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Ten Mile Lake Association

Newsletter

Summer Edition, 2006

Annual Meeting Features Speaker from Minnesota Waters

The featured speaker at the Annual Meeting of the Ten Mile Lake Association (TMLA) will be Paula West, Director of Public Policy and Conservation Stewardship for Minnesota Waters (MnWA). She will share a short slide presentation about the overdevelopment on the White Fish Chain of Lakes.

 Minnesota Waters calls itself “the confluence of the Minnesota Lakes Association (MLA) and the Rivers Council of Minnesota.” Its mission is to “promote responsible stewardship of our water resources by engaging citizens, State, and local policy makers and other like-minded partners in the protection and restoration of our lakes and rivers.” It expects to achieve that mission “through watershed education, citizen monitoring, supporting conservation stewardship, influencing public policy, and empowering citizen groups to manage their local water resources.”

Ms. West, who was Executive Director of MLA before the formation of MnWA, has a B.S. in Biology from Iowa State University , and owned an environmental communications company, West Communications, before joining MLA. She has worked for over 20 years in nonprofit and corporate settings as an active advocate for water resource protection and conservation. She has also been an active volunteer with federal, state, and local lake management agencies and organizations for over 25 years. She is active in local water management in Crow Wing County , and in September received the 2002 statewide award, “Friend of Local Water Management” from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources.

Arrive at the meeting by 9:30 a.m. to have some coffee, visit with your neighbors, and view the exhibits prepared by our TMLA committees. The meeting will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. and end by 11:30 a.m.

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The Loon Journal

by Bob Moe, Chair, Loon Committee

We have good news and bad news about the loon hatch for 2006. The Good News: it seems we were successful with six definite and possibly eight chicks on the lake this spring. Two chicks hatched on Flower Pot Bay on the artificial platform as of 6/6/06 . (I don’t think the date is a bad sign.…) Two chicks were sighted in Long’s Bay, near Arthur’s. I was able to confirm one chick with parents off Gitchey-Gumey Beach (nesting site unknown). Lundstrom’s Bay has also produced one chick for the first time in about seven or eight years. There could be two chicks from the platform on the south side of Angel Island , but I was not able to find the adults so don’t know at this time if they were successful.

The Bad News?  I learned that about two hours before I went to confirm the chick sighting in Long’s Bay on June 16, the adults were engaged in a confrontation with a trespassing rogue loon, and an adult eagle dropped down and snatched one of the chicks while the parents were distracted. So now, there is only one chick in that area. I am also aware that wherever we have a pair of loons nesting and trying to raise a family, we also have, somewhere in the area, an eagle’s nest.

    Isn’t Mother Nature interesting?

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From the President's Desk

By Al Griggs, President, TMLA

Summer has arrived, and boating season is upon us. As I look out the window I can see the boat lights of night fishermen out on the lake, and they are numerous. Everyone in the know will tell you that the time to fish for summer walleyes on Ten Mile is at sunset and beyond, and indeed, I have heard some pretty good success stories this year.

Most of the “snowbirds” have arrived and it is great to see friends back from their winter homes.  Church is filling up, as are the Ten Mile Lake coffees.

On the news front, the Hiram Township Board of Supervisors appointed a Planning Commission at their monthly meeting on June 11. Of nine candidates, five were chosen, including Brad Putney of Ten Mile Lake; Rick Hughes of Northwoods Dock and Ten Mile Lake; Jerry Young of Young Excavating, Inc; Chuck Swanum of Birch Lake ; and Karen Nagengast of Birch Lake . Karen has served on planning commissions in the past and her experience will be welcome. Their immediate job will be to develop a Comprehensive Land Use Plan for Hiram Township . I believe that we can expect that Hiram Township residents will be hearing from these folks in the not-too-distant future and I urge everyone to cooperate with them and express your desires for Hiram Township ’s future.

The next meeting on the Planned Unit Development/Conservation Development (PUD/CD) ordinance revision will be held on July 12 at 2:30 p.m. in the Courthouse boardroom. Jim Ballenthin of the Cass County Soil and Water Conservation District will be moderating. For this meeting the Environmental Services Department (ESD) staff has been asked to provide an outline of a proposed ordinance dealing with Section 1116 issues and explanations thereof. The following policies for ESD consideration were listed:

1.         Express preference for PUD/CD over lot and block

2.         Provide for preservation of open space

3.         Achieve/maintain highest reasonable water quality

4.         Provide equal standards [for new and existing development].

5.         Encourage buffering on all shoreline

6.         Determine mandatory requirements versus incentives

7.         Preserve forest land

8.         Be in harmony with Comprehensive Plan

9.         Promote preservation and prevent fragmentation of habitat

10.     Provide reasonable flexibility—development should fit the land

11.     Include education for professionals

12.     Address boat access needs — public versus private

13.     Address need for various levels of development

14.     Address question of commercial uses.

I am told that while the public is invited, their input will not be solicited at this meeting.

On August 10, the Department of Natural Resources will conclude a series of meetings to describe and clarify the finalized DNR Alternate Shoreland Rules. The meetings will be held at the Hackensack Senior Center at 2 p. m. and at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. Apparently, these rules are optional for adoption by Cass County .

