• The board met on August 21 to discuss plans for the coming year.  Minutes are now posted for the June board meeting and the annual meeting.  We continue to wait for a draft of an aquatic plant management plan for our lake.

7-30-10

• Social event scheduled - there will be a pot luck picnic at Ronie and Mike's (7236 W Van Vliet Rd) on Sunday, September 5 starting at 5 p.m.  Bring a dish to share, a lawn chair, and enjoy a visit with lake neighbors. RSVP via the contact us  screen.

7-17-10

• Thank you to all who attended the annual meeting.
   
• The boat landing was staffed on July 3 from 8-12 and 11 boats were interviewed.  We would love to add your name to the 2010 efforts.  Please consider volunteering on July 24 or August 14 to help keep Van Vliet Lake free of aquatic invasive species.  Send an email from the contact us screen to let us know you are willing to help.

6-24-10

• April board meeting minutes are posted.  The board met again on June 12 to complete planning for the annual meeting.
   
• Thank you, Jill Wilm, for providing the loon photos for our summer images page.

6-21-10

• Please plan to join us at the annual meeting on Monday, July 5 at 10 a.m. at the Presque Isle Community Center.
   
• Members of the VVLA board staffed the boat landing during the Presque Isle Chamber of Commerce Walleye Tournament on May 14-16.  CBCW inspections were conducted along with registering competitors.  Although only one fish was measured at the Van Vliet landing, it was the largest fish caught in the tournament.
   
• We have targeted June 26, July 3, July 24, and August 14 for CBCW inspections at the landing.  Please consider signing up for a two hour shift.  New volunteers will be paired with an experienced person to learn the process.  Use the contact form on this website to let us know you can help.

4-18-10

• The lake association board met on April 17.  Minutes from the 2009 annual meeting were presented and are now on the website.  Planning is underway for the annual meeting and the coming summer.  Membership renewal letters have been sent out and a mailing about Clean Boats, Clean Waters plans will soon follow.  The board has committed to help at the landing for the Presque Isle Spring Walleye tournament on May 14-16.

3-08-10

• The annual meeting for the association has been set for Monday, July 5 at the Presque Isle Community Center.  More details will follow.  Now is the time to submit your name if you are interested in serving on the board.  Positions open this year are President, Secretary, and two at large positions.

8-26-09

• The Natural Resources Foundation visits the Van Vliet Hemlocks.
   

• What's new at the boat landing?  A kiosk to replace the current sign board is under construction.  This was funded by a grant obtained by PITLC.  Clean Boats, Clean Waters efforts continue with our current total hours at 50.5.

7-08-2009

• Thank you to those who attended the annual meeting.  DNR Conservation Warden Rich Thole and Presque Isle Constable Howard Meyer both presented valuable information on their respective roles to the group.  Jeff Burke presented information he learned at the Declining Lake Levels conference.  Ronie Jacobsen and Jill Wilm gave an update on the Clean Boats, Clean Waters efforts.
   
• Good news - we have added new names to owners on the septic maintenance system and we now have 64% of the developed properties on the lake on the system.  Septic Information
   
• The Clean Boats, Clean Waters monitoring has started.  We are looking for volunteers on July 18, August 1, August 22, and September 5.  New volunteers will work with a trainer; shifts are 8-10, 10-12, 12-2, and 2-4.  Please email us if you can help on one of those dates.  Thank you to those who signed up to help at the meeting.  CBCW
   
• There was a request at the meeting that the Presque Isle town ordinances regarding watercraft usage be available on the website.  The link to the town is www.piwi.us and the relevant ordinances are in chapter 500.

5-30-2009

• Spring has arrived in the north woods.  Our Clean Boats, Clean Waters effort is underway. Click here to see the program at work. We still need to hear from more members willing to help out at the landing.

5-13-2009

• Is your septic system on the county maintenance plan?  Recent state legislation has called for full compliance for all septic systems and Vilas County is starting work to achieve that goal. Click here to read a letter from Jeff Burke about how this may affect you.

4-27-2009

• Click here to read a note from Jeff Burke about the progress on the PITLC grant for an aquatic plant management plan for Van Vliet Lake.

