Hot Fun in the Summer Sun
“End of the spring
And here she comes back
Hi, hi, hi, hi there
Them summer days
Those summer days…”
As Sly and the Family Stone so memorably sang in 1969, our dedicated team of conservation-loving neighbors recently shared hot fun - in abundance - under the Square Lake sun, protecting and preserving the pristine waters we hold so dear.
Sporting matching leopard waders, Square Lake Association’s (SLA) Board members and Curly-leaf Pondweed (CLP) Team co-leaders Alicia Blanchard and Ann Brookman arrived in style at sunrise, fully prepared to battle Square Lake’s only Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) intrusion to date.
As part of SLA’s ongoing Lake Vegetation Management Plan(LVMP) initiative, Environmental Scientist and LVMP consultant Jimmy Marty, teamed up with Alicia, Ann, and Dave Brookman, to train and clear CLP from the west shoreline shallow areas, at the optimal moment in CLP’s Spring growth cycle. They tested various pulling methods to maximize their success in removing the roots along with the plants. For deeper water, Jimmy developed and demonstrated a creative CLP twisting technique that was nicknamed the Spaghetti Twist.
A greatly appreciated outcome of Team CLP’s early morning “clean sweep” included a group of caring neighbors who observed the effort and were motivated to get involved. For example, Annette Glamos learned the CLP identification and pulling technique. Lee Haugen reported that he hand-pulled CLP around his property. Further training was commendably requested by Stan and Beth Hollen, George Mills, and Barclay Woodbury to learn CLP identification and removal best-practices. Ann and Dave will be conducting this training soon, so if there are other property owners who want to join in, please contact Ann or Alicia to share in the fun.
Collectively, CLP Team volunteers invested over 25 total hours - and removed 20 heavy bags of CLP! Jimmy Marty was notably impressed with the results of SLA’s first official hand-pulling initiative, complimenting all CLP Team volunteers for a very satisfying, first-of-its kind learning experience – with special praise of Ann, Alicia, and Dave’s project leadership.
Dave Brookman also reported that he placed Zebra Mussel samplers successfully under designated docks, as planned, to continue monitoring this invasive species throughout the 2026 season.
Dave’s inspiring project debrief below is shared to further inform SLA members, neighbors, and strategic allies of our Board’s ongoing AIS management initiatives on Square Lake. As you will read, the feedback received is inspiring, and praiseful, of the AIS best practices that SLA volunteers are successfully advancing.
It Takes a Village
My wife and I have had the privilege of living on Square Lake for the past ten years. We love living here and are incredibly thankful we have a strong Square Lake Association dedicated to keeping our lake pristine.
Over the past decade, discussions regarding Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) have steadily moved up the agenda at our annual Square Lake Association meetings. Two years ago, it became the top priority for lake homeowners.
What I truly appreciate about the SLA Board is their unwavering commitment to protecting and preserving our lake. I have watched the Board’s perspective shift from a localized, "we can do it all by ourselves" mindset to a broader understanding that "it takes a village" to truly protect our pristine waters, as well as the surrounding lakes and rivers. While some Boards are content to sit back and dictate policy, the SLA Board members truly get their hands dirty—or, so to speak, "get in the weeds."
Our President, Jim Seidl, along with Vice President, Jane Krentz, have built strong relationships with Washington Conservation District, the DNR, May Township, Minnesota Lakes & Rivers, and Carnelian Marine St Croix (CMSCWD) leaders Mike Isensee and Tom Langer. Because of these alliances, we are learning from one another and collaborating in the fight against AIS.
Managing an invasive plant called Curly-Leaf Pondweed (CLP).
CLP covers about 3 acres on the west side of the lake.
CLP forms thick, matted beds. It makes it incredibly difficult to navigate a boat, swim, or fish. It completely ruins the lake experience.
Last year, after the Board implemented a highly praised Lake Vegetation Management Plan to address Curly-Leaf Pondweed, Board members Alicia Blanchard and Ann Brookman volunteered to co-lead our first hand-pulling efforts on Square Lake. They assembled a small team of lake owners to work alongside Jimmy Marty, an environmental scientist and lake specialist with Emmons & Olivier Resources. Outfitted in matching leopard-skin waders, our co-leaders orchestrated a fantastic two-day shallow-water learning experience on the west end of the lake. Guided by the CLP GPS locations Jimmy identified, our volunteers logged 25 hours of hand-pulling and collected 20 large bags of CLP.
