Cook County Coalition of Lake Associations tackles invasive species, lake monitoring, and increase in development and recreation

Created in 1994, the Cook County Coalition of Lake Associations (CCCoLA) aims to engage and unite lakeshore property owners to promote responsible lake and shoreland management practices. 

The association comprises numerous lakes in the Cook County region: Aspen, Caribou, Clearwater, Devil Track, Gunflint, Loon, Greenwood, Hungry Jack Mid-Trail Property Owners – 12 Lakes, Greenwood to Iron Lake, Pike, Poplar, Seagull/Sag, Friends of Tait Lake, Tom, Trout, and West Bearskin. 

Each lake in the association is unique in size, level of development, and recreational opportunities. However, despite the differences, Biz Clark and Carrie Framsted, members of CCCoLA, said there is power in the collective voice of many. 

Clark and Framsted said members of CCCoLA engage and work with local, state, and federal agencies such as Cook County Soil and Water, County Commissioners, the United States Forest Service, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to implement proper management skills and education on each of the lakes. 

Framsted, the co-facilitator for the Pike Lake Area Association, said that Pike Lake is battling an aquatic invasive species, rusty crayfish. 

“Once you have these crayfish in your lake, you can’t get rid of them. However, managing their numbers is extremely important,” Framsted said. Fortunately, she said two Cook County residents are tackling the problem. Yusef Orest and Garrett Lima started a business, Crawdaddies, to trap and sell rusty crayfish to local restaurants. It’s an ongoing effort, but it has shown promising results. 

While Pike Lake struggles with invasive species, Poplar, on the other hand, is experiencing significant growth in development and recreational activity.  

Clark, the winter coordinator for the Poplar Lake Area Association, said the lake is participating in a citizen lake monitoring program and looking at updating its management plan to include surface area zoning. 

With more recreational users enjoying kayaking and paddle boarding, Clark said the potential for conflicts between motorized and non-motorized users has increased. 

Due to the increase in lake recreation, the Poplar Lake Area Association is interested in creating surface area zones to minimize turbulence from motors near shoreline and designate specific areas of the lake for certain recreational uses. 

In addition to invasive species and recreation, Clark and Framsted said the majority of the lakes in the association are experiencing an increase in construction and residential development.

“And that is the result of the pandemic,” said Clark. 

She added that property owners are moving into Cook County and perhaps “don’t know yet how to live on a lake or how to use a lake properly and respectfully.” 

Clark and Framsted said CCCoLA’s mission is to educate people about how best to take care of their lake as property owners. The association holds monthly meetings in the summer throughout Cook County for individuals to learn more about current initiatives and volunteer citizen-science projects. To learn more about the coalition or attend a meeting, visit the Cook County Coalition of Lake Associations website. 

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with two association members to learn more about current stewardship initiatives. Audio from the interview is below. 

Kalli Hawkins November 29, 2022