Supporting First Response

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Our duck nesting box tale this season ended in tragedy. As spring wore on, we watched the daily comings and goings of the hooded merganser hen that had taken up residence in the box just to the east of our cottage. In late June, as we were having lunch, we noted that our waterfowl “companion” had left the nest and was sitting, rather forlornly, we thought, on the cover of my fishing boat lift, facing the nest. She didn’t move, just sat there staring at the nesting box. Finally, she stood, took one last look at the box, and flew off. When I investigated I found egg shell pieces and feathers strewn around the base of the tree stump on which the nestling box is mounted. It was all too clear: a predator had scaled the stump, entered the box, and devoured the contents. In all probablilty the raider was a mink; we’ve spotted one roaming our beach a couple of times this year. Whatever the critter actually was, it shattered our hopes that yet another clutch of ducklings would join the world of nature from our modest “hatchery.”

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You probably have heard those scare stories making the rounds these days about how dangerous it is to drink water from plastic bottles. Legend has it that poisonous dioxins are leached from the bottles into the water. Not so. Dr. Rolf Halden, of Johns Hopkins, an ac-knowledged authority, says plastic bottles pose no risk to humans because there are no dioxins in such containers. Halden says a far greater environmental risk comes from burning wastes, particularly hospital wastes, and, get this, backyard burn barrels. The latter, he says, can put out as much or more dioxins as a full-sized incinerator burning hundreds of tons of refuse per day. And, by the way, burn barrels are illegal in Minnesota .

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Clarity readings in Ten Mile’s main lake basin have been reassuringly good this year, ranging from 19’ on our first reading May 9 to a season’s best 25.5’ on July 16, then dipping to 19.5’ as August came to a close. All main lake readings between the beginning of May and the end of August (14 of them) were 20’ or better. Long’s Bay, typically a few feet shy of main lake readings, stayed true to form, with variations from 13.5’ to 18.5’. At the end of August, Long’s Bay’s measurement was 17.5’. My reasoning on why clarity declines in Long’s Bay:

(1)       The bay is the drainage conduit for the main lake, and, as such, concentrates nutrients as the flushing process proceeds; more nutrients, more algae, less clarity.

(2)    Relatively speaking, surface water activity in the bay is greater than on the main lake, suggesting higher levels of motor pollutants and a more vigorous “stirring and mixing” action, both of which could bring about a reduction in clarity.

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Given all the attention paid to waste water treatment systems in recent years, you might be surprised to learn there are at least 50,000 of what are called straight-pipe systems operating in the state. They transport raw or partially treated sewage directly into a lake, stream, drainage system, or on the ground surface. Although they have been illegal for a long time, no effective enforcement provision was available. Now new legislation is on the books for up to a $500 per month fine for property owners whose illegal systems have been identified, and who to do not make the required corrections within 10 months of notification. Good.

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One of the area’s more spectacular birds, the pileated woodpecker, appears to be on the increase. Not only have we seen them more frequently this year than usual, but on one July day three at one time were hammering away at a dead jackpine stump on our beach. Splinters, huge ones, were flying every which way as the birds made their separate ways up, down, and around the bole. Finally, having exhausted themselves or the bug fare they were hunting, they flew off. Since then, the return is one at a time. In the meantime, the demolition process has been enormously entertaining.

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Still another bird whose numbers seem to be multiplying is the common crow. It’s not at all unusual to see two or three scouring the territory around our side yard bird feeder. They gulp large quantities from our suet feeder; their raucous cries wake us early in the morning; their nestling young plead endlessly for nourishment; they stalk the shore in search of whatever it is that crows feed upon; they are notorious nest robbers. They are a smart and wily creature, to be sure, with a secure place in the overall order, but I, for one, could do with fewer of them.

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Since 1982 I have been keeping data on surface water temperature at the end of my dock. The thermo-meter is located on the shaded side and the probe extends into the water about two feet. As readings this summer climbed into the 80s during a two-week period in July and August, I fell to wondering whether or when any-thing like that might have happened in previous years. Turns out there were occasional 80 and 80+ degree readings in 1983 (6), 1987 (2) and 1999(2), but none in the other 16 years during that span. The change, if that’s what it is, came at the turn of the century. In 2001 there were nine days in the 80s (one at 85 degrees); in 2002, eleven days; in 2003, thirteen; in 2004, just one, and in 2005 ten. Since 2,000, many of the July/August readings are in the high 70s.These data cannot be called scientifically accurate, but they are interesting.

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Septic Systems and Your Health

by Ken Regner, Environment & Ecology Committee

q       Hire a reputable contractor to pump out your septic tank on a schedule that is correct for your system.  Your septic maintenance company can help you develop this schedule.

q       If you have two leach fields, switch them every year.

