THE HONOR ROLL

From time to time, we include in the Newsletter an Honor Roll of those Ten Mile Lake residents who have upgraded their septic systems or installed new septic systems. We honor them because maintaining effective and safe septic systems is one of the most critical components of our ongoing effort to “preserve and improve . . . Ten Mile Lake and its environment.” The following families have improved,  replaced, or built new septic systems since we last published the Honor Roll:

We thank these residents for doing their part to protect the health of the lake.

If you or someone you know has updated a septic system and not been recognized in the Honor Roll, please let us know about it.

From the President's Desk

By Al Griggs, TMLA President

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Report of the Environment and Ecology Commitee

by Bruce Carlson, Chair

1.    LAKE WATER

Results from the July lake water sampling showed little change over the May readings or from last year. Be reminded that unless there is a major change, one can't read too much into individual readings over a short several-month interval. Especially with another dry summer, all area lakes are showing better than average readings because of a reduced inflow of nutrients. This will likely be reversed during the first wet year. A significant late August reading was a substantial decline in Secchi disk readings in the main lake (15.0 feet vs. 22.5 ft in late July). This was associated with a heavy algae bloom. It would be interesting if any readers noted better daytime walleye fishing in late August because of the decreased water clarity.

2.    WELL WATER TESTING

This July we set a recent record of 81 cabins participating in the well water testing program. Another 12 or so requests had to be refused because of a lack of collecting bottles. This was a huge increase over last year's participation. Next year we'll be sure to order more bottles. Of the 81 wells sampled, 10 tested positive for coliform bacteria and none had high nitrate levels. It is likely that most of the coliform-positive samples could be attributed to problems with sampling technique.

3.    DNR Studies on Ten Mile

Largely because of the extensive database of information on Ten Mile that has been collected by TMLA volunteers over the years, the DNR has conducted a number of pilot studies on various aspects of ecology on our lake. Last year an extensive survey of aquatic vegetation and fish was completed. Check the TMLA Website for the report on aquatic plants. This summer, surveys of shoreline amphibians and reptiles, as well as birds, are being completed, and we look forward to seeing the final reports. A new proposed DNR program, called SLICE ( Sustaining Lakes in a Changing Environment) would have Ten Mile Lake as one of about a dozen sentinel lakes throughout the state that will be closely monitored for factors that ultimately might be stressors for the fish and other inhabitants of the lake. This could be a significant program that would monitor parameters of the lake that have not been measured to date. In the long run, the more we know about the workings of the lake, the more rationally we will be able to maintain its excellent quality. Keep tuned to next year's Newsletters for more information on the SLICE program.

4.  Light Pollution

Concern has been expressed about high levels of light from cabins at night that make viewing of stars and other things in the nighttime sky more difficult. In the summer, Iowa Beach and the South Shore are noticeably more brightly studded with lights than other parts of the lake. Light pollution is an issue in many parts of the world, and some states and communities are even passing legislation to control the amount of nighttime light. To our knowledge, no such legislation exists here, but we would advise cabin owners to turn off outside lights if they are not needed. It both saves on energy consumption and makes our lake environment more pristine.  

5.  Wasps on Hummingbird Feeders

This summer we had a problem with wasps clinging to the underside of our hummingbird feeder and scaring away the hummingbirds. This was solved quite quickly by pasting several strips of double-sided Scotch tape onto the underside of the feeder. Within minutes the wasps got the message, and we haven't seen a wasp since early July.  

6.  E & E Page on TMLA Website

If you haven't checked it out, please look at the E & E page on the TMLA Website. It contains lots of information about the condition of the lake, as well as information on hazardous waste disposal, the distribution of swimmer's itch on the lake, etc.

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Chimneys

by Ken Regner

From Time to Time we talk to you about taking care of your home or cabin. Today we are going to discuss chimneys.

