Spring Member Meeting
The Spring Matthews Lake Member Meeting was held on Saturday May 23, 2026, at 10:00 AM at N10636 Lodge Road (Lindberg’s Garage). We provided an update on the outlet and discussions with the DNR to repair the structure. Many members came together to hear updates on current projects, discuss lake health and water quality, review […]
Rumbling Ice, Slow Hearts, and Mid-Winter Manners
Greetings, ‘Bovers! February has arrived, and if you thought January was slow, you should see us now. Down here, time doesn’t tick; it drips. As I mentioned in my last letter, we ‘Neathers are in “low-power mode,” but February is when that really gets tested. The snow on top of the ice has gotten thicker, […]
Radar, Red Lures, and Why Your Soup Tastes Like Sidewalk Salt
Greetings, ‘Bovers! It’s late January, the time of year when your world is a chaotic blur of snow-blowers and lost mittens, while my world is a silent, icy gray cathedral. The bottom line is that this time of year I always find myself with time on my hands and thought I’d check in. Down here, […]
Slow Motion, Silence, and Surface Noise
Howdy, ‘Bovers! It’s January, and the ceiling of our home is thick, beautiful ice—it’s like living inside a giant, frosty igloo! Life down here is quieter than a library, and moves slower than a grandpa trying to find his reading glasses. We fish have officially shifted into Winter Snooze Mode. We’re cold-blooded, which means when […]
Family Discovery: Tools for the Team
For the Grandchildren (Ages 4-12) The Color Mystery: Next time you’re out, drop a red object and a blue object into the water (on a string!). Which one stays bright the longest? Activity: Build a Secchi Disk (a black and white circle) to see how clear Chuck’s “soup” is today! For the Parents (The Guardians) […]
Frozen Beauty, Thriving Life: A Look at Matthews Lake’s Winter Ecosystem
Hello neighbors! As the vibrant colors of autumn fade, a new season settles over Matthews Lake. Winter is a truly magical time here—a season of quiet beauty, essential ecological change, and new opportunities for enjoyment and stewardship. This article is the first in a new monthly series from the Matthews Lake Association (MLA). Our goal […]
President’s Letter
Matthews Lake Association: With August knocking on the door, I wonder where summer went. We’ve spent a little more time up here than in the past. Significant events include: – Changing of the guard at the Memorial Day meeting. Thank you to Dick Howard for his 2 year reign and leadership through Healthy Lakes program, […]
Wake Surf Study Released
A new University of Minnesota study confirms that wakesurfing scours lakebeds, destroys fish habitat, and stirs up long-dormant pollutants in our glacial lakes. The long awaited University of Minnesota Phase II study is now out and the results are not good for Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes. The most important conclusion is that wakeboats in wake […]
Cyanobacteria Information
On June 27, we identified a Cyanobacteria outbreak on Matthews lake. We noticed 2″ round spheres of algae floating in the water last weekend along with a “fishy” smell. Dick today observed the following: I just got up at the lake, examined our shoreline and found two smaller examples that appear to me to be […]
Lake Chemistry Report – May 2025
Acceptable Ranges for Key Lake Water Quality Parameters Parameter Our Value Typical Range (Good Water Quality) Notes Total Phosphorus 0.023 mg/L Oligotrophic: < 0.010 mg/LMesotrophic: 0.010–0.020 mg/LEutrophic: > 0.030 mg/L Your lake is borderline mesotrophic(moderate nutrients) Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (SRP) ND < 0.005 mg/L Not detected = excellent Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) 0.54 mg/L < […]