Another good dose of BAD MEDICINE   

A NEWSLETTER FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE BAD MEDICINE LAKE AREA Late Summer 2010

BAD MEDICINE LAKE AREA ASSOCIATION – FOUNDED 1972

2011 ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE HELD SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

AT 9 a.m. AT THE FOREST TOWNSHIP HALL

 Listening to Bruce Paakh, Water Quality Specialist from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), at the BMLAA annual meeting reminded me of sitting down for a parent-teacher conference and hearing from a caring teacher what a great kid you have—you know it to be true but there’s nothing quite like hearing it from someone else, especially someone who sees things from an entirely different vantage point.  That “caring teacher” was Bruce at the annual meeting.  When Bruce said something like “even in St. Paul, Bad Medicine is known as a gem in the state,” he had my attention.  He affirmed what we all know to be true, that indeed our lake and this area is something special even in the land of 10,000 lakes.  He helped educate us about the fragile nature of the lake and how each of us plays a part in holding onto this gem-like beauty through proper use and care.  Please read more about this topic in the article Bruce wrote for this newsletter—it’s great learning!

You will also find in this newsletter other ways in which the BMLAA is partnering with the MPCA and other groups, all prime examples of how the purpose of the BMLAA is carried out through the efforts of its members.  For the next year, you may find me regularly restating the purpose of the association to affirm why we all are members (and why others should be) and to direct the activities of those involved.  Whether for learning or review, the purpose of the Bad Medicine Lake Area Association as stated in our bylaws is to:

·         Bring together the residents of the Bad Medicine Lake Area to preserve and improve the quality of our water, land, air, aesthetics, wild life, and other natural resources of the Bad Medicine Lake Area.

·         Provide educational and training resources for the healthy enjoyment of present and future generations.

·         Work in conjunction with federal, state, and local agencies, public and private, to further the purpose of the Association. 

·         Keep members informed of the status of the lake, the surrounding area, and the activities of the Association.

I close with special thanks to two long-time members of the BMLAA board.  Ray Vlasak, whose term was up as of the annual meeting, has done so many things for the BLMAA that it would be impossible to capture them all here.  Suffice it to say that we all owe Ray a huge THANK YOU for the work he’s done.  And if you think because he is now off the board that his work is done, then you don’t know Ray!  The second huge thank you goes to Don Tschudi for serving as BMLAA treasurer for 39 years!  Don remains on the board through his 2008-2011 term but recently gave up the treasurer role to Jim Luttrell.  THANK YOU, Don, for your many years of watching over the finances of the BMLAA!

Enjoy this newsletter and the rest of the lake season!

Mike Slette, BMLAA President

MONTHLY MEETING HILITES: The BMLAA Board meets monthly (April – October) at Forest Township Hall. Current Board members and officers are listed below. Treasury balance (7-17-10) was $4,940.38. Board voted to give North Country Trails a contribution of $500 and a $100 contribution to the Hubbard County COLA. A total of 325 BMLAA directories were printed at a cost of $548.61. Actions taken at the May and July meetings are addressed throughout the newsletter. They include: Septic Systems update; Lake Management Plan and Star Lake application; North Country Trail; Becker County COLA news; Aquatic Invasive Species volunteer update; BMLAA directory; and Election of Board officers. Currently there are nine board members and the by-laws authorize 10. The board will fill this position with a BMLAA member until the annual meeting 2011.

2010 ANNUAL MEETING: 59 persons were in attendance. The auditing committee, Treasurer’s, and Secretary’s reports were read and approved. Special presentations: Boat and Lake Safety by  Luke Sweere, Becker County Deputy Sheriff; Aquatic Invasive Species, by Bruce Anspach, DNR, Division of Ecological Resources; and Bad Medicine Water Quality, by Bruce Paakh Water Quality Specialist from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).  In response to the Water Quality Subcommittee’s report the following motion was presented and approved, “The BMLAA Board will submit a proposal to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency this summer or fall for funding a study of the water quality of Bad Medicine Lake.” Other topics addressