Big Sand Lake Association
committed to the preservation of Big Sand Lake
Big Sand Lake • Current News & Events
04/09/2018 - NEW LOOK!
Have you noticed the new look on the website — bigger photo banner, more space for text, etc. Instead of menu tabs in a left-hand column, they are listed above. If the page looks unusual, you may need to refresh your browser. (click the icon of an arrow in a half circle in the box at the top of the page where it says bigsandlake.org) Thanks to Heather Hayden Wittman, BSLA web manager and Paul Shoemaker, Cloud Digital, our web master, for updating code and refreshing the website. Some other updating is still in process. If you have questions or would like something added to the website, contact Heather - info@bigsandlake.com.
04/05/2018 - Annual Big Sand Lake Ice Out Contest
Submit your guess no later than the end of the day on April 19th to info@bigsandlake.org. Only one guess per person. Be sure to include your name, the date and time of day for your guess. Last year’s winner was determined by a margin of less than 12 hours. The ‘prize’ for this contest is the ‘joy’ of guessing the exact or closest date for Big Sand to be declared ice-free by an impartial judge living on the lake. The winner of the contest will be announced in the May issue of the Big Sand newsletter. Click on the webcam links in the left hand column of this page for a daily view of the lake and current weather forecasts. Good luck!
04/05/2018 - Winter Watercraft Inspection Funding Campaign for Big Sand Lake
A big THANK YOU to the 43 Big Sand Lake cabin and homeowners who made contributions to our winter campaign to fully fund 1100 hours of watercraft inspection for the 2018 summer season.
Our goal was to raise $9,724, and the current project fund is $9,497.20, with only $226.80 to go!
Watercraft inspection is currently the best tool available to us to prevent aquatic invasive species infestation. Thank you for helping to preserve the health and beauty of our wonderful Big Sand Lake!
Ann & Chris Hilger
Big Sand Lake Charitable Fund Co-Chairs
04/05/2018 - Hubbard County COLA
View the 2017 Water Quality Monitoring report for Big Sand Lake
To view other area lakes: Click here
04/05/2018 - Hubbard County Annual Freshwater Festival
The Hubbard County Annual Freshwater Festival will be held May 16, 2018 at the Camp Wilderness Boy Scout Camp near Emmaville (29984 Journey Trail, Park Rapids) from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Veliger testing will be available at the festival.
04/05/2018 - Hubbard County Board Passes New Buffer Zone Ordinance
The state Legislature passed the law requiring the buffers along lakes, rivers, streams and ditches in 2015 and updated it in 2016.
The law defines a buffer as an establishment of perennial vegetation up to 50 feet along any public waters and up to 16.5 feet along any public ditches. All buffers are to be installed on public waters by Nov. 1, 2017 and on public ditches by Nov.1, 2018.
Hubbard Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) can assist landowners in complying with the Minnesota Buffer Initiative, which requires the implementation of buffers and/or alternative, water-quality practices.
Lakeshore property owners need not worry about the buffer law if they are in compliance with county/local shoreline ordinances and the DNR statewide regulations.
03/07/2018 - University of Minnesota AIS Detectors Program
Want to get involved in the march against AIS in Minnesota? Volunteer to join the University of Minnesota AIS Detectors Program. As the threat of AIS continues to grow across Minnesota, there is a need for an organized statewide surveillance network of trained volunteers eager to make a difference. In partnership with University of Minnesota Extension, we are filling that need with the AIS Detectors program. This program provides participants with high-quality training, developed and reviewed by AIS experts. Participants will learn principles of basic aquatic ecology, AIS identification, impacts, and biology, Minnesota rules and regulations, preventing the spread of AIS, and reporting. Upon completing the training, participants are equipped to volunteer around the state and make a difference in the areas of citizen science, outreach and education, stewardship, and support of AIS programs. We offer training each spring so that material is fresh for new volunteers as the summer season begins. You can find the list of workshop dates and locations for 2018 in the FAQs below. Registration will open in March 2018.
More information is available at the link below:
https://www.maisrc.umn.edu/ais-detector
03/07/2018 - State of Water Conference
Registration is now open for the State of Water Conference April 12 -14, 2018 at Breezy Point Resort in Breezy Point, Minnesota. Join more than 300 Minnesotans from across the state at the 2018 State of Water Conference to get the tools, resources and connections you need to make real change in your community’s water resources. More information available at the link below:
https://freshwater.org/stateofwaterconference/