As many of you know, the Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation (LLAWF) has been instrumental in acquisition and/or conversion of a number of environmentally sensitive areas of our lakes and surrounding lands into new DNR aquatic or wildlife management areas (AMA or CMA), conservation easements, et cetera, which preclude commercial development of these pristine areas. These are too numerous to mention, but I would like to remind everyone of three which we have all heard about: the Mule Lake Wildlife Management Area; three Lantern Bay projects on Woman Lake which are expected to be completed this year; and the new DNR AMA at the headwaters of the Boy River on Ten Mile Lake. LLAWF was a major driving force, if not the major driving force, in the accomplishment of all of these, and we at TMLA consider them to be a powerful resource, whenever the need arises. I bring this up because LLAWF is in the midst of their annual Funds Drive , and unlike TMLA,  LLAWF does not have a home base of members as Ten Mile Lake does, for example. They do not collect dues; they must depend on donations and grants for continued operation. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to LLAWF, the mailing address is: Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation. P.O. Box 455 , Hackensack , MN .  Phone (218) 675-5773.

On Saturday, August 5, our TMLA Annual Meeting will be held in the Senior Center in Hackensack .  The doors open at 9:30 a.m. and the meeting will start at 10:00 a.m. Our featured speaker will be Ms. Paula West, Executive Director of Minnesota Waters.  Paula has an exceptional slide presentation which focuses on preservation of our lakes and rivers, and includes graphic portrayals of the results of overdevelopment. This is a “must see” for everyone who loves Ten Mile.

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Don't be a Pain in the Boat

by Don Harris, Chairperson, Ten Mile Lake, Lake Safety Committee

Your lake Safety Committee hears two major complaints every summer;

1.         Water skiers and wake boarders skiing too close to swimmers, docks and other boats.

2.         Boaters operating at night without lights.

These complaints mean that not all boaters are accepting their responsibilities to make boating a safe and fun experience for all users of the lake.

We would like to offer a few reminders that will help make the use of the lake, on, in, or near the water, a pleasure for all lake users.

Water Skiing or Wake Boarding

Safe water skiing or wake boarding starts with safe equipment, a thorough knowledge of skiing skills, good instruction and an efficient, careful tow boat operator. Remember, as a tow boat operator, you are the “captain of the ship”. You are legally obligated to know the federal, state and local regulations that apply to your watercraft and Ten Mile Lake. As a boat operator you are responsible for your actions and the actions of your passengers and the actions of people you tow. Ten Mile Lake users enjoy sailing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, skin diving and swimming. Everyone has the right to use these public waters, as long as they do not interfere with the rights of other persons to enjoy their own favorite activities.  For instance, skiing too close or creating a large wake too close to swimmers, fisherpeople, canoers or kayakers can be disturbing as well as endangering lives. Although not usually required by law, skiers should stay at least 150 feet from docks, swimmers, boaters, anglers and other fixed objects.

If you are erecting a slalom course, please recognize that the State of Minnesota treats these as “structures which do not extend from shore”. Slalom courses cannot be placed in the water between sunset and sunrise without first obtaining a permit from the Cass County Sheriff. All structures placed under a permit must have the permit number painted on them. In addition, the structure or buoy must either have a light visible in all directions or be reflectorized so as to reflect light from all directions.

A safe, sane and courteous approach to skiing or boarding will guarantee its rightful place among our water sports.

Boating at Night Without Lights

In Minnesota it is unlawful to operate or permit the operation of watercraft in disregard of rights and safety of others. One example is operating a watercraft without the safety equipment required by law. All watercraft must be equipped with navigation lights when operating between sunset and sunrise.

·            Non-Motorized Boats - All non-motorized watercraft, whether underway or at anchor, must carry a white lantern or flashlight. This light should be strong enough so that other boats can see it from around the horizon at a distance of two miles or more. The light must be displayed in sufficient time to avoid a collision with another watercraft.

·            Motorized canoes, kayaks and sailboats must follow the light rules for motorboats.

·            Motorboats – Most motorboats16 feet or more in length will be equipped with the correct navigational lights by the manufacturer. In any case, the lights must be displayed according to the state rules described in the Minnesota Boating Guide 2006. Motorboats, when underway, are generally required to display a green light visible on the starboard (right) side, a red light visible on the port (left) side and white light(s) visible in all directions. The all-around white light is usually located on the stern (rear) half of the boat and must be higher than the red or green lights. White lights must be visible for two miles on a dark, clear night. The red and green side lights must be visible for one mile. Motorboats which are at anchor are also required to display an all-around white light. These lights are there to warn other boats of your presence and, in many cases, indicate what the motorcraft is doing.

YOU ARE THE KEY TO WATER SAFETY!

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From the Notebook

By Jim Schwartz

  WE ARRIVED APRIL 19, just ahead of the early midge hatch ― you know, those tiny, black critters that look like mosquitoes but don’t bite. They lack the requisite needle-like proboscis. They collect into dense clouds and, when you venture out, swarm around your head and face. Swat-ting the pesky bugs has its down side: greasy spots on your clothing that only a vigorous washing can remove. Fortunately, the midge season is short.  While the bugs are here, though, swallows have a feast, swooping through the gobs of insects, enjoying a free lunch.

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  CLARITY READINGS through June 22 have been good for the main basin, ranging from a low of 19’ to a high  of 24.5’. Long’s Bay, on the other hand, is slightly off from a year ago. The low reading was 13.5’, the high 17’. Why this disparity? One theory that seems plausible is that Ten Mile’s current runs essentially from the Kenfield Bay area through the lake and into Long’s Bay before beginning its journey down the Boy River . That means algae and other particulates (e.g.: tree pollen) become more and more concentrated as they move into Long’s Bay, resulting in lower transparency.