A chimney is a structure made of masonry, metal, wood or other material, which surrounds and supports a flue or multiple flues that vent the products of combustion from gas, oil or solid fuels used in appliances, furnaces or fireplaces. The flue is the inner part of the chimney that actually contains and vents the products of combustion. Flues can be made of clay, as is the case of most masonry chimneys, or of metal, as is the case of prefabricated or manufactured chimneys. Flues from appliances such as water heaters, gas fired clothes dryers or furnaces are also typically constructed of galvanized metal. All chimneys have a life expectancy. None of them last forever. Proper maintenance will increase their life span.

Some People mistakenly think that chimneys are built to beautify a house. WRONG! The main function of a chimney is to vent the products of combustion from your home. Unfortunately, chimneys and flues are rarely inspected to make sure that they are doing the job they were designed to do. Again, your chimney serves only one purpose. It carries the by-products of combustion and excess heat out of your house or cabin. These by-products, such as carbon monoxide, can be dangerous or even fatal if released inside your home. The by-products come from burning fuel such as gas, propane, wood or other materials. The fuel may be used to heat your home in a furnace or fireplace, heat your water, or heat your clothes dryer. You may even have a wood stove or a free standing heating stove that burns a fuel. If your chimney is not properly maintained it is also possible that enough heat can leak from it to start your house on fire.

The Exterior of Your Chimney is fairly easy to inspect. If it is constructed of brick or stone a visual inspection is easy to do. Look for loose mortar joints or cracked brick or stone. You can repair mortar joints, bricks or stone yourself with the proper techniques. If the exterior is metal, wood or other material, visual examination will probably show where repairs are needed. There are a number of “How To” books available and many Internet sites that will take you through the repairs step by step.

Examining the Flue may be more difficult and should probably be done by a professional. Most professionals use video equipment to inspect a chimney flue. If they find a problem in the flue they have the materials and training to do repairs properly. If you choose to inspect yourself remember that before a chimney flue can be inspected it must be clean. You can buy flue-cleaning brushes and clean it yourself but in most cases it is difficult to see if the flue is clean because of the offsets in it. In other words, most flues are not straight. You cannot look into it from the bottom and see blue sky out of the top. Even if you find a problem with your flue it is very difficult for the average homeowner to make necessary repairs and to do them correctly. Remember the purpose! It is critically important that the flue is intact. That means that all repairs must be done correctly.

It Is Not Possible to predict how often you should have your chimney cleaned and inspected. The fuels used, the construction, and the frequency of use all play a part in determining a proper schedule. We recommend that you consult with a chimney professional to set up a schedule. Our estimate is that the average cost for a cleaning and inspection would be $75 to $100.

To Learn More about chimneys contact the Chimney Safety Institute of America, www.csia.org,  or one of the many other on-line resources found by searching the Internet. Locally, contact one of the licensed fireplace builders or licensed building contractors. There are also several licensed chimney inspectors and cleaners in our area. You can find them in the Yellow Pages of your phone book.

Remember, Your Chimney is there to protect you so take care of it and it will serve you well for a long time. If you haven’t had your chimney inspected recently you should schedule an inspection soon.

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   AN UNDERAPPRECIATED blessing of living in America, and specifically in Minnesota, is the abundance and ready availability of fresh, clean water. While billions of people in many parts of the world spend agonizing hours  every day in a desperate search for drinking water, we take for granted that it will be there at the turn of a faucet, seldom giving a thought to what a miracle that really is. One consequence is that we waste enormous quantities (e.g., Americans use five times the amount of water that Europeans use). We also pollute our supplies in countless ways, mostly through careless practices and outright neglect. Back in the 1950s, a Colorado forester, Arthur Car-hart, wrote a book entitled “Water or Your Life.” That was before Rachael Carson’s “Silent Spring” changed our thinking about environmental issues. Carhart’s book stirred nary a ripple on the serene waters of our consciousness. It should have. We still have much to learn about caring for and using our water.

