Planning Beach Work or a Landscaping Project near your shore line or bank? Contact Douglas County Land and Resource Management at 320- 762-3863 to ensure that your project is in compliance with county regulations. In the City of Alexandria 320-763-6678. Though major projects may require a conditional use permit, the departments will issue permits for smaller projects.
If you fertilize your lawn please use non-phosphorous fertilizer. It also helps to stay back away from the water’s edge in applying it. Fertilizers cause unwanted lake weed growth.
LCAA is monitoring water depth and navigability in the Carlos/Le Homme Dieu and Carlos/Darling channels. The channels have not been dredged for many years and with lower water levels, we anticipate boat navigation problems necessitating dredging.
The lake associations for Le Homme Dieu and Darling are also interested in channel dredging. We hope that the three lake associations will work together with Douglas County Public Works to help coordinate channel dredging this season. You may contact Public Works to show your support for the project. This will be an expensive project. You can help: we would be very grateful if you could please make a contribution in addition to your dues to help us pay these costs.
For the most part, Lake Carlos has been spared any major infestation of tent caterpillars for the last couple of years. If a major infestation occurs, neighborhood groups will join together to arrange for aerial spraying. Ground surface-level spraying is also available through local pest-control companies.
Though the spray used to control the tent caterpillars is non-poisonous, it does not differentiate when it comes to caterpillars. As a result, caterpillars that produce butterflies are also impacted and eliminated by the spray. LCAA can direct residents to neighborhood groups but we do not participate directly in the spraying process.
Douglas County Water and Conservation District is providing grants to help keep our lakes clean. Luther Crest Bible Camp and several lake owners on Lake Carlos have received funding to assist in lakeshore area improvement projects. LCAA is the sponsoring group to secure grants to the properties located on Lake Carlos.
Any lakeshore owner interested in doing a lake shore project will find it worthwhile to contact Douglas SWCD to determine whether or not a grant is available. These grants are also available for rain garden projects: Contact Danica Mazurek at 320-763-3191.
Lake Carlos is one of approximately twenty-five lakes in the state included in the Sentinel lake study. This long-term term study follows a large variety of factors including lake pollution, water temperatures, habitat changes, and overall health of the lake to identify everything from global temperature change to air pollution impacts. An interesting link to this study can be found on the LCAA website: www.lakecarlos.org
One of the joys of living on the lake is to be able to walk down to the dock at night and look at the stars. Even in the winter, we can get away from the city lights. The serenity of lake life can be ruined if you or your neighbor has a bright white security light.
If you have a bright “white “security light, get a shade to reduce light pollution. Or, contact your electrical contractor and get a light that is not “white”. Options are available. You can light up your property without ruining the night sky for others on the lake. Around entryways and patios, use yellow “bug lights.”
Please dim your lights. You and your neighbors can better enjoy life in lake country.
Even though the boat parade is not an LCAA sponsored event, it is a big event for area boaters. The Douglas County Sheriff and LCAA remind all participants:
– Boat regulations must be followed during the parade. Children aged twelve and younger must wear life jackets. Pontoon passengers cannot hang their legs over the front end of the pontoon boat. Be cautious when anywhere near swimmers.
– Throwing water balloons can be fun but it can also be dangerous. LCAA asks that the boaters not throw balloons. (Balloons in the lake pollute. If they end up on shore they trash the neighbors. If they sink they cause problems for fish.) Please keep water balloons on land.
– Tilting an engine to cause a spray is against the law and is dangerous.
4th of July boat Parade starts at 10:30 on the south end of the lake, near the Carlos-Darling Channel. Have FUN be SAFE!
Lake residents who close up their cabins for the winter should take the following precautions:
You can attract migratory birds as well as permanent residents to your bird feeders year-round if you adjust the food and feeders with each changing season.
