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Cedar Lake Improvement District meeting 

November 3, 2025

New Prague Public Library

Attending:

Board Members:  Paul Hoyt, Dave Skogland, John Tuschner Ted Schnaare, Larry Vollmar, Jim Paulson and Scott Sousek

Meeting notes

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The Cedar Lake Improvement District (CLID) convened to review lake management strategies, financial updates, and future improvement plans. Key administrative items included approval of the agenda and minutes (deferred to email vote) and a treasury report noting minimal financial activity with a $14 increase over two months for inerest and no checks written

Lake Management & Weed Control:
The group discussed ongoing challenges with aquatic vegetation management.  The Chetek, Wisconsin lake system shared some of their experiences with weed harvesting challenges and successes.  The current configuration in Chetek is a skimmer and barge system, acquired through donor support.  It has significantly improved weed removal but faces reliability issues and volunteer shortages. Harvesting typically occurs mid-June to mid-August, removing approximately 450 cubic yards of weeds annually. Farmers continue to accept harvested material for field use. Depth limitations and logistical constraints were noted, and members expressed interest in acquiring additional equipment or a harvester for emergency and supplemental use.  Overall Chetek reported success in maintaining a level of weeks that is manageable, however the lake system is significantly larger that Cedar Lake and they only have 1 harvester.

Water Quality & Phosphorus Mitigation:
Sediment sampling was completed to establish a phosphorus baseline, critical for improving water clarity while avoiding excessive plant growth. The team explored treatment options, including alum and lanthanum-based products, and agreed on a phased, adaptive approach to phosphorus capture. Estimated costs range from $50K–$100K annually. The importance of balancing clarity improvements with ecological stability was emphasized.

Grant Opportunities & Funding:
Several funding sources were identified, including the DNR Aquatic Invasive Species grant ($5K–$50K) and larger programs such as LCCMR and Clean Water Legacy funds. A five-year plan for curly leaf pondweed control using Galleon (preferred over Sonar for faster action) was proposed. Coordination with county watershed staff (Melissa) remains essential to secure grants and align efforts.  Larry has been monitoring the grant options and will apply for the DNR Aquatic Invasive Species grant when it becomes available.  This grant would be used to install 2 cleaning stations (one at each landing) for boats.  This would assisting in preventing other possible lakes being invaded by certain invasive species found in Cedar.

Additional Topics:

• Zebra mussels were confirmed but expected to have limited impact due to lake substrate conditions.
• Wake boat activity was discussed; minimal concerns given lake depth.

Next Steps:

• Review sediment analysis report and develop a phosphorus dosing plan.
• Pursue grant applications for herbicide treatments and equipment.
• Schedule next meeting for December 1, 2025 to finalize plans and review progress.