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  DESPITE GUSTY WINDS, the bass opener was a winner, as it has been for the past several seasons. Our party, consisting of son Jeff, grandson Colin and myself, had wonderful luck: plenty of fish eager to hit. These biters, by the way, were all largemouth. Although reports of smallies suggest their numbers are increasing rapidly, we failed to attract any. Since the opener, schools of largemouth have been swimming languidly past my dock, sometimes as many as 20 at a crack. Exciting!

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  AS HAS BEEN THE CASE for too many years now, the spring songbird and waterfowl migrations were disappoint-ing: both species and numbers were nowhere near what they used to be. Habitat losses are the major contributor to what now is a worldwide songbird population decline. Unhappily, it does not appear that the situation will change for the better any time soon: tropical deforestation and urbanization continue apace. As to waterfowl, Harlan Fierstine, DNR Fisheries Supervisor at Walker , suggests a possible shift to the west in migration patterns may be the reason numbers are down. Why the shift? Greater precipitation equals more potholes on the North Dakota plains equals better nesting habitat.

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  THERE ARE ACTIONS we can take to improve matters. One is to build and mount houses and platforms for song- bird nesting. Another is to post a couple of duck nesting boxes along your beach area. Dick and Nelda Sampel were rewarded this spring when they watched as at least 16 ducklings, probably golden-eyes, tumbled out of their nesting box and swam off with their mother. Our nesting boxes have been occupied for years, usually hooded mergansers or goldeneyes or both.  This year it’s the hooded merganser in one. The other stands empty, but that may be due to my tardiness in tidying it up this spring. If you need help in crafting homes for wildlife, Dick Sampel can help you with plans. There is also an excellent book available through the DNR: “Wood-working for Wildlife,” by Carroll Henderson.  It’s full of information that could turn your place into a wildlife haven.

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  ACCORDING TO THE Minnesota Sustainable Communities Network, mowing your lawn with a gas-powered mower creates as much smog-producing pollution as driving a new car 340 miles. Recommendation: electric mowers. Latest models are as powerful as gas counter-parts, cut cleanly and quietly, cost less to operate and are lighter. Other polluters are gas-operated chain saws, weed whackers and blowers. We are already seeing a steady conversion of outboard motors from two- to four-stroke models. Maybe the next evolution in small engine technology will be from gas to electric power.

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  THERE IS A NEW non-profit organization in the state: Envision Minnesota. It is dedicated to creating a broad public consensus on the state’s natural and constructed environment. Bipartisan leaders from the business, religious, labor and public sectors have identified five critical areas for their recommendations: (1) Taking responsibility by valuing true environmental costs and benefits, (2) leaving a clean water legacy, (3) creating new energy sources and saving energy, (4) planning for rapid growth and continued prosperity and (5) protecting our natural heritage and abundant wildlife. For more, go to: www.envisionminnesota.org. Among the membership: former Governor Wendell Anderson and former Congressmen Tim Penny and Vin Weber.

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  THE STATE LEGISLATURE enacted what the Minnesota Waters organization (formerly Minnesota Lakes Association) terms a “very strong mercury emissions reduction” bill. The goal is to realize a 90 percent reduction in mercury output by 2015 at the state’s three largest coal-burning power plants. Mercury contamination in Minnesota fish is so pervasive that the State Health Department has issued general fish consumption guidelines for all lakes and streams, with special precautions for children, pregnant women and women of child-bearing age. A study of mercury concentrations in Ten Mile Lake fish will be conducted this summer. Results will appear in a future newsletter, probably next year.

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  LAWMAKERS ALSO passed a Clean Water Legacy bill aimed at promoting the testing and monitoring of lakes and streams, establishing plans to clean up impaired waters and protecting/preserving lakes and streams.  Funding fell short of requests, but there’s enough to get started. That’s good.

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Conservation Design: Preserving Ten Mile Lake's Landscape through Creative Development

by Marty McCleery, Chair, Healthy Lakes Committee

On May 9, 2006 , Cass County , the Initiative Foundation, and the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, Becker County , Itasca County , St. Louis County , Minnesota Land Trust, Explore Minnesota and Cass County Tourism Preservation Task Force sponsored a Conservation Design Workshop at the Northern Lights Event Center. John Sumption, Cass County Environmental Services Division (ESD) and Jim Ballenthin, Cass County SWCD made introductions.

The purpose of the workshop was to introduce and provide an overview of the Conservation Design (CD) concept, which is being considered by Cass County ESD. ESD is in the process of updating its current development ordinances, as a replacement for the Planned Unit Design approach to development.

Randall Arendt, a landscape planner, site designer, author, and advocate of CD, conducted the workshop. Mr. Arendt has received multiple awards and recognitions, is the author of more than 20 publications dealing with the concept, and is the country’s most sought after speaker on the topic of CD as a conservation tool. He has designed “conservation design subdivisions” for a wide variety of clients in 21 states. His designs are “twice green” because they succeed both environmentally and economically. Check out his web site at http://greenerprospects.com/bio.html, and other access sites he recommends.

