SLA Home
About Us
Membership
SLA Board
Volunteer
Newsletters
Local Government
Minnesota DNR
Lake History
Weather
Sugar Lake Map
Additional Links

The 2012 SLA Plant Exchange is moving back to Sutherland's on the South shore, 7488 106th Street NW, Maple Lake. Enter via gravel road from Highway 123 and Howe. There will be signs pointing to available parking. The exchange will take place on Saturday 26 May from 9 until 11 a.m. This is the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Bring your visiting family and friends!

Each plant donated can be exchanged for another or plants can be purchased for $1 each. Pot up your extra plants now so they will be strong and healthy for the exchange. Need pots? Contact Karen.

The Sutherland shore, a recipient of a DNR Shoreland Restoration grant two years ago, is now "tour ready." Take time to look at the native plantings and see how they survived the record high water last summer.

Refreshments will be served. All proceeds will go to the Invasive Species Fund. Come! Meet your neighbors! Support your Association!

In the summer of 2011, Sugar Lake wrestled with historically high lake levels. As a result of those events, Wright County has recognized the need to be prepared for abnormally high lake levels and is making plans to develop and enact a group of No Wake ordinances that could take effect if and when needed. The information sent to all Sugar Lake Association members concerning this process refers to the following supporting documentation:

Wright County Procedures for Enacting a Permanent No-Wake Ordinance

MN DNR Water Surface Use Rules and Statutes

This little mussel could change Sugar Lake forever. There is no treatment. Prevention is the only answer. Volunteers from your Board of Directors attempted to look at every piece of equipment that came out of the lake this fall. It appears that we do not have them yet, and we want it to stay that way. We need everyone to be on the lookout. Sugar Lake is especially at risk. Our lake appears to be an ideal environment for the zebra mussel. We have a lot of boat traffic that could easily come from infected water such as Mille Lacs, Lake Minnetonka, or the Mississippi River.

The Minnesota DNR has recently discovered infestations of zebra mussels in both Lake Irene and Rose Lake. Both infestations have been linked to purchase of contaminated boat lifts. This could have been avoided if the lifts had been left on shore over the winter because the mussels cannot live that long out of water. Zebra mussel infestations can kill native mussels, threaten fish populations, and clog irrigation systems and boat engines. Swimmers would be required to wear shoes to prevent getting cut on the sharp edges of the shells.

No items should be put into the lake without a complete decontamination. Know what to do and spread the word. Remember to decontaminate your equipment when you come from any lake or river. Check here for DNR information on how to keep invasives out of Sugar.

Volunteer: We are asking for volunteers to be spotters by having a Zebra "brick" or other surface that they can check every other week and report to our Zebra Czar at zebra@sugarlake.org. Send an e-mail now to volunteer.

The DNR installed the sign describing the SLA native plant garden at the South access on Monday 23 April. This project was supported by Minnesota Waters, the Minnesota DNR and the Sugar Lake Association. SLA volunteers planted and maintain the garden. It contains native plants that will absorb and filter runoff before it flows into the lake.

The Cedar Lake Conservation Club is again sponsoring a day long program on responsible lake stewardship and native wildlife. Speakers include Keith Radel from the MN Bluebird Recovery Program, author Darby Nelson ("For Love of Lakes"), Paul Diedrich from DNR Fisheries and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela. Saturday 19 May 8:30 am - 4 pm. Camp Courage on Cedar Lake. For more information, visit www.cedarlakecc.org