4. Reduce your use of fertilizer: Use lawn and garden fertilizers only when necessary, and always according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Where can we have our water tested?

Each year TMLA designates a day in mid July for well water testing. The date is well publicized in our newsletter and on our Ten Mile Lake website.

Sample sites are located on both Upper and Lower Ten Mile Lake Roads and are clearly identified by sign. If you miss this opportunity to have your well water tested you can get a sampling kit from Cass County in Walker and they will test your well water for you.

There are many reasons that we all enjoy living in our rural area and on our lake. Along with our enjoyment we also have responsibilities. One of them is to protect ground water from being contaminated by household waste and other activities.  Doing so insures better well water quality for you and your neighbors.  Please take your responsibility seriously.

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Swimmer's Itch

by Bruce Carlson, Chair, Environment & Ecology Committee

In recent years there have been increasing numbers of reports from lakeshore residents of swimmer's itch. I have never had swimmer's itch, but from reports of those who have, it sounds like a case of aquatic chiggers. Despite the prevalence of swimmer's itch, many people don't seem to have information on what it is and how to deal with it.

WHAT IS SWIMMER’S ITCH?

Swimmer's itch is actually a parasitic condition in which people act as accidental and inappropriate hosts. You know if you have it because within a few minutes after coming out of the water your skin tingles, burns or itches. Within 12 hours you may develop small reddish pimples, which may develop into small blisters on your skin. The itching may last as long as a week before going away on its own.

How people get swimmer's itch in the first place requires a bit of knowledge of the life cycle of the parasite. The parasite is a species of schistosome, a small flatworm that lives in the blood of ducks and muskrats. These parasites produce eggs that are passed into the water with the feces of the ducks. The eggs hatch and develop into larvae that take up residence in certain snails. Within the snails, these parasitic larvae release another larval form, called a cercariae, into the water. The cercariae swim about in the water in search of a duck or muskrat host, but if they encounter a human, they get confused and assume that the person is an appropriate host. The cercariae actually burrow into the swimmer's skin, and that's where the trouble begins. Once inside, they set off a local allergic reaction that results in itching and redness. Because it is an allergic reaction, the reaction might get worse upon repeated exposure.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT SWIMMER’S ITCH?

Short Term: The best thing is not to get it in the first place, and that would be to avoid swimming in places known to be contaminated. However, this may not be practical for cabin owners who are tied to one place. If you do swim in such an area, there are a couple of things that will reduce your chances of contracting the condition. One is to dry yourself thoroughly with a towel immediately after leaving the water. Toweling wipes the parasites off your skin. If you allow yourself to air dry, you are setting yourself up for an infection. This is particularly important for children who play at the water's edge and have many cycles of getting wet and drying off without toweling. Another way of preventing it is to take a shower immediately after leaving the lake.

If you do get swimmer's itch, which by the way is not contagious, try not to scratch it or you may set yourself up for a secondary bacterial infection in areas where you have broken the skin. To reduce the itchiness, you might try Calamine lotion, corticosteroid creams, cold compresses or bathing in Epson salts. Normally swimmer's itch does not require medical attention.

Long Term. The best long-term solution is to eliminate the parasites from the water. The place to start is not to attract ducks. DO NOT FEED THE DUCKS!  The longer ducks remain in one locality, the more parasitic eggs they will deposit in the water. Once the ducks are gone, the infestation of schistosomes will go down as the infected snails in the area die. This may take most of a season or a year or so. The only way that new snails can be infected is by eggs released from ducks or muskrats.

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Wither Arthur's?

by Tom Cox

Ten Milers’ conversations this summer have been rife with rumors about Arthur’s Restaurant, longtime staple of the local dining scene and Ten Mile’s only nearby lake view dining venue. Is Arthur’s for sale?  Has it already been sold?  Is it true that the restaurant will disappear with multiple condos taking its place?  Will the owners of such condos have direct access to Ten Mile?

On the basis of September conversations with Dan and Cindee Petrie and others, this article seeks to answer with the best information available to date the question, “Whither Arthur’s?”

This fall Dan and Cindee PETRIE celebrated their fifth season as Arthur’s owners and operators, having bought the restaurant from Grant and Chris Oppegaard and taken charge of restaurant operations from Jeff and Nancy Hanson in 2002. The Arthur’s property includes not only the restaurant but also approximately 32.5 acres on both sides of 371 including Ten Mile Lake shore (according to County parcel maps, not more than 30 feet). Chef Ed Harapat has been with Arthur’s for the past four summers..

