CLLAA 2022 End of Year Update

As the last of the docks and boats come off the lake for another year, the lake association board (CLLAA)
would like to take a few moments of your time to thank you for your ongoing support and reflect back on some of the association’s 2022 activities.

Maintaining the ongoing health of the water and shoreline of Long Lake is the primary reason for the association’s existence. With the cooperation and support of the association members we are able to maintain this small lake gem and still enjoy the many recreational activities as the shoreline continues to develop and we welcome new homeowners to the lake.

Crystal clear water with natural areas along the shoreline makes Long Lake a northern Michigan treasure.  We are fortunate to have this natural resource  where property owners have shown a mutual respect for keeping the lake environment a great place to swim, fish, jet ski, kayak, paddleboard, relax, kickback and enjoy the simplicity of relaxed lake living. It is up to all of us to ensure this continues to be the norm at Long Lake and we are all good stewards of making this a continued way of life at the lake

One of the key drivers for the association leadership is receiving ideas and member concerns from around the lake. Please don’t hesitate to contact any CLLAA board member to discuss any questions/concerns you have. Your input helps the board focus, discuss, and prioritize the direction of the association.

Listed below are some of the areas that the association focused on in 2022:

  • CLLAA membership increased from approximately 100 members to 125
  • Purchased a large marker buoy for the submersed big rock off the middle point and additional marker buoys for pre marking invasive milfoil locations on the lake – the association is also investigating the use of a handheld GPS marking system to also mark these locations
  • Both Progressive AE (an outside biology company managing the milfoil process) and PLM (the company treating/dispersing chemicals to kill milfoil) have indicated that the CLLAA “buoy marking” process greatly enhances their efforts on the lake especially with varying weather conditions. Big thanks go to Jeff Ehlers and Dave Brodstein for their time !!!
  • CLLAA and ProgressiveAE have agreed to meet in advance of the 2023 milfoil treatment season to discuss next year’s plans for treating and surveying Long Lake for milfoil
  • Invasive milfoil was treated twice in 2022 (July & Sept) and met the annual financial budget targets between Aloha Township and ProgressiveAE (funding via Special Assessment)
  • Met with Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians who conducted a late October walleye survey. The goal was to observe how recently planted young walleyes were doing. They were pleased with the numbers they observed and also noted there was a good group of multiple class (varying sizes) walleyes. The same tribal biologists conducted a 2022 spring 5 day survey and presented their findings at the 2022 CLLAA annual meeting.
  • Ron Leng (active CLLAA member) coordinated specific site visits with Tip of the Mitt for two properties on the lake in August. These were follow up visits from the shoreline assessments that Tip of The Mitt conducted in 2021. These findings were presented at the 2022 CLLAA annual meeting. (We hope Ron is able to persuade Tip of the Mitt to return in 2023 for another round of expanded specific site visits)
  • These sessions resulted in Dan& Patrice Whiting (also CLLAA members) establishing a contact with Sprays Nursery in Cheboygan for CLLAA members to special order native plants and receive guidance/advice from the nursery owner. We will attempt to see if representatives from Sprays can give a brief update on ordering native plants at our next annual meeting
  • CLLAA leadership encouraged Tip of the Mitt to create and coordinate a directory of contacts for other northern Michigan lake associations. Several members of the CLLAA board agreed to provide contact information to share and exchange ideas and experiences with other lake associations in northern Michigan.
  • After an association member raised the question at the 2021 CLLAA annual meeting the association investigated and purchased liability insurance in 2022 for the CLLAA board. (CLLAA leadership discussed liability insurance with both the Black Lake and Burt Lake associations)
  • Camp Walden and the Flat Rock Marching Band conducted the 2nd annual August “concert on the beach”. Both the band and camp have agreed to make this an annual event and will try and expand the format for 2023.
  • Use of direct emails to CLLAA members was established in 2022 to try and improve communication updates. In addition Dan Whiting has agreed to monitor the Long Lake Facebook page and update this page with relevant CLLAA information
  • Printed and disbursed two brochures from Michigan Lakes and Stream Association related to Michigan Boating Rules and property owners Riparian Rights
  • CLLAA is trying to establish a winter meeting with Michigan DNR biologists to discuss the status of fishing at Long Lake.

It takes all of us in the association to help keep the Long Lake environment as valuable and enjoyable as it has always been. Please feel free to contact me (Jeff Sherman) if you have ideas or questions about how the association works and I’ll be glad to meet with you (231-818-9825 or jeff.sherman30@yahoo.com)

 

Finally, if you haven’t done so already, please don’t forget to send your $20 membership dues to:

Barb Hall
5104 Paradise Trail
Cheboygan, MI 49721

Thank You from the CLLAA Board

Jeff Sherman     David Brodstein     Barb Hall       Fred Schramm
Jeff Ehlers          Chuck Maziasz       Ed DeLana    Chris Casari
Dan Whiting      Roy Van Vliet         Bob Armstrong

(Since it is the gift giving season, if you need last minute gift ideas, Dars Hallmark in Cheboygan carries some unique Long Lake logo gifts)