy used waterfront equipment, get zebra mussels as part of bargain, DNR alert recommends thorough wash and drying period CLICK HERE

September 22, 2011 "Shocking" spread of zebra mussels in one year on Gull Lake. pineandlakes.com article by Nancy Vogt  CLICK HERE

Research scientist speaks at WAPOA meeting held September 13 -- Zebra Mussel Control Research--- 100 chairs set up, more have to be added as audience extends into next room  CLICK HERE

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Award for Jack and Judy Wallschlaeger,  WAPOA volunteers  CLICK HERE 

May 25, 2011 WAPOA's invasive species efforts, article by WAPOA's Marv Erdman    CLICK HERE 

May 30, 2011 New invasive species law--draining bait buckets  CLICK HERE 

 

June 1, 2011 MN DNR summary of new invasive species laws  CLICK HERE

  

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SHORELINE RESTORATION

 

Restore your shoreline, the benefit is better lake water. Imagine colorful flowers and plants beautifying your lakeshore.   

 

You can do it!   CLICK HERE

Restore Your Shore is a powerful multimedia program for shoreland owners and professionals to use in implementing shoreland restoration and protection projects.

Photo courtesy Minnesota DNR

 

 

 

 

Enter WAPOA's 2012 Shoreland Restoration Contest   CLICK HERE

Preliminary meeting June 6, 2012  Contest June 20, 2012

 

10 tips for improving your shoreline CLICK HERE  

 

 

 Restoration of Rollie Johnson Natural Area's Big island  CLICK HERE   

 Fixing this eroding sand bank will improve water quality and the fishery.

 

This was all bare eroding sand before.

Photo taken about 8 weeks after planting.

 

 

 

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  Invasive zebra mussels in nearby Gull Lake

 

Nature's glue machines, they stick to everything 

Found by trained waterfront installer

No practical method  to eliminate from lake

DNR inspection highlights new reality CLICK HERE

photo Amy Benson, USGS, Bugwood.org 

 

 

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Latest WAPOA invasive species survey  CLICK HERE

The above survey is current until midsummer 2012 when the next survey will be taken..

 

 

 

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Maps Maps Maps

 

2012 Invasive plant survey sites map.

A map of where WAPOA will look in 2012 for invasive plants. Looking before they become entrenched. Who knew they checked so many places?  CLICK HERE

 

 

 

New 2012 water quality map. WAPOA measures water quality on many area lakes. See how your lake is doing. CLICK HERE

 

 

Where does the MN DNR stock fish on the chain?

Map shows location and amount CLICK HERE  

 

 

 

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A "MUST READ"

”Losing Our Lakes"  a three part series from the Star Tribune. This must-read series includes thought provoking observations from local DNR Conservation Officer Cary Shoutz. Additional county and citizen comments.  CLICK HERE

 

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Run for the Walleye July 7, 2012 fun family run/walk, raises money for walleye habitat, electronic chip timing on a certified course, event photos  CLICK HERE       
 Register here  CLICK HERE

Below, topics covered in the recent past

• Firewood placed on islands for summer campers  February 2012  CLICK HERE

• Men fall through ice, rescued by Hovercraft   December 2011  CLICK HERE

• WAPOA Annual Planning meeting November 2011 CLICK HERE

• Minnesota Supreme Court toughens variance standard  CLICK HERE

• Third Annual Harvest Dinner August 27, 2011 CLICK HERE

• WAPOA Shoreline Restoration Contest winners  CLICK HERE

• WAPOA educating boaters at Antique Boat show CLICK HERE

• $105,000 Grant Awarded to PRWA.   WAPOA is helping sponsor this valuable water quality project CLICK HERE  

•  Not a secret, but little known to most, how does WAPOA raise funds for big conservation projects? CLICK HERE 
  

• Lakes pressured by increasing population, help from land-use ordinances   CLICK HERE  
  

• Brainerd Dispatch on new land use ordinance March 23, 2011 CLICK HERE

•  WAPOA President Dave Fischer on new land use ordinance  CLICK HERE

• WAPOA Awarded state wide conservation awardCLICK HERE

   

  
  Bill Hudson of WCCO-TV at WAPOA April 2011 Board meeting to do story about DNR fish stocking. Ed Egan of WAPOA is in close contact with these activities.

   

  CLICK HERE

   

  WAPOA MISSION STATEMENT

  The mission of the Whitefish Area Property Owners Association is to promote environmental stewardship through out the Whitefish area and the Pine River Watershed.

  The membership shall work with area environmental groups, lake and resort associations, agencies and units of local government to preserve and improve the quality of our water, land, air, aesthetics, wildlife and other natural resources for present and future generations.