Gilbert Lake Association Stories from 2021
December 31, 2021: Ice fishing has begun on Gilbert Lake.
December 25, 2021 email: Thank you so much to the families that have groomed the trail around the lake (Englestads and Lelwicas). I just returned from a bike ride on the path and I think it would be good to review some guidelines to help maintain the groomed trail.
The trail is intended for NON-MOTORIZED use. Please don’t use it for your 4 wheeler or snowmobile. Likewise, being aware of where the path is and not parking a fish house in the middle of it would be helpful. The groomers did a good job of picking a path that shouldn’t interfere with fishing locations. Walking on the path creates divots that skiers, bikers have to avoid. Please don’t use the groomed path for walking unless you are wearing snowshoes.
Bikers and those on snowshoes, please try to avoid the groomed ski tracks to preserve their use for classic skiers.
We will further preserve the groomed trail if we avoid its use when the temperature jumps above freezing.
Thanks to everyone for helping us use our valuable resource to its full capacity.
Sincerely, Greg Whiteman
The trail is intended for NON-MOTORIZED use. Please don’t use it for your 4 wheeler or snowmobile. Likewise, being aware of where the path is and not parking a fish house in the middle of it would be helpful. The groomers did a good job of picking a path that shouldn’t interfere with fishing locations. Walking on the path creates divots that skiers, bikers have to avoid. Please don’t use the groomed path for walking unless you are wearing snowshoes.
Bikers and those on snowshoes, please try to avoid the groomed ski tracks to preserve their use for classic skiers.
We will further preserve the groomed trail if we avoid its use when the temperature jumps above freezing.
Thanks to everyone for helping us use our valuable resource to its full capacity.
Sincerely, Greg Whiteman
August 2, 2021: Thanks to Jerry Sinner for spotting work being done at the public boat landing on Gilbert. This is a Department of Natural Resources project. The sunrise image was take on August 4th. The last two images show the completed boat landing on the 4th.
July 21 and September 14, 2021: Water quality measurements were taken on Lake Two.
July 16, 2021: A group of lake volunteers showed up to move the bog. It worked, they moved it to the northeast shore of Lake Three.
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July 4, 2021: The Second Annual 4th of July Parade on Gilbert Lake.
July 3, 2021: The Gilbert Lake Association Second Annual Triathlon.
June 19, 2021: The bog returned again and so did the volunteers! Mark Skinner was there to put 2X4 stakes in. Association President Todd Froemming watched as Jared Bartel drove stakes in too.
Open at last!
June 12, 2021: Access to Gilbert Lake Three is still blocked with a bog. Gilbert Lake Association President Todd Froemming requested volunteers this day to help move the bog. It looks like there is a channel on the left side, but it is only an opening for a family living there. The bog was first noticed back on November 12, 2020.
March 3, 2021: We received 32 responses to the chloride survey by residents on Gilbert Lake, but would like to get as many as possible. Here is what we know so far: https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-9XJXPL9K9/
If you didn't respond to this the first time, please take a few minutes to complete the survey. Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QHGM2VR
February 2, 2021: Gilbert Lake Chlorine Study in 2019, Crow Wing County and Crow Wing Soil & Water Conservation District teamed-up to begin chloride water sampling. Monitoring has encompassed seven Crow Wing County lakes along Crow Wing County roads. The goal is to monitor the long-term effects of applying road salt. The initial data indicates low, safe chloride levels ranging from 2.88 milligrams per liter (mg/L) to 15.5 mg/L.
Gilbert Lakes chloride levels were the highest, around 15.5 mg/L. We want to investigate further into what might be contributing to the higher chloride levels. Alicia Overbo conducted a study in Minnesota in 2019 and found that 72% of the state population softens their household water. Household water softeners contributed 132,500 tons of chloride annually. If we divide 132,500 tons by the population in Minnesota softening water, household salt used averaged 25 lb salt per household per month.
The EPA found that more than “four billion gallons of wastewater are dispersed below the ground’s surface every day”. Groundwater that is contaminated by poorly or untreated household wastewater poses a threat to drinking water and to the environment. Malfunctioning septic systems release bacteria, viruses, and chemicals toxic to local water bodies. When these pollutants are released into the ground, they eventually enter streams, rivers, lakes. This can cause harm to local aquatic ecosystems by killing native aquatic plants, and fish. To learn more about water softening and septic systems check out the resources below.
Crow Wing County would like as many as possible to respond to this Chloride Survey for Gilbert Lake. Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QHGM2VR
Resources:
Chloride 101 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
U of M Chloride Study 2019
U of M Water Resources Center: Residential Softening
EPA: Septic Smart Homeowners
If you didn't respond to this the first time, please take a few minutes to complete the survey. Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QHGM2VR
February 2, 2021: Gilbert Lake Chlorine Study in 2019, Crow Wing County and Crow Wing Soil & Water Conservation District teamed-up to begin chloride water sampling. Monitoring has encompassed seven Crow Wing County lakes along Crow Wing County roads. The goal is to monitor the long-term effects of applying road salt. The initial data indicates low, safe chloride levels ranging from 2.88 milligrams per liter (mg/L) to 15.5 mg/L.
Gilbert Lakes chloride levels were the highest, around 15.5 mg/L. We want to investigate further into what might be contributing to the higher chloride levels. Alicia Overbo conducted a study in Minnesota in 2019 and found that 72% of the state population softens their household water. Household water softeners contributed 132,500 tons of chloride annually. If we divide 132,500 tons by the population in Minnesota softening water, household salt used averaged 25 lb salt per household per month.
The EPA found that more than “four billion gallons of wastewater are dispersed below the ground’s surface every day”. Groundwater that is contaminated by poorly or untreated household wastewater poses a threat to drinking water and to the environment. Malfunctioning septic systems release bacteria, viruses, and chemicals toxic to local water bodies. When these pollutants are released into the ground, they eventually enter streams, rivers, lakes. This can cause harm to local aquatic ecosystems by killing native aquatic plants, and fish. To learn more about water softening and septic systems check out the resources below.
Crow Wing County would like as many as possible to respond to this Chloride Survey for Gilbert Lake. Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QHGM2VR
Resources:
Chloride 101 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
U of M Chloride Study 2019
U of M Water Resources Center: Residential Softening
EPA: Septic Smart Homeowners
Friday, January 29, 2021: There was a full moon, but it was behind an overcast sky. That didn't stop Gilbert Lake residents from going out on the lake. The top photo is Gilbert Lodge on Lake One where Mark and Paula Persons live.
Below is a photo from the north end of the lake where there was a get-together for people who needed to get out and say hi. Everyone had a good time. The temperature was about 14 degrees.