Several members of the Ten Mile Lake Association attended the conference to become familiar with the concept and gather materials for future use, including Al Griggs, John Hartzell, John Alden, Ted Mellby, and myself. We learned that the CD concept moves away from the old style of development.– that is, lot and block development. The CD approach ensures that conservation is encouraged through updated zoning ordinances. It is not a panacea, as many strategies need to be worked out to address the impacts of development. Setting goals early in the planning process is critical to the achievement of “smart growth.”

In general, the CD concept would:  

·       Identify the resources of the development that are most important to conserve.

·       Identify where the application of conservation design would be most beneficial.

·       Identify standards that are appropriate in the conservation design regulation to conserve the natural resources and otherwise achieve the “development” objectives.

CD would inspire designers, developers, local officials and resource professionals to build quality developments that conserve natural areas. This concept would fit into an overall long-term development plan for concerned stakeholders, such as lake associations, communities, townships, watersheds districts, counties and states. In order to do this, it is important to:

·       Have good resource information

·       Think big and plan for a larger open space network.

·       Have ordinances that create incentives and reduce barriers

·       Insist that open space be diligently designed, not just set aside

·       Keep water quality and quantity as paramount objectives

·       Pay strict attention to management of critical areas

·       Ensure that conservation design is profitable

The CD approach seems appropriate for development in the Ten Mile Lake area. The State of Minnesota , Cass County , and Hiram and Shingobee Townships will continue to work on this issue, with the assistance of the other sponsors of the workshop. The Ten Mile Lake Association needs to be paying attention, and, to the extent possible, participating in this work. This will ensure that as development proceeds, our natural resources are protected and our Ten Mile Lake aesthetics and water quality are preserved so that future generations can continue to enjoy them.

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Report of the Committee on Environment and Ecology

By Bruce Carlson, Chair

There have been several developments in the less than three weeks since the last report was submitted for the Spring Newsletter. The Committee met on June 1 and discussed the data from the mid-May water sampling. Both the main lake basin and the bays selected for this year's sampling (Long, Flowerpot and Kenfield) had better water quality (nitrogen, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a) than they did in the previous year's sampling at the same time. However, what is important to recognize is that single data points can be influenced by a host of factors, such as water temperature, snow cover, precipitation, etc. Thus, even though two sets of samples may have been taken at exactly the same date (for instance mid-May of 2005 and 2006), it doesn't mean that they are at all comparable. Remember that last spring was exceptionally cold, whereas this spring is about 2 weeks ahead of schedule because of the warm weather. This is why it is important to look at long-term trends of water quality. Short-term data, on the other hand, can alert us to immediate events, such as a chemical spill. The Committee is still considering how and in what form to get both benchmark and long-term trend analysis from the accumulated water quality data on Ten Mile.

In early June, Donna Perleberg, an aquatic plant ecologist from the Brainerd Office of the DNR made a presentation to the County Commissioners on the proposed study of aquatic plants in both Ten Mile and Woman Lakes . She summarized data taken from 10,000 sample sites on Leech Lake , and the results were very impressive. For the Ten Mile study, all of the water in the lake capable of supporting plant life (down to slightly over 30 feet in Ten Mile) will be divided into 200 meter squares.

At each corner of the squares (determined by GPS points) the aquatic plants will be sampled and the species cataloged. Then summary maps will be made of the distribution of the most important types of aquatic plants. This information will be useful for management of the lake by the DNR and as a baseline for considerations such as intralake zoning and other development issues that may come up. Realistically, it will probably be a couple of years before the study of Ten Mile is finished and available in report form.  By the way, the County commissioners enthusiastically supported the study, which will cost the TMLA nothing.

In another meeting, Harlan Fierstine indicated that a variety of species of fish will be collected during the August survey of Ten Mile and sent to St. Paul for mercury analysis. The results of this will be used as the basis for the official advisory on fish consumption from Ten Mile. 

The Committee also discussed trying to find lake shore residents who might be interested in participating in a DNR demonstration project on shoreline improvement. Gail Becher will try to identify people who would be interested in both participating in the project and in helping to prepare an application for funding from the DNR. (See Gail’s request for shoreline improvement participants on page 16.)

For those interested, there is an excellent joint publication from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Freshwater Society, called Guide to Lake Protection and Management. It is written for the layperson and is very well done. It can answer many questions that you may have on lakes. The publication can be downloaded from the following websites:  www.mpca.go or www.freshwater.org.

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Do You Suffer from... SMELLY HOT WATER???

by Jean Carlson

THE PROBLEM

Our hot water has had an objectionably sulfurous smell for a LONG time.  We were told that digging a deeper well might not solve the problem. So we had the well shocked with chlorine bleach. Twice. No change. We were told (and read) that the anode rod, or the material from which it is made, could be the problem. Took out the anode rod. No change. (I’d recommend keeping the anode rod, because it is the sacrificial material which saves your heater’s innards from rapid corrosion). So I Googled chemical words which I thought would help me get to the heart of the problem quickly. Well, . . .no. Exasperated, I finally Googled in “smelly.hot.water”. Bingo!

Several articles were somewhat helpful and probably would have been extremely helpful if we had known anything about electric water heaters. So I pieced together what seemed to be helpful tidbits from various articles. The following are the steps we eventually took which actually resulted in the elimination of that ugly smell. Bruce, who has no sense of smell, of course wasn’t at all bothered by the odor, but he was more than happy to help me with the mechanics as a means of turning off my squawking. If you’re plagued with that awful odor, using this technique might help you too.

