Local Organizations
phosphorus levels, and chlorophyll. It is important to take a number of measurements each year, and continue that practice over many years to gain a true picture of water quality and trends. Water quality can vary seasonally as well as year to year depending on tem perature, rainfall, and adjacent land use practices. These measurements provide a very good assessment of lake conditions. The water quality in Lake Mary is rated as good, and the Lake Mary Homeowners Associa tion is trying to keep it that way, and make it better.
The association has teamed up with agencies to determine the best and most cost-effective ways to treat curly-leaf pondweed, the one in vasive species that has been identified in Lake Mary. We also look for opportunities to control runoff into the lake to protect water quality.
Lake treatment and protection actions are expensive. With a limit ed amount of funding available from the state and government levels, the group has gotten creative with different fundraising events, such as the annual Lake Mary golf scramble. We also have association dues and take donations. One-hundred percent of all money raised goes to lake improvements.
In addition, every year since 1992, we hold our annual Lake Mary pic nic to bring together the lake community and share information about association activities and goals, such as boating etiquette and safety.
It’ s a wonderful privilege to enjoy Lake Mary by paddle or motor boat. So, please have fun by following safe boating practices and re spect the environment and the lakeshore homeowners.
Those wishing to volunteer, help with donations, or who want more information about the Lake Mary Association, please contact Joe Har tung at 612-849-0519, or joe. hartung @ icloud. com.
HLWW High School After Prom Party
The HLWW After Prom Party organization was formed in fall 1988, to provide a safe form of entertainment for Howard Lake- Waverly-Winsted High School juniors and seniors and their dates on prom night. The first after-prom party was in 1989, and has seen a steady increase in attendance every year since. The students enjoy an all-night party with food, fun, wonderful prizes, and entertainment. This is a volunteer group that hosts many annual fundraisers, which have included bingo during Good Neighbor Days, bake sales at the Howard Lake annual craft
20 Official guide to Howard Lake 2024-25
and art expo in November and the Business Expo in the spring, cookie sales at home basketball games and wrestling meets, and an annual fall garage sale.
Anyone interested in helping is welcome. We are currently in need of help with the committee. Meetings take place in the commons area at the HLWW High School approximately once a month.
Lake Ann Improvement Association
The Lake Ann Improvement Association was originally incorporat ed in 1984. In 2003, it was newly incorporated and reorganized with new by-laws and board members. The objectives of the association are to protect, restore, and preserve the water quality of the lake and its watershed, thereby enhancing the watershed community. Lake Ann is located between Howard Lake and Winsted, east of Wright County Road 6. There are 74 property owners who own land surrounding the lakeshore.
In its efforts to preserve and restore the lake, the original association succeeded in establishing a public landing and stocking walleye in the lake. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources( DNR) and the Lake Ann Improvement Association alternate stocking the lake with walleye.
In 1996, the association participated in the Minnesota Pollution Con trol Agencysponsored Lake Assessment Program( LAP), which refo cused the association’ s lake management activities. As part of the LAP study, the association has been successful at bringing septic systems around the lake into compliance. Since 1996, the association has con tinued to monitor precipitation records and DNR lake levels, reporting them to the state.
The association helped initiate the Wright County Lakes Monitor ing Program in 1999, now in its 22nd year. It monitors water clarity and sponsors testing for algae and phosphorous in the lake.
Annual summer meetings and other events keep the community educated about association activities and goals. Wright Soil Water Con servation District( SWCD) received a grant to complete soil testing on watershed farmland in order to test variable fertilizer application, which will reduce the mineral content of agricultural runoff. The Lake Ann Im provement Association has received additional DNR grants to control curly leaf pondweed in the lake for the last six years. Grant applications are being considered for other projects to control excess nutrients,