4-25-2009

• Planning is underway to set up a Clean Boats, Clean Waters effort on Van Vliet Lake.  Click here to learn more about this project and how you can help.

4-8-2009

• The calendar says spring is here although the lake remains frozen and snow is still part of the landscape in the northwoods.  The annual meeting of the association has been scheduled for Friday, July 3 at the Presque Isle Community Center starting at 10:00 a.m.  Anyone interested in serving on the board is encouraged to submit their name for nomination.   It is also time to renew your membership in the association. 

9-9-2008

• All board members were present for a meeting on August 28.  Click here to read the minutes of that meeting.

7-9-2008

• Board member Ronie Jacobsen attended the Northwest Wisconsin Lake Conference in Cable on June 20.  Click here to read her notes.

6-11-2008

• It is membership renewal time.  One of the goals of the lake association is to promote good stewardship of our lake.  Click here to read some tips on being a responsible lake owner.

4-30-2008

• Three members of the board visited the DNR to discuss aquatic plant and low water level issues on Van Vliet Lake.  Click here to read about the information gathered at that meeting.

4-29-2008

• Plan to start off your 4th of July weekend by attending our annual meeting on Thursday, July 3 at 10 a.m. at the Presque Isle Community Center.  Carolyn Scholl, Vilas County Lake Conservation Specialist, will be our guest speaker.  Learn about the ongoing efforts of the board in regard to aquatic plant issues.  A pot luck lunch will follow the business meeting. 

3-23-2008

• Do you have an interest in serving on the board of the lake association?  Offices up for election at the 2008 annual meeting are President, Secretary, and two At-Large Directors.  The current board will be nominating one or more members for each position. 

3-23-2008

• We have received 30 responses to the survey. Thank you to those who participated.  Click here to view survey results.

1-22-2008

• Please respond to our survey by Feb 15.  We are hoping to have results to present to the DNR in mid February.

12-31-2007

• Although Van Vliet Lake did not receive grant money for the development of an aquatic plant management plan, the board of the lake association is interested in member's opinions on the aquatic plant situation in our lake. 

08-17-2007

• A new sign is in place at the boat landing. Click here to view the sign. Thanks to all who work to keep the landing litter free and nicely landscaped.

05-20-2007

• In accordance with the resolution passed at the 2006 annual meeting, the board has written a letter about the low water level of the lake which has been sent to various government agencies and officials.  Click here to read the letter.

05-01-2007

• The Last Wilderness Conservation Association  has created a Watershed Committee to provide community education and oversight on matters that affect all the water bodies in the Presque Isle township.  Jeff Burke has agreed to represent Van Vliet Lake Association on this committee.  Click here to read the letter from the association.

08-12-2006

• DNR studies indicate that the smallmouth bass population in our lake would be enhanced by decreasing the daily bag limit and increasing the minimum length of a keeper fish. The Van Vliet Lake Association has joined with the Presque Isle Lake Association in supporting such a change for the Presque Isle chain. It is unlikely that any changes would be enacted before 2008.

06-17-2006

• Please read the following note from Jeff Burke:

"A recent inquiry from a lakefront property owner noted the exceptionally low water levels this year.  As a full year resident I would like to bring all website visitors "up to speed" as it were on the subject.  A complaint from one or more Presque Isle Lake residents last year with respect to their perception of a "high" lake level may have triggered the removal of several beaver dams in the Presque Isle River late last fall or in early winter of 2006.  The DNR's Steve Gilbert denies DNR involvement as does the Town of Presque Isle government.  If some other government agency was involved I have not yet been able to establish who they may be but I'm continuing to research the subject.  The other possibility remains of a private citizen taking the task of dam removal on themselves.  The legality of this action needs some research.  Certainly the results need to be addressed.  Clearly the impact to the majority of lakeshore owners was not taken into consideration.  I have no solution for the problem caused by an errant eco-terrorist.  Despite the fact that lack of substantial moisture is an easy explanation for the problem, no amount of water input is going to correct this issue unless the beavers reestablish their domain or the dam level controls in Marenisco are altered to hold more water back.  The bucket has a bigger hole in it this year than last."

Jeff Burke