The cause of the problem seems to be anaerobic (i.e., they can’t tolerate oxygen) thermophilic bacteria. They thrive in high temperatures and happily munch away on sulfur-containing whatevers in your water heater, converting their dining treasures into that horrible sulfur smell, which is hydrogen sulfide. Our solution was to treat the heater and hot water lines with 3% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE (H2O2). This is a standard household antiseptic found in drugstores and even at Mark’s Market. It may kill the offending bacteria by dissociating into Oxygen (O2) and water or into hydroxyl (OH) ions. Whatever….it worked.

STEPS TO A SOLUTION

1.         Unplug the heater or turn off its circuit breaker switch. Turn off the incoming water supply (to the house and/or the water heater).

2.         Open at least one hot water tap so that hot water is running liberally, and drain at least a gallon of the hot water from the valve at the bottom of the tank.  (This should be done a couple of times a year regardless of any problems). This step is to allow room in the heater for you to introduce HYDROGEN PEROXIDE (H2O2) into the hot water system. Close the hot water tap. [In theory, you could use chlorine bleach instead of the H2O2, but I myself think bleach is a lot more corrosive to the water system.] H2O2 releases a very high concentration of oxygen into the water, and it is oxygen which will kill the bacteria.

3.         Read and understand this paragraph thoroughly before doing anything! You will need to remove the cold water inlet screw (which is knurled on our heater) at the top of the heater which connects the incoming water line and the “dip tube” which runs that water to near the bottom of the heater. Your heater may be configured differently; if so, you’ll have to figure out how to introduce the peroxide.

[CAREFUL!: There may still be some water between the shutoff valve and the top of the heater, so when you loosen that screw connecting the water line to the dip tube, water might come spurting out for longer than you would wish. Have at this tube junction some means of mopping up or otherwise delivering that water to someplace other than you or the floor. Having a towel wrapped around the pipe below the screw to soak up the leakage can be very helpful.  Using a wrench, slowly loosen that cold water inlet screw. At the beginning of this process, you might need to periodically tighten the screw and wring out the towel. Eventually, there will be no water remaining in the cold water connecting line.]

4.         Pour Hydrogen Peroxide (3%, sold in pint bottles at drugstores and Mark’s Market)) into the dip tube. The only quantity I saw in my internet perusings was 1 pint per 40 gallons. Put the screw back on and tighten well. Switch the circuit breaker back on.

5.         Let the heater sit undisturbed for about 1 – 1 ½ hours, giving the bugs swarming at the heater’s bottom a good dose of H2O2, thereby killing them.

6.         Next, it’s very important to run the hot water containing the H2O2 through all the hot water lines and let the treated water sit in the lines at least overnight. I’ve been told that, quite often, people who don’t do this have a rapid return of smelly water. Turn on the heater’s cold water supply. Then simply open each hot water tap until hot water comes out of it. Close the tap. Let the treated water sit in the lines at least OVERNIGHT.

7.         Open the hot water taps, running them until there’s no more hot water. Then close the taps, let the water heat again, and enjoy your sweet, or at least non-smelly, hot water!

[Note: H2O2 will break down rather quickly into H2O (Water) and O2 (Oxygen) so you don’t need to protect your septic system from it.]

8.         This procedure will very likely never be a permanent fix because those bacteria are simply a part of the groundwater. Consequently, you may have to treat the water heater every few months. But it’s a small price for the lovely non-smell. Good luck!

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When a Man is Fishing

By Bim Brandt

The summer before last I got myself into a dilemma in the middle of Kenfield Bay. I had trusted - one too many times - a broken kill switch on my outboard motor. If it weren't for this dang-fangled Naderism, I wouldn't be in this predicament, I thought. In the old days, my Dad's seven-and-a-half HP Scott Atwater would only start half the time, but a least I could try to start it any time I wanted without the okey-dokey from the government.
    Pejorative to the situation was that the twenty-fifth hour of a day or the eighth day of a week never came for me to buy oars for this boat.
    After numerous times trying to restart the motor with the kill switch in a tenuous temporary position, I accepted that it was all to no avail. In the mean time, I had drifted considerably deeper into the bay and away from my dock. A victim of my own neglect, I resorted to secondary action by stripping off my clothes, getting into the lake, and commencing to swim and pull the boat.
    Just before I decided to be a tugboat, I noticed a lone fisherman slowly entering the bay, but who I judged was beyond distance for a hail. He was coming in my direction, and I was swimming toward him pulling an empty boat with the motor tipped up, so he would soon see me and come to my assistance.
    …Why isn't he coming? Surely he can see me because I can see him so clearly. Maybe he is catching a fish and has to land it first.
    …Boy, it doesn't take that long to land a fish! Perhaps he's thinking if he comes to my assistance, he will miss an opportunity to hook "old fighter."
    …Maybe he sees me but thinks that a man pulling a boat while swimming is not so unusual.
    …Should I holler at him now? I don't think I can spare the breath. Maybe he's thinking, "Oh, that guy is doing fine and making good progress on his own!"
    …We are getting closer to each other, but it seems like he doesn't recognize an S.O.S. I hope he doesn't think I am doing this for his entertainment while he fishes. . . .
    …Cough, sputter, gasp! . . .I don't think he is ever going to come. Is he completely oblivious to what is going on here? Wait a second! Oh, no! That's it! Of course, he doesn't see me, or the boat. He is not attuned to reality right now. He is in his own ethereal world. He has achieved the fisherman's goal of transcendence from the real world. He has escaped into the chimerical la-la land of FISHING. . . .

