From the Notebook

by Jim Schwartz

New research suggests that lakes, if left un-disturbed, do not age in quite the way it had been assumed. The prevailing assumption has been that once lakes are born, they go through a natural aging process, picking up more nutrients and algae as they grow older. Two University of Minnesota scientists, however, have a different scenario, based on studies of several lakes in the Alaskan wilderness that were from 10 to 14,000 years old. They found that, as these remote lakes aged, they actually became clearer and nutrient concentrations decreased. What this study tells us is that the heavy hand of man can and usually does have a profoundly negative effect on a lake's aging. Obviously, we would do well to heed Mahatma Ghandi's dictum to tread lightly as possible upon the earth.

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From an environmental standpoint, motorized watercraft have little that can be said in their favor. They are inefficient, pollution prone, noisy and expensive. We put up with all that because they are needed if we are to enjoy our lakes to the fullest. But that does not mean marine motors cannot be improved. They can be . . . and lake people should be in the forefront of those pressuring manufacturers to step up their efforts to produce cleaner, more efficient, quieter engines.

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Minnesota's State Bird, the common loon, occupies an uncommonly warm spot in most lake-dwellers' hearts. Nothing quite matches the thrill of hearing that first loon call as the ice begins to loosen its wintry grip. Soon a chorus echoes back and forth as others join the choir, serenading well into the nighttime hours those who will listen. It is a hauntingly beautiful performance - a magical message from Mother Nature.

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Every charted lake in Minnesota has what is known as its Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM). Ten Mile's, for example, is 1379.9 feet above sea level. It is determined by noting the highest level at which the lake's water has remained long enough to leave its mark upon the landscape. Generally, it is the point where the natural vegetation changes from predominantly aquatic to predominantly terrestrial. Knowing the OHWM is critical in recording a lake's water level fluctuations. As you well know, this has been an abnormally high water year for Ten Mile. Walt Kane, who keeps track of Ten Mile's ups and downs, says the lake topped out so far this year at 1380.22, besting by .01' the 1380.21' high established in 1979.

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"Silly as a goose" is a popular adage, but at least some Canada goose behavior is anything but. When geese are migrating, for instance, the flap of each bird's wings creates an "uplift" for the bird following. By flying in V-formation, the whole flock adds an estimated 71% range to what each bird's would be if it flew alone. Lesson: community effort pays.

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It appears that we dodged the forest tent caterpillar bullet this year, but a heavy infestation of the pesky critters next season is likely. The caterpillars were much more numerous this year than last, an indication that the buildup is under way. This area's last such invasion came in the early 1990's and lasted a couple of years before predators and other forces, natural and otherwise, brought on a population crash. The caterpillar defoliates hardwood trees, particularly aspen and birch, in May and June, then goes into the pupal stage in preparation for the next season. Affected trees seldom die, but defoliation does put them under stress and exposes them to other problems. One recommended control mechanism is aerial spraying of defined areas with a microbial insecticide (Bt), considered a safe treatment because of its low toxicity to non-target organisms. Other measures include picking the caterpillars and their cocoons from buildings and trees and destroying them, and also identifying and destroying the moths. More information on what to do about the forest tent caterpillar may be obtained from your County Extension Office or from the Department of Natural Resources.

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DO YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM a good turn this year by: limiting your water use, flushing only bio-degradable wastes into your system, eliminating the use of a garbage disposal unit, avoiding the application of bacterial products that promise to "renew" your system (you don't need them and they may do more harm than good), not using chlorinated or other toilet tank cleaners, and, above all, seeing to it that your system is pumped and backwashed at the end of the season, a practice that should be repeated every three to five years, depending on how much your system is used.

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FISHING NOTES

by Nick Mellby, Co-Chair
Fisheries Committee

Walleye heads for the DNR study may be dropped off at the following locations in addition to the DNR office located south of Walker: Ted Mellby's (lower Ten Mile), Larry Urbanski's (upper Ten Mile), and Happiness Resort (Long Bay). As noted in the spring newsletter, this is an important study in determining the amount of natural reproduction on Ten Mile and helps us in attaining our goal to improve our fishery.

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The 20-inch Northern regulation remains in effect until 2007. All Northerns greater than 20 inches must be released immediately. There is evidence of significant noncompliance with this regulation. Please follow this release practice and encourage others to do so also. The 2000 net survey shows some signs that this is working, as the average Northern size has increased slightly since the 1997 survey.

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Please do not remove or disturb any aquatic plants. Fish habitat is very difficult to restore once destroyed. Following lakescaping practices will not only help our water quality but enhance our fish habitat. The committee is currently looking into ways of improving fish habitat on the lake. Anyone with thoughts on creating and protecting habitat is encouraged to contact the committee.

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NO-WAKE ZONE AREAS are not only subject to shoreline erosion, but also are areas that contain critical fish habitat. Boat traffic can destroy fish spawning and nesting areas. Please be conscious of these areas and other shallow water areas particularly during the spawning season of May and early June. In an effort to identify spawning areas, please contact the fishing committee if you have witnessed specific spawning or nesting activity.

PERSONAL FISHING LOGS can be of significant help in assessing fish populations and overall strength of the fishery. Please contact Nick Mellby if you are keeping such a log or are interested in starting one. We can work with DNR in standardizing the format if we have enough interest. 

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THE DNR WILL BE STOCKING 1300 pounds of walleye fry this fall. A similar sized stocking last took place in 1998. 

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BAG LIMIT DISCUSSIONS from early this year will most likely lead to changes in current regulations. Any changes will not take effect until the 2002 season. Look for summary of changes in the spring 02 newsletter. 

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THE FISHING COMMITTEE WELCOMES any comments, suggestions, or experiences. This feedback helps in protecting our precious and limited resource. 

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PROMOTE THE PRACTICE OF CATCH AND RELEASE. This can be as rewarding as bringing in a full stringer. Keep just enough for a meal and don't let tomorrow's trophies become freezer burnt garbage.

GOOD FISHING!!

A NOTE ON GEESE

by Jim Schwartz, Associate Editor

TEN MILE IS HOME to at least one Canada goose family. Six goslings, along with Mom and Dad, cruise the lakeshore, pausing now and then to waddle up on land and gorge on the goodie they dearly love: lawn grass. In so doing, of course, they always leave a few calling cards, a "gift" not highly appreciated by lake residents.

One way of discouraging geese from invading your property is to let the shoreline revert to natural vegetation. Geese tend to avoid such areas because the high-growing plants make it difficult for them to spot predators. If you are in the habit of feeding geese and other waterfowl, it's probably not a good idea. Not only are their droppings a nuisance, but those nutrients also lead to the proliferation of organisms in the water that produce swimmer's itch.

THE LOON REPORT

by Bob Moe, Loon Committee

IT APPEARS THAT the loon hatch on Ten Mile is down from previous years, but we have two chicks to report as of this writing (July 7, 2001). The pair on the south side of the island were successful with one chick (on a platform) and the pair in the opening to Long Bay were also able to produce a chick (on a shore nest).

FOR THE FIRST TIME in several years, the pair that returns to Flower Pot Bay has not been successful in producing a brood, even though two eggs were laid on the platform and the pair did stay on the nest for a couple of days. The pair at the south end of Long Bay has also not been able to produce, and it is possible that the high water and wet weather may have driven the loons off their nest there (as it also did in Lundstrom's Bay).

WE WILL CONTINUE to check on the progress of the newly hatched loons, and will look into placing a good platform in or near Lundstrom's Bay next year to aid the loons in their attempts to keep their nests out of the high water.