Big Pine Lake Weir Dam Update
October 2026, published announcement from BPLPOA.
The Big Pine Lake dam is located on Tom Hubbard’s property on the southwest end of the lake. The dam outlet is the lake’s sole water exit and feeds into Round Lake. The dam was originally built sometime near the 1920’s and was repaired in the 1980’s when Tom’s father was the dam steward (dates are approximate). The concrete structure has eroded over the years and is in need of replacement.
The primary option being considered is a Weir dam. The Weir dam is designed to maintain the water level of the original dam elevation (no change to lake level). This Weir dam was proposed by the DNR to enable fish migration between Minnesota waterways. This project is funded through a Soil Health Delivery Grant which is a 90% cost share grant (BPLPOA pays 10%). This dam design was approved the first half of 2026 and sent out for bids with expectations the Lake Association would fund the project at costs of < $10k. Initial quotes came back in August and were two to three times higher than the budgeted BPLPOA share of the cost.
There is a committee of BPLPOA Board members working with Tom Hubbard, the Soil and Water Conservation District and the DNR to explore options. This committee reached a decision to move the target construction date to the Fall of 2027 allowing time to assess other options including rescoping the current dam design, soliciting project estimates from other contractors, evaluating a concrete dam solution, and identifying alternate sources of funding such as grants or property assessments.
The DNR has been requested to review the current dam integrity as it remains in place thru 2027.
Rich Segar (Board Treasurer and Meeting Coordinator)
Tom Hubbard (Board Past-President and Dam Steward/Property Owner)
Mike Moore (Board Vice President)
Ron Frehner (Association Member)
Review the 2024 Wier dam flyer from Jake Frie of the DNR PDF flyer
Shoreline Restoration Project
July 2026, article from Aitkin Age, written by Kat Robb.
This article in the Aitkin Age highlights Rich and Marie Segar’s shoreline restoration project on Big Pine Lake with Laura Mendoza. Mendoza is the owner/consultant of Great Roots LLC specializing in environmentally friendly shoreline restoration projects and education. “We began this journey two years ago as we were experiencing significant lakeshore erosion from natural and recreational waves, ice dams and topside water run-off from an adjacent hill and buildings,” explained Rich.
Read the full PDF article
A Converted Farmhouse with Forever Charm
April/May 2025, article from Lake Country Journal, written by Jim Mans, photographed by Jeff Collins.
Featured in the Lake Country Journal, this story follows Bob and Sharon Navarre as they discover their dream retirement home on Big Pine Lake- a historic 1910 lakeside property they thoughtfully restored, preserving its history while transforming it into a cherished gathering place for family. Their commitment to preserving its character and their deep connection to the lake reflects the pride and stewardship shared by the Big Pine Lake community.
Read the full PDF article
Big Pine Lake, goes “All In” – Pilots New Lake Association Membership Structure
Article from the Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Association (MLR) website by Tom Hubbard, photo credit: Tom Hubbard.
After several years of working with Jeff Forester and seeing the impactful work of Minnesota Lakes & Rivers (MLR), The Big Pine Lake Property Owners Association (BPLPOA) has modestly increased its annual contribution and purchased MLR memberships for 100 of its members. This gives those members full access to MLR benefits, including the monthly newsletter, enhancing the value of BPLPOA membership.
By strengthening our partnership with MLR, we support their mission to educate, advise, lobby, and advocate for the protection of Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. We believe that an informed and engaged membership helps us better protect Big Pine Lake and influence public policy—fulfilling our mission of preserving and enhancing the quality of our lakes.
Read the full article on the MLR website