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  IT IS BECOMING increasingly difficult to find a spot on Planet Earth where the nighttime sky is dark enough to allow for truly serious (or even casual) study of the skies. The   problem is that increasing air and light pollution combine to create a phenomenon known as “sky glow”. The effect is a washing out of most of the stars overhead. An article in The New Yorker (Aug. 20) describes the “fading skies” since the time of Galileo: “Today, a person standing on the observation deck of the Empire State Building on a cloudless night would be unable to discern much more than the moon, the brighter planets, and a handful of very bright stars ― less than one per cent of what Galileo would have been able to see without a telescope.” Communities are beginning to take notice, passing ordinances that require outdoor lighting to be directed downward rather than toward the sky. Besides saving a good deal of money over time, widespread adoption of muted lighting fixtures could contribute significantly to a darkening sky. Look up the article; it’s worth your time.

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  ANOTHER SEASON has passed and our duck houses failed to attract dependable tenants. A hooded merganser took up residence in early May only to abandon her nest a couple of weeks later for no apparent reason. The other house stood empty all summer. For the first time in years, though, we had a wren find one of our bird houses to his liking. For days he was in and out of the house with nesting materials, all the while scolding anyone or any other living being in the neighborhood. All of his work, though, was for naught. No female accepted his home-building efforts. Eventually, he disappeared, but we are hopeful he’ll be back next year for another try at setting up housekeeping.

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  I’VE WRITTEN before about the apparent drop in song-bird and waterfowl numbers, but the topic is worth revisiting. An Audubon Society report in June estimated an average decline of 68 percent over the past 40 years in 20 of the most familiar bird species in America . The “culprits” are well-known: development, intensified agricultural practices — anything that destroys habitat. From our vantage point here on Chariton Beach , we have noted for the past several years fewer and fewer migrating songbirds, particularly the wave after wave of warbler varieties that would move through our beach trees in search of insects. And where waterfowl are concerned, both numbers and species are down substantially. It’s a rare treat nowadays to spot a bufflehead or a scaup, both quite common only a few years ago. Pintails, too, are nowhere to be seen.

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  ON THE NORTH SHORE, I’m told, songbirds are being threatened by marauding merlins or kestrels, relatively  small hawks that prey primarily on mice and insects, but will dine on songbirds when the opportunity presents it-self. Tell-tale signs are clusters of feathers scattered on the forest floor.

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  THE NUMBER OF Minnesota lakes known to have infestations of Eurasian Water Milfoil has grown to 197, the nearest to TML being Leech and Kimball Lakes , the latter in Crow Wing County . Members of the E & E Committee boat Ten Mile every fall on the lookout for this and other exotic species; so far none has been found. You can help. If you spot any suspicious-looking plant, chart its exact location and take it immediately to the DNR office south of Walker on #371 for identification. Early detection may offer a fighting chance at eradication.

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  HOW MANY FISH species are there in Ten Mile? Well, we don’t know for certain, but at least 15 have strayed into DNR nets and traps during sampling surveys in recent years, or have manifested themselves in other ways. They are: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, whitefish, yellow perch, pumpkinseed sunfish, hybrid sunfish, yellow bullhead, brown bullhead, bowfish (dogfish), bluegill, rock bass and tullibee (cisco). Lake and rainbow trout have been stocked in TML years ago, but it is doubtful whether any of either has survived.

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  IF YOU ARE AMONG those who are a tad confused over the difference between global warming and climate change, the respected Pew Center offers this quick clarification: “Global warming” refers to the gradual increase of the Earth’s average surface temperature, due to a build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. “Climate change” is a broader term that refers to long-term changes in climate, including average temperature and precipitation, as well as changes in the seasonal or geographic variability of temperature and precipitation. Now you know.

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Financial Issues

 New Gifting Policy Brochure Included with This Issue of the Newsletter

By Tom Cox

At our 55^th Annual Meeting in August, John Hartzell of the Conservation Committee introduced a colorful new brochure describing the new TMLA Gifting Policy which the Board of Directors approved at its July meeting.

