Protecting Square Lake from Invasive Species
Donation protected
Square Lake is a unique 200-acre natural resource located in May Township, Minnesota, near the St. Croix River, a jewel to be treasured and protected.
The Square Lake Association (SLA) is a four-decade, non-profit, Board-led, homeowners organization, committed to natural resource preservation, conservation, stewardship, and community collaboration. Our mission is to protect and preserve Square Lake’s pristine natural beauty, clarity and balance, for future generations.
We know from ongoing studies of other Minnesota lakes that have become infested with Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) - like Eurasian Milfoil, Zebra Mussels and Spiny Waterfleas - that AIS poses an existential threat to Square Lake, and reactive remedies are far more complex and costly than proactive, preventive actions. For more information on AIS, please click here: Above & Below the Waterline.
Contributing to this GoFundMe campaign today will help expand our stewardship of Square Lake for current and future Lake users by supporting AIS education, watercraft inspection, and Lake water monitoring.
Your gift will be applied directly to two key SLA Protection & Preservation Plan initiatives:
1. Doubling the 2020 Square Lake Park AIS inspection hours, with incremental increases in 2021, in partnership with the Washington County Conservation District and the Carnelian Marine St Croix Watershed District; and
2. Creating an educational website for the Association, designed to increase Member awareness and further inform Lake users of AIS and other water quality threats that require watchful and proactive stewardship.
Our fundraising goal for these and related Protect & Preserve initiatives is $6000, for which we have already raised $2000 from the following generous sponsors:
- Edina Realty’s Shaleen Team, in Forest Lake
- Security State Bank, in Marine on St Croix
- Edward Jones, in Marine on St Croix
- Carnelian Marine St Croix Watershed District, in Scandia
The $6000 fundraising goal will generally be allocated over the 2020-21 fiscal year as follows: 25% to AIS watercraft inspection in coordination with Washington Conservation District, in addition to supplements from annual Association dues; 50% to AIS education, information, leadership, and membership activities, including one-time website development; and 25% to building Association treasury reserves to create a rapid-deployment funding source for AIS treatment costs if a serious AIS breach occurs.
Thanks to our sponsors’ commitment of $2000, the magic number we’re seeking to raise from our Square Lake community in the days ahead is $4000.
Please help us achieve our goal by contributing any amount you can today, to sustain the pristine natural beauty and water clarity of Square Lake that we are so fortunate to enjoy.
As a special incentive, the first six of you who donate $150 will be matched dollar for dollar by six of your neighbors, committed to Lake preservation and protection just like you. A collaborative way to turn your $150 gift into $300!
To further inspire the Square Lake bird-lovers among us, our friend and esteemed nature photographer Tomy O’Brien has photographed five of our favorite birds around the Lake. Each of you who donate $150 to our campaign, will receive the five copyrighted Tomy O’Brien photos to proudly own, frame, and display!
Those of you who donate $250 or more, will receive the five bird photographs and Tomy’s very special photo of the Neowise comet streaming above the Lake the night of July 19 - see the Protecting a Gem PowerPoint for a view of this extraordinary photo.
Thanks in advance for your kindness, generosity, and support!
Respectfully,
Jim Seidl
Square Lake Association
Vice President
Board of Directors
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The Square Lake Association (SLA) is a four-decade, non-profit, Board-led, homeowners organization, committed to natural resource preservation, conservation, stewardship, and community collaboration. Our mission is to protect and preserve Square Lake’s pristine natural beauty, clarity and balance, for future generations.
We know from ongoing studies of other Minnesota lakes that have become infested with Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) - like Eurasian Milfoil, Zebra Mussels and Spiny Waterfleas - that AIS poses an existential threat to Square Lake, and reactive remedies are far more complex and costly than proactive, preventive actions. For more information on AIS, please click here: Above & Below the Waterline.
Contributing to this GoFundMe campaign today will help expand our stewardship of Square Lake for current and future Lake users by supporting AIS education, watercraft inspection, and Lake water monitoring.
Your gift will be applied directly to two key SLA Protection & Preservation Plan initiatives:
1. Doubling the 2020 Square Lake Park AIS inspection hours, with incremental increases in 2021, in partnership with the Washington County Conservation District and the Carnelian Marine St Croix Watershed District; and
2. Creating an educational website for the Association, designed to increase Member awareness and further inform Lake users of AIS and other water quality threats that require watchful and proactive stewardship.
Our fundraising goal for these and related Protect & Preserve initiatives is $6000, for which we have already raised $2000 from the following generous sponsors:
- Edina Realty’s Shaleen Team, in Forest Lake
- Security State Bank, in Marine on St Croix
- Edward Jones, in Marine on St Croix
- Carnelian Marine St Croix Watershed District, in Scandia
The $6000 fundraising goal will generally be allocated over the 2020-21 fiscal year as follows: 25% to AIS watercraft inspection in coordination with Washington Conservation District, in addition to supplements from annual Association dues; 50% to AIS education, information, leadership, and membership activities, including one-time website development; and 25% to building Association treasury reserves to create a rapid-deployment funding source for AIS treatment costs if a serious AIS breach occurs.
Thanks to our sponsors’ commitment of $2000, the magic number we’re seeking to raise from our Square Lake community in the days ahead is $4000.
Please help us achieve our goal by contributing any amount you can today, to sustain the pristine natural beauty and water clarity of Square Lake that we are so fortunate to enjoy.
As a special incentive, the first six of you who donate $150 will be matched dollar for dollar by six of your neighbors, committed to Lake preservation and protection just like you. A collaborative way to turn your $150 gift into $300!
To further inspire the Square Lake bird-lovers among us, our friend and esteemed nature photographer Tomy O’Brien has photographed five of our favorite birds around the Lake. Each of you who donate $150 to our campaign, will receive the five copyrighted Tomy O’Brien photos to proudly own, frame, and display!
Those of you who donate $250 or more, will receive the five bird photographs and Tomy’s very special photo of the Neowise comet streaming above the Lake the night of July 19 - see the Protecting a Gem PowerPoint for a view of this extraordinary photo.
Thanks in advance for your kindness, generosity, and support!
Respectfully,
Jim Seidl
Square Lake Association
Vice President
Board of Directors
--
Organizer and beneficiary
Jim Seidl
Organizer
Stillwater, MN
Square Lake Association
Beneficiary