Welcome to 2025 on Pike Lake.

Duane Silkworth

Startup

Pike Lake Neighbors, Inc. is a Wisconsin Lake Association.

“The purpose of the Organization is to preserve and protect Pike Lake and adjoining portions of the Turtle River in Iron County Wisconsin from undesirable invasive species, and to protect and enhance the environment, ecology, water quality, and fishery of Pike Lake, as a public recreational facility for today and for future generations.”

See https://pikelakeneighbors.org/

Membership Dues

Membership dues for 2025 are payable. Dues are $20 per individual and may be paid online or by mail. https://pikelakeneighbors.org/members/ Please support our efforts by being a dues-paying member.

Board of Directors Meeting 04/29/2025

The board met on April 29. To fill the position left by the untimely passing of Steve Kubacki, Steve Anderson has been appointed as interim President until the Annual Membership meeting. Minutes are available at https://pikelakeneighbors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BoardMeeting20250429.docx

Annual Meeting

The 2025 annual meeting is scheduled for July 5, 11:00 am, at Rita Erspamer’s, 5501N Robin Drive. You can come by either car or boat.

Election

Board members and officers are elected every two years at the annual membership meeting, and 2025 is an election year. You may vote if you have paid your 2025 annual dues before the election. We will be electing a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and up to five at-large directors.

There are currently open director positions, and we would be grateful to anyone who would volunteer to fill them, or to volunteer to be an officer for that matter.

Social and Educational Session

Typically, we have lunch and an information and status presentation at the annual meeting. All Pike Lake residents and any others are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Aquatic Invasive Species Control Plans

Plans for the 2025 season are under development, and more details will be updated at https://pikelakeneighbors.org/volunteer/ as we know them.

Some notable points:

The previous Iron County Invasive Species coordinator Zach Wilson has moved to a different job, and his position has been filled by Rayona Suelflow.
Some patches on the lake are under control, and several other new and existing hot spots have grown. We have not been able to keep up, especially in the upstream river.
We need to rely upon lakeshore owners to keep infestations in your own riparian areas under control. Ask for help and advice.
We plan two workdays on June 16 and 17, with the Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department team. On the first day we will survey Pike Lake to locate and mark all infestations of Curly Leaf Pondweed with bobbers and GPS coordinates. On the second day, we will work to pull CLP either on the lake or on the river upstream to the first rapids (Turtle Rapids). On both days, we will meet at 9:00 am at Rugger’s Landing and at Steve Anderson’s pier.
We hope to organize additional group work sessions to pull CLP at other areas as resources permit, including the upstream river, the Weber Creek bay, and the downstream river.
Volunteer efforts are organized through the watershed-wide group Turtle River Volunteers. Please join. See https://pikelakeneighbors.org/volunteer/
There is still an infestation of invasive Yellow Flag Iris on the west shore, and we need a volunteer to organize a team to clear it.
Rice Lake Association upstream is buying a mechanical harvester. We support and hope for their success.

Communication Process, FYI

Web Site

The web site at pikelakeneighbors.org is Under Construction to update and simplify it. Suggestions are welcome.

Google Email, Contacts and Drive

Pike Lake Neighbors Inc. distributes most important information by email. Please inform us if your preferred email address or other contact information changes.

The secretary and other officers use Google Contacts to keep and categorize contact information and membership status. We store important documents in Google Drive.

Email comes to and from the gmail account pikelakeneighbors. A contact form on the website also sends email to that account. https://pikelakeneighbors.org/contact-us/

Facebook Page

A lot of information and social chat happens at the Pike Lake Pikers Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/950430551986965/ Please join it.

Best Regards,

The Board of Pike Lake Neighbors, Inc.

May 13, 2025

Pike Lake Neighbors, Inc.