Who would have guessed that pulling weeds could be so much fun? It was an excellent learning experience for everyone involved. We tested various techniques to maximize our success in removing the roots along with the plants.
Board member Lynn Mecum took the lead on Water Steward and Shoreland Preservation several years ago. She has been working tirelessly to protect our water quality by helping neighbors create vegetative buffer zones on their properties, offering personal guidance on what individual lake owners can and should do.
Monitoring Square Lake’s High Risk of Zebra Mussel Invasion.
The active involvement of the SLA Board has inspired lake owners like me to step up. Two years ago, after hearing about the mounting concerns regarding Zebra Mussels invading nearby waters, I began doing my own research on these nasty little devils that ruin boat motors, cling to docks/lifts, disrupt the fish population, and cut your feet on the shoreline. Several neighboring lakes are already infested, so the risk to Square Lake is very high. As many of you know, they enter lakes by attaching to boats or hiding inside live wells.
“Thank you so much for your commenting, and input about the partnerships and efforts of all - but especially the SLA and its residents. These are great insights and success.”
-Tom Langer, Senior Riparian Specialist, Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District
“This is all so wonderful Jim…Lake Associations definitely need to connect with and support their local WD, SWCD and County Resource managers. Developing good relationship and providing public support for these local governmental units is a good use of power.”
-Jeff Forester, Executive Director, MN Lakes and Rivers Advocates
“Quite a story here, Jim. Value-pressure on lake property continues unabated as people search for their final retirement home “resting place“ up north. Those already in place are lucky. Cabin values will continue to rise, almost unbated. As will various building additions and amenities surrounding water usage.”
-Dick Weber, Big Pine Lake Property Owners Association (BPLPOA)
“Those are great stories Jim. Mike Isensee shared the Curly-leaf Pondweed pulling story at the CMSCWD board meeting. It’s great to hear about these water resource successes during our meetings. Thanks for sharing!”
-Fred Rozumalski, CMSCWD Board of Managers
I noticed that most conversations focused strictly on prevention. Very little was being said about early detection until I found information on the DNR website. Realizing its importance, I put together a Zebra Mussel Early Detection Plan and proposed it to the SLA Board. We are now in our second summer of placing samplers under docks around Square Lake. Last year, I volunteered to place and monitor Zebra Mussel traps under ten docks around the lake. I check them out monthly. The goal is simple: if they ever enter our Lake, we want to identify them immediately, so we have a fighting chance to control or eliminate them once they’re in the lake.
We are also expanding our "village”. Two years ago, the Golden Acres Trailer/Camper Park located on the east end of the lake was sold to new owners. Initially, the Board was concerned about rumors of facility expansions and outdated septic systems. Instead of retreating, the Board proactively built a relationship with the new owner and educated him on our mission. Fast forward to last weekend: the SLA Board hosted a summer picnic for both permanent lake homeowners and seasonal Golden Acres residents.
It was a wonderful opportunity to build new friendships, but more importantly, it allowed us to secure community buy-in for our preservation efforts. The Board asked me to speak about our CLP and Zebra Mussel strategies, and it was heartwarming to see the genuine interest and commitment from the Golden Acres Park community. As the owner of Golden Acres told me, “Without a beautiful lake, I have no business." I am proud to announce that thanks to Golden Acres President Mike McGoldrick, we have placed a Zebra Mussel sampler trap under a dock at Golden Acres, recognizing how important it is that we have a trap close to the boat ramp and the outlet on the Lake.
As a homeowner on Square Lake, I have come to learn that it truly takes a village to Protect & Preserve the amazing lakes and rivers we all share. - Dave Brookman.
On behalf of your Square Lake Association Board, thanks to all for your Protect & Preserve creativity, commitment and care! In celebration of our Square Lake summer, we’re once again reminded of Sly Stone’s joyful message:
“Hot fun in the summertime (hey, hey, hey, ooh)
Hot fun in the summertime (ooh, yeah)
Hot fun in the summertime.”
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Submitted by Jim Seidl & Angel Samolytz
June 19, 2026