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All About the Trout

Part I. The Ten Mile Trout Story

By Arthur G. Horn [Biologist] February 6, 1985,
Submitted by Bob Horn, Fisheries Committee

Nearly fifteen years have passed since the TMLA met with Hjalmer Swenson. DNR State Supervisor of Fisheries to discuss the pros and cons of experimental stocking of yearling lake trout or splake in Ten Mile Lake. Mr. Swenson pointed out that there was a real shortage of lake trout and splake throughout the Great Lakes area. In the event a good supply is available in a few years, then DNR would experiment with lakes such as Ten Mile. Before the end of the meeting TMLA obtained approval to stock rainbow trout yearlings, a much less desirable species because of its migratory tendency. Other trout species were not available from either public or private trout hatcheries.

In the spring of 1971 arrangements were made by TMLA to obtain a small consignment of rainbow yearlings from a private state-certified trout hatchery at Scandia , Minn. The yearling trout were transported by truck to the shore of Ten Mile ( Plainview Beach ) where eight TMLA members were on hand to help with the project. The trout (7” to 9” in length) were in excellent condition and were distributed by boat to several locations. Small stocking operations were carried out again in the spring of 1972 and 1973.

Having played an active part in the trout stocking program, I continue to have a keen interest in the project. Over the years I have compiled a record of the rainbows caught and by what means. Because I am a one-man investigator, naturally the notations are far from complete; however, they are of interest and of some importance.

Several months following the plantings, 11" to 12" rainbows were caught from docks along the shoreline, especially along Forseman Point. Even Jim Schwartz, current TMLA president, caught a rainbow trout trolling with a Mepps spinner. Two and three years later several trout 15" to 17" were caught in Kenfield Bay, several 2 to 4 pounders were caught in summer and winter angling in Long’s Bay, one 4 pounds at the mouth of the Boy River entering Birch Lake. During the ensuing years a 6 pounder was caught by angling Lower Ten Mile, two were caught in whitefish gill nets weighing 7 and 10 pounds respectively, and there were a few sightings of rainbows in dark houses on Long Bay; in fact two are known to have been speared: one about 11 pounds, the other more than 15 pounds.

Taking a good look at the above figures one can hardly be impressed with the rainbow stocking program. It must be pointed out, however, that the rainbows were not the species of choice but rather a substitute for lack of a much more desirable trout species. Furthermore a small plant of fish, regardless of species, makes no impact on a lake the size of Ten Mile.

It appears that the survival rate of the planted rainbows was satisfactory. The basic problem was not predation but rather the strong migratory and roving habits of the rainbow trout. Because of this trait, it can be assumed that most of the rainbows gradually migrated down the Boy River . A few rainbows remained within the confines of Ten Mile Lake at “tackle busting size". If any large rainbows remain they have by now about reached the end of their lifespan.

Several attempts have been made to introduce lake trout into Ten Mile Lake (1909, 1920, 1944).  I have learned from several “real old-time Ten Milers” that nearly all the trout consignments were fry and small fingerlings transported by railroad fish car. The fry and small fingerlings were contained in 10 gal. milk cans and unloaded at the east end of Long’s Bay. The cans were carried down the right-of-way slope to the waters’ edge and released. Lake trout are hardy, perhaps more so that other trout species. Their migratory habits are largely limited to lake shorelines – seldom if ever reaching to river movements. Unlike rainbows, they stay relatively close to home waters during their lifespan. The early attempts to introduce lake trout in Ten Mile were unsuccessful. More than likely failure was largely due to predation by large and small predatory fish.

The bottom line evolves around the fact that there never has been a quality trout stocking in Ten Mile Lake. The results of the minor experimental rainbow trout plants during 1970–1972 were less than satisfying because of the rainbows’ anadromous nature (migratory tendencies). The lake trout introduced in Ten Mile between 1909 and 1920 were small fingerlings.

As has been confirmed the cooperative TMLA walleye stocking program of fry and small fingerling stocking in Ten Mile is a waste of time and money. Large fingerlings or yearling plants are essential for improving and expanding the fishery – also, for lake trout.

Why not stock Ten Mile with large fingerling or yearling lake trout? This is a valid question. Only through the efforts of a strong organization such as, Ten Mile Lake Association can such a project be realized.

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Part II. Comment on the Ten Mile Trout Story

by Jim Schwartz, Fisheries Committee, April 8, 2006

I remember Art Horn as an imaginative, dedicated chair of the Fisheries Committee after the Ten Mile Lake Association was reactivated around the middle of the last century. It was largely through Art's yeoman work with MN DNR that a comprehensive long-range walleye stocking program was developed for Ten Mile Lake. That effort paid handsome dividends: at least three decades of great walleye fishing.

While that success was certainly gratifying, Art had another interest: trying out an experimental trout planting. He was aware that the DNR had stocked lake trout in Ten Mile on three occasions during the period from 1909 to 1945: 20 cans, then 101 cans and, finally, 1000 fingerlings. The record doesn't cite the age or numbers of those trout planted from "cans," nor are the exact years indicated as to when the stocking took place. What is known is that, while from time to time many years ago there were hearsay reports of "huge" trout swimming past holes drilled by winter anglers, documentation of survival is non-existent.