Many Ten Milers who are frequent Arthur’s patrons have enjoyed getting to know the Petries personally. And with the Petries’ home so close by – the apartment directly above the restaurant – many of us have also met the Petries’ two delightful young children: daughter, Ellie, and son, John, who are not shy about socializing happily with diners. But for the children, and for Dan and Cindee, these past five years have not provided an altogether normal family life. Now, with John, two, and Ellie about to turn seven, the Petries have decided to return to Cindee’s native St. Cloud, where they can be near her family and have a more normal life in a home separate from their business.

So, yes, Arthur’s is for sale , and has been since early this year. Cindee’s father, John Benson, who is a real estate appraiser and broker in St. Cloud , is the broker.

But as of this writing (September 20), Arthur’s has not yet sold. The Petries have received letters of intent from possible buyers. For business reasons, understandably, the Petries do not want to discuss publicly the proposals contained in those letters. Meanwhile, there is an investment group being formed consisting of Ten Mile residents who are interested in keeping Arthur’s as a restaurant and who are currently working on finding a suitable new restaurant owner/operator. The Petries themselves are not party to this latter effort.

Again, as of this writing, Arthur’s ultimate fate is still unknown. Like the Ten Mile investor group, Dan and Cindee have made it clear that they would like Arthur’s to continue as a restaurant. However, much as they would prefer the restaurant tradition to continue, they have also been clear about the necessity for them of ultimately making a “business decision.”

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Water Level Below Average in 2005

by Tom Cox, Chair, Environmental Committee

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Conservation Easements as a Way to Preserve Property

by Jim Miller, Chair, Conservation Committee

Over the last few months, the TMLA Conservation Committee has had a number of meetings, including one at Cass County Courthouse with a Conservation Easement consultant, Cass County officials, and Ten Mile Lake property owners interested in learning more about conservation easements. The committee has recommended that the TMLA Board of Directors place conservation easements on all of the TMLA-owned owned properties. The Board agreed.

On August 25, our committee had an informative and beneficial meeting with Jane Prohaska and Francis Fitzgerald of Minnesota Land Trust (MLT); Tom Buss, Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation; and Karen Nagengast, Chair of Hiram Township Planning Commission.

A Conservation Easement Subcommittee consisting of John Hartzell, Vice Chair of our Conservation Committee, Al Griggs, TMLA President, John Alden, Barrett Colombo, Jim McGill and myself has been working on implementation. We will be working with Francis Fitzgerald, Conservation Director for the northern region of MLT to implement the easements on TMLA properties.

A conservation easement is a legally recorded agreement by which land owners voluntarily restrict use of their lands. A land owner conveys the conservation easement to, for instance, MLT, retains title to the property, the right to sell it, the right to restrict public access, and the right to deed it to whomever he or she chooses. However, most or all of the rights to develop in the future are restricted or eliminated.

The TMLA easements will be assigned to MLT. MLT is a private, nonprofit, land conservation organization dedicated to permanently protecting the land and waters that define our communities and enrich our quality of life.

One of the advantages conservation easements have for individual property owners is that under certain conditions, donors become eligible for income, estate and property tax benefits. Recent tax legislation includes three charitable contributions provisions designed to encourage conservation easements during approximately a two year period. These new provisions are effective for 2006 and 2007 for most individuals. Because of TMLA’s nonprofit status, there will not be any tax benefits to TMLA other than possible reductions in future property taxes.

The three new provisions are:

(1)   An increase in the deductibility limitation from 30 to 50 percent of annual income.

(2)   A fifteen year carryover on any fair market value in excess of the 50 percent limit instead of the normal 5 year carryover.

(3)   Farmers and ranchers are allowed a 100 percent of income limit and a 15 year carryover for conservation easements for land that remains in agriculture production.

TMLA acquired a key Kenfield Bay property while I was President. Since then, six other parcels of property have been generously donated to TMLA. These are the properties we are currently hoping to put conservation easements on, if appropriate.

TMLA will consider accepting contributions of other properties and/or assisting members with conservation easements on their property.

For your information, conservation easement information pamphlets published by the Minnesota Land Trust and North Central Counties are enclosed with this Newsletter. They further explain some of the benefits available to you as land owners.

At our TMLA annual meeting on August 4, 2007 , a panel of experts, including Jane Prohaska, President of MLT, will discuss conservation easements in place on TMLA-owned properties and conservation easement options available to Ten Mile property owners. Between now and then, feel free to contact any member of our Conservation Easement Subcommittee with questions. You can call me on weekends at Ten Mile Lake at 218 547-3337 or at 612 376-4506 during the week.

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