Prompted by the interest members have shown in making special gifts to the Association, the Board has published this brochure both to inform Ten Milers of the basics of Association financing and to inspire and guide future giving.

In its pages you will discover the history both of regular dues-based support and of special giving to the Association beginning with the landmark Sundin gift of the mid-eighties and continuing through the establishment of the James W. Schwartz Environmental Preservation Fund (JWS EPF) in 1998 and the Richard G. Garbisch Conservation Fund in 2006. You will also find a brief story of the parcels of shoreland and other parcels given to the Association over the years.

Since it was established in 1998, the JWS EPF has served the Association well, and it remains the Board’s depository of choice for contributors’ financial gifts. However, recognizing that other avenues may be more appealing to some contributors, the Board presents its new Gifting Policy to outline and explain these alternative ways of supporting the TMLA’s long term goals:

1.          Occasional and Annual Gifts Over and Above Annual Dues Payments

·   Memorials (Designated and Undesignated)

·   Other Designated Gifts

·   Other Undesignated Gifts

2.          TMLA Endowment Fund (New)

3.          Named Endowment Funds (New)

4.          Land Contributions

5.          Conservation Easements (New)

6.          Bequests

John Hartzell has seen this publication project through to completion. Take a few moments to peruse this informative and inspiring brochure. Then file it with your other useful Ten Mile information (perhaps in your TMLA members’ notebook) for future reference.

Sales Brisk for Ten Mile Lake History : 200 Years

By Lorraine Stromquist, Chair,  History Committee

The Ten Mile Lake History book was developed and com-piled by the TMLA History Committee, printed by SpectrumTMLA 55^th Annual Meeting August 4th. To date, the Committee has sold 400+ copies. It is a beautiful hard cover book, very well written, and especially interesting because of all the entertaining stories told. Readers have expressed enthusiasm and praise for the book's publication. Contents include Ten Mile Lake Farming and Neighborhood Histories; Lake Development , Fishing and Boating Histories; Maps, Pictures, numerous Historic Stories and events that friends of Ten Mile Lake will enjoy. The book is ideal as a gift to relatives and friends at Christmas time and other memorable occasions.

Some of you did not submit stories and are not included in the histories printed. The History Committee would like to hear from you. If enough additional stories are submitted, the Committee will publish an addendum. Please mail or E-mail your story(s) and select photos to Lorraine Stromquist. We are very interested in the stories of old time residents but also want to hear from younger and newer families of the lake who are now creating much lake history.

At $35, plus $5 shipping, Ten Mile Lake History: 200 Years can be obtained from:

Please make checks payable to the Ten Mile Lake Association.

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History

What are you Fishing With?

by Kim (Abraham) Moe

Antique Fishing Tackle from the 1920s, 30s, 40s, and 50s is becoming an interesting collectible for the “Baby Boomer” generation. Before you cast out that old bait you got from your grand-father or dad, you had better know just what you are fishing with!

Many of Us may have been lucky enough to have acquired some tackle that has been in the family for years. What a perfect way to start collecting! To learn more about the lures you have from the past, you can make use of several fine resources. For instance, take a look on the internet under “Antique Lures.” You may also use reference books. These books have colored photos of the lures, descriptions, dates of particular lure models, and prices on the collector’s market. Fishing Tackle, Antiques and Collectibles, by Karl White is one of the best. You can also become informed by asking questions at flea markets and antique tackle shows.

The Leading North American lure manufacturers from our past were Heddon, Pflueger, Shakespear, South Bend , Creek Club, and Paw-Paw. Even the wooden or cardboard boxes the lures were sold in are of antique value today.

Antique Lures come in many distinctive varieties. Some rattle and clank; some are jointed; and some have diving lips or propellers added to help the bait seem more realistic and perform at the end of the line. Lure colors are infinite.