For that reason, Art looked into the possibilities for other trout species, settling eventually on rainbow. With DNR permission in hand, Art prevailed on the TMLA to fund stocking 1000 rainbow trout yearlings in each of three successive years: 1971-73. Other fish species were considered, including splake and salmon, but the DNR balked at any but rainbow, citing as the reason possible harm to the lake's fishery.

For a few years, there were occasional reports of a rainbow catch or two (mostly hearsay), but that soon died away and there have been none since, at least that this writer is aware of. (I did catch one, a 10-incher, in the early summer of, I believe, 1973, while casting from my neighbor's dock.)

Art continued to recommend additional trout stocking, but DNR personnel maintained a lukewarm attitude toward the idea. The consequence was that trout stocking activity for Ten Mile had come to an end.

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Part III. Comment on the Ten Mile Trout Story

by Dr. Bruce Carlson, Chair, E & E Committee, April 7, 2006

The Ten Mile trout saga is an interesting one.  Because of its depth and the abundance of forage fish, Ten Mile is a potential candidate for being managed as a two-story lake. This means that the upper warmer waters could be managed for species such as walleyes, bass and panfish, whereas the deeper cold water could be managed for coldwater species like whitefish (which are already abundant in Ten Mile) and trout. With any fish stocking program, there are two main questions. First, will the fish survive in sufficient numbers to provide a viable fishery? Second, will they be able to reproduce naturally? If not, one is dealing with what is called a put-and-take situation.

From my reading of the old records, it is my impression that in the past both lake trout and rainbow trout have been stocked in Ten Mile, and a number of years ago I heard rumblings from some source about the possibility of stocking salmon. Let me deal with each of these options.

Lake Trout

Lake trout are inhabitants of deep cold water and are found naturally in Minnesota in some of the infertile lakes at the end of the Gunflint Trail and in the Boundary Waters canoe area.  They are very slow-growing, but over many years can reach a large size.

In terms of water quality, temperature, depth and forage, Ten Mile has many of the characteristics that would support a population of lake trout. A major question is why the earlier plantings didn’t survive. One option is that the planted fish were too small to survive predation. Another would depend upon when the fish were stocked. If they were stocked in Long’s Bay at any time other than early spring or late fall, they might have had trouble getting to the main lake before being eaten or having problems with warmer water temperatures. As far as reproduction is concerned, lake trout typically spawn on deep rocky reefs. It is notoriously difficult to predict whether lake trout will spawn in a particular area. I wouldn’t even want to guess whether or not lake trout would, or could, spawn in the deep waters of Ten Mile.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbows are quite a different story. Of all the trout, they seem to do best in ponds and lakes, but there are some major issues regarding the production and maintenance of a viable rainbow fishery. Rainbows are relatively easy to obtain from commercial sources, so getting them is mainly an economic issue.

Important considerations for rainbows are survival and reproduction. Rainbow trout spawn in fast-moving rocky streams, and my guess is that chances of any natural reproduction of rainbows in Ten Mile are close to zero.

Survival is another problem. Assuming that they don’t get eaten, rainbows could be expected to do well in Ten Mile because of the abundant food sources and favorable water conditions. However, getting eaten is a major issue. Bass and pike love rainbow trout, and I suspect that walleyes wouldn’t turn down a good rainbow trout meal either. In many California lakes, rainbow trout are stocked specifically to provide food for the huge bass that grow in these lakes. Although rainbow trout are migratory, I would be greatly surprised if any of the Ten Mile rainbows moved down the Boy River because of the high water temperature and the characteristics of the stream.

Salmon

Like rainbow trout, salmon would not likely spawn in Ten Mile, and whether or not stocking would lead to any large fish would depend principally on survival of the planted fish. Water conditions and food supply are such that salmon would likely survive in the lake.

Pros and Cons

Fishery science hasn’t developed to the point where on any given body of water one can really predict the results of a stocking program. Some of the readers may be aware of the current controversy surrounding the suggestion that muskies be stocked in Gull Lake north of Brainerd. One just doesn’t know what will happen, especially if a population of introduced fish becomes self-sustaining. A good example of this is smallmouth bass in Ten Mile. These fish seem to have been introduced into the lake relatively recently, and the population is still growing fast. It is hard to predict what, if any, effect the smallmouth bass will have on other species, especially walleyes.

Regarding trout, introducing rainbows is not likely to harm anything, because the population will not be self-sustaining. As past experience has shown, they can certainly thrive in the lake, if they survive. The big issue here is whether a relatively small return (in terms of percent of stocked fish caught) is worth the money and effort.

For lake trout, there are two major unknowns.  One is survival of planted fish, and the other is whether or not a population of naturally reproducing fish can be established. We don’t have sufficient information on either of these questions to answer them. Another major issue on lake trout is supply. There are not a lot of hatchery-produced lake trout and allocation among lakes is always a thorny issue with the DNR fisheries folks. I personally think that if trout stocking experimentation is to be done, lake trout would be the most interesting.

I would not recommend stocking of salmon for several reasons. First, like rainbows, they would be highly unlikely to reproduce. Second, salmon are voracious feeders, and they could significantly disrupt the food chain in a small lake like Ten Mile. Third – for purely selfish reasons – if word got out that salmon were present in Ten Mile, there would likely be an invasion of fishermen wanting to catch them.

