Christmas Lake.org

Website of the Christmas Lake Homeowner's Association

News

Updated November 12, 2008

CLHA Board of Directors Meeting
The meeting will be held on November 25 at 6:30 at the offices of Miles Lord, 600 West 78th Street, Chanhassen.  The topics to be covered are Christmas Lake ecology and general discussion of other issues.  Homeowners are invited to attend, but let Ron Mason know to insure adequate space.

Fourth of July Boat Parade and Party
The theme for the 2008 Fourth of July Boat and Dock Parade is "Minnesota Historical Event" in celebration of the State of Minnesota's Sesquicentennial this year.  The boat parade will start at 1:00 pm in front of the Fields' house just off Christmas Lake Road.  The awards and after party will also be at the Fields'.  Please join us for the great fun on the best day of the year on Christmas Lake.

CLHA Annual Meeting
The annual meeting was held on Monday, May 5 at 7:00 pm in the Excelsior Elementary School Auditorium.  The PowerPoint slides used at the meeting can be found here.  EWM will be harvested during one week in late June to be announced later.  Each homeowner desiring harvesting can contact Midwest Weed Harvesting at (763) 238-1012.  Homeowners desiring EMW pulling by hand should contact Waterfront Restoration (www.waterfrontrestoration.com) at (888) 381-9746.

Boat Safety Classes
The classes, sponsored by the Schultz family, and conducted by Walk on Water, will be held on three dates: May 10 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, May 18 from 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm, June 14 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, and August 3 from 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm.  Please call Dave or Peggy Schultz to enroll.  There is a limit of ten students per class.  Students should have already passed the DNR boat safety test, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/boatwater/index.html.

CLHA Board Meeting
The CLHA Board Meeting was help on February 25.  The results of the EWM ballot were discussed and a decision was made regarding CLHA EWM treatment for the summer of 2008.  The details of the Board discussion and meeting minutes can be found here.  The Board decided to leave EWM removal up to individual homeowners due to a majority of the ballots supporting less harvesting.  This week, a letter will be sent to each resident explaining the Board's decision and guidance for EWM harvesting for this coming season.

New Officers and Board Members
The three year term of the current officers has expired.  The Board elected new officers for the next three years: Ron Mason-President, Joe Shneider-Secretary, Harley Feldman-Treasurer (interim).  New members appointed to the Board were Joe Shneider, Tom Kelly and Greg Elliot.  Jon Joseph elected to retire from the Board.  Thanks to Harley Feldman, Doug Punke, and Jon Joseph for their service.

Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) Information
A new web page has been dedicated to covering the latest information about EWM on Christmas Lake.  Click the "EWM Info" link to the left.

EWM Communication Meeting
A communication meeting was held on January 10, 2008, at the Excelsior Elementary School.  The presentation given at the meeting is here.  Stephanie Fields and Harley Feldman presented the information.  Guests included Dick Osgood, President, North American Lake Management Society and Executive Director, Lake Minnetonka Association; Chip Welling, EWM Coordinator, DNR; Steve McComas, Scientist, Blue Water Science; Tom Snook, Lake Restoration.  The meeting lasted 2 1/2 hours with a serious discussion of the EWM issues and possible resolutions facing Christmas Lake.  The following motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously:

"Resolved that all members of the Christmas Lake Homeowners Association vote on lake treatment methods for controlling Eurasian Watermilfoil."

Newest Christmas Lake family
Be sure to check out the video of Christmas Lake's newest natural family.

Christmas Lake Homeowner's Association Annual Meeting
The annual meeting was held on Tuesday, May 8, 2007.  The PowerPoint presentation used at the meeting to introduce the 2007 events and discussion topics is here.  The 2007 dues to support milfoil harvesting were approved at $200 per homeowner.

March CLHA Board Meeting minutes
The Board met to review the latest Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM) data and the Lake Vegetation Management Plan (LVMP).  Much data was presented to the Board including the following:

After review of all of the data, the Board decided that a clear recommendation for herbicidal treatment plan does not exist and that treating the lake at this time with a herbicide is too risky.  The Board adopted the following resolution:

No more money or effort will be spent on chemical treatment plans,  Lake Vegetation Plans or surveys without CLHA board authorization.

  1. We will continue to harvest public areas at association expense.

  2. Private homeowners will need to pay for harvesting, or pulling EWM by the root within 150 feet of the shore.

  3. The board has had 8 meetings and considered copious amounts of data, and concluded that there are currently no available safe chemical treatments for our lake.

  4. A brief presentation regarding EWM will be made consistent with the above three conclusions.

The data and representatives of the DNR will be available at the Annual Meeting to answer any questions from the homeowners.

Water Resources Management Plan
The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District recently released its ten year plan. Included is the water resources management plan for Christmas Lake as written and adopted by the District (6.5 Mb pdf).  The CLHA Board will be reviewing the plan and determining what we as an association should be doing to support the management plan.

Lake safety
The State of Minnesota 2006 Boating Guide can be retrieved as a pdf file here.  We encourage every homeowner to review and abide by the boating rules included.  We want to make sure that all boaters on the lake are operating in a safe and legal manner.

Dave Schultz has agreed to underwrite the cost of boating safety classes.  Jack Fess will be developing a schedule for this summer by working with an outside organization that teaches boating safety to provide the lessons.  The Board thanks Dave for his support.

Christmas Lake data
The latest DNR data about Christmas Lake can be found at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/showreport.html?downum=27013700. 

The DNR's 2006 Annual Report on Invasive Species of Aquatic Plants and Wild Animals can be found here.  It provides interesting reading and background information on the DNR's analysis of the state's lakes.