Pay Special Attention to the eyes on your lures. The earlier baits had rustic, lifeless tack eyes. Later on glass eyes were used as were cheaper painted eyes.

Note how the hooks are attached to the bait. Eye screws, bent wires, and staples were used to hold the hooks on earlier baits. The “cup rig” was typical of the Heddon brand baits. The “L-rig” had an eye which screwed into the center of the metal cup. Some had a “toilet seat rig,” meaning the tiny screws holding the hooks on were on each side of the center. The “one piece rig” was developed in the 1940s.

The Value of an Antique Lure depends on demand, age of the lure, rarity, desirability, color, and condition. The condition of how your lures look is called “Grading.”  The grading process can get very picky. Knowledgeable collectors look for defects that alter the grade of the lure. Some may go so far as to use a 10X magnifying glass. They look for

Antique Baits should never be repainted, varnished, or touched-up. These efforts will remove a bait from a collectible status; it will be considered an “arts and crafts” lure.

Here Are the General Grading terms for antique lures:

You may get hooked on antique lure collecting. Just don’t rationalize how valuable that ratty old lure might be. It is doubtful that you have the 1903 wooden lure that sold for $9,500 in 1998 or the wooden lure that sold for $50,000 in 2001!

Water Issues

But first I want to say “Thank you!” to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for helping the Ten Mile Lake Association track and evaluate the levels of mercury in TML fish and for advising us on the health of the Ten Mile Lake fishery and the residents who catch fish and eat them!

Updated Fish Consumption Advisory

 For Ten Mile Lake

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and the Minnesota Department of Health collaborate in producing the fish consumption advisory. Each year, the DNR collects fish from lakes and rivers for testing. The fish are analyzed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the data are shared with the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Most fish are healthy to eat and fun to catch. Fish are an excellent source of low-fat protein. Eating fish may help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses. But any fish (store-bought or sport-caught) could contain contaminants such as mercury and PCBs that may harm human health - especially the development of children and fetuses. You can't see, smell, or taste the mercury or PCBs in fish. That's why it is so important to know which fish are safer to eat.

The Minnesota Department of Health provides advice on how often fish can safely be eaten different population groups: (1) Kids and moms, and (2)  the general population (everybody else).  The advisory developed for Ten Mile Lake was provided to us by Pat McCann with the Minnesota Department of Health, Health Risk Assessment Environmental Health Division in St. Paul . It is shown on a separate flier that you can post in your kitchen to remind you about what size fish you can eat and how often.

Waters are selected for sampling where angling is popular, where there is a known or suspected pollution source, or where fish contaminant trends are being tracked, such as Ten Mile Lake. Mercury is found in most fish tested from Minnesota lakes. PCBs are found mainly in Lake Superior and major rivers such as the Mississippi River . The data on which our advisory is based are shown in a table on the website, along with a table of data for fish sampled statewide.

Mark Briggs with the MDNR, St. Paul office noted that: “I think if you look at the level we found in Ten Mile and compared it to fish statewide, they’re actually running a little lower than the average. It’s probably also true that the mercury levels in Ten Mile are pretty typical for lakes in Cass County in general.”

My evaluation of the existing data suggests the following:

·       Eat the smaller fish and let the larger ones go. This is not inconsistent with the TMLA Fisheries Committee catch and release policy to maintain a good reproduction rate for our fisheries.

·       PCB’s have not been evaluated since 1989 and it appears, based on MDNR data, that the levels are being reduced in fisheries around the state as PCB use is being eliminated.  However it would be nice to have another set of data to determine if this is the case in Ten Mile Lake.

·       The concentrations of mercury in our walleye fisheries seem to be decreasing.

·       The concentrations of mercury in our northern pike fisheries seem to be increasing.

·       Small mouth bass have higher concentrations of mercury than large mouth bass

·       Pan fish have the lower mercury concentrations.