For some reason, trout stocking always stirs up strong emotions, some of which are based on image and some on fact. Usually a rational discussion based on known factors can come up with a reasonable solution for a given body of water.

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A Report on Water Quality and Septic Systems

by Ken Regner, E & E Committee

Since we started testing lake water for clarity in the 1970’s, Ten Mile Lake water clarity has improved substantially. At the time of the first Secchi Disk readings the water clarity was about 10 feet. Today readings of 24 feet are not uncommon. There are a number of reasons for this improvement. Certainly the most important one under property owner control is the gains made in residential wastewater treatment – in other words, how each of us treats our waste in approved septic systems. Your Ten Mile Lake Association has actively encouraged people to upgrade their systems. Each year we publish an Honor Roll of members who have done so. We continue to think that this important issue is one that we need to keep as a high priority. We will continue to work until all of the septic systems around our lake are up to date and comply with Cass County regulations.

It is so important for each of us to have an approved septic system that our Environmental and Ecology Committee contracted with a licensed septic system inspector to evaluate all of the septic systems on our lake. Phase one of this inspection was completed for homes on the south side of the lake in 2002. The final phase for the rest of the lake was completed in the fall of 2005.

REPORT ON SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION

 

YEAR

2002

2005

Properties Inspected

134

207

Properties in Compliance

125

186

Properties with Failed Systems

9

21

     Of the 21 systems that failed during the 2005 inspection, 18 were cesspools. By code they are not allowed. Three other systems had specific problems.

Since these inspections are costly we did not inspect any system that was installed and approved within the past three years or those systems that were upgraded and approved within the past three years.

The cost of the inspections was paid for by two grants of $5,000 each, plus $5,650 from the reserves of TMLA. The TMLA Board has approved a policy to have septic systems inspected again in five year intervals.

The results of the inspections by the licensed inspector are required to be reported to the Environmental Services Department of Cass County. For those whose systems were found to be failing, Cass County notifies them that their system failed and why it failed. Cass County also sets a date by which the system must be upgraded. Those whose systems were in compliance are so notified and they are informed that the compliance inspection is good for three years. During this time they can obtain building permits without the need for a septic system evaluation. This can save them several hundred dollars they would have to pay for a private inspection during that time.

Congratulations to all who have approved systems!

We encourage all whose systems need improvement to have them improved as soon as possible. Our lake deserves nothing less.

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Report from the History Committee

by Lorraine Stromquist

The TMLA Family History Book is underway with about 170 family histories and topics already computer processed. The work of formatting, proof reading, and organizing is taking longer than anticipated. We have also not received stories from several historically important families. We hope that all will submit their memoirs to us.

   Please take note of this and write your family history by September, 2006. Send it to:

Lorraine Stromquist
    Ten Mile Lake History Committee
    P.O. Box 175, Hackensack, MN 56452


The prior estimated date for publication of the book was August 5, 2006 . The book will not be ready by that date. Work by the committee toward publication will proceed as rapidly as possible.

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Ten Mile Seeks Demonstration Site for "Shoreland Vegetation" Grant Proposal

by Gail Becher, E and E Committee

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is making more than $300,000 available for grant proposals for restoring native shoreline vegetation across the state. TMLA's  Environment and Ecology Committee hopes to see some of those monies come to Ten Mile in the near future. As we've learned over the years, the loss of Minnesota 's native vegetation along its shorelines has dramatic and harmful effects on shoreline erosion and water quality, along with fish and wildlife habitat. That's why such an effort is being made these days to encourage and assist shoreland property owners not only with information, but now also with monies and tools to take a pro-active approach to restoring healthy, wave-resistant, diverse, and attractive native plant zones along lakeshores.

Are you interested in the possibility of creating such a shoreline on your property? If so, here's what's involved:

1.         FUNDING.– The DNR "Shoreland Habitat" Grants program is a reimbursement program which provides 75% of total project funds. The remaining 25% is made up of in-kind and cash contributions by the grantee. A minimum cash match of $1,000 is required for grants over $10,000 and $500 for grants under $10,000. The remaining match can be comprised of in-kind services, donated materials, and/or cash.

2.         EXTENT OF WORK – On private properties, 75% of the shoreland frontage should be restored with an adjacent buffer zone that is at least 25 feet deep/wide.

3.         VEGETATION REQUIREMENTS – Projects should not destroy existing, desirable habitat or native vegetation along the shoreline. Only local, native species may be included within 25 feet of the water's edge. No exotic species or nursery-derived cultivars may be used. When possible, aquatic plants should be included in the project vision.

4.         CONTRACT – Funded projects require a signed agreement stating that the site will be appropriately maintained for 10 years, and allowing access to the site for project installation, maintenance, monitoring and visitation.

5.         GRANT APPLICATION – A grant application is required and must be submitted by September 18, 2006 . Projects will be selected for funding by the DNR based on regional priorities and objectives of the "Shoreland Habitat Program".

6.         COMPLETION DATE – Projects must be completed by June 30, 2009 .

TMLA's Environment and Ecology Committee believes Ten Mile would be an excellent choice for a DNR demonstration project, and is committed to assisting with the grant process and project accomplishment. We are now calling for association members to notify us of your interest in this grant proposal process. If you would like to be considered for such, please call Gail Becher at 547-3214 in the very near future. With the deadline of September 18, 2006 , action on any grant proposal is drawing near. For complete grant information go to the DNR web site: at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/habitat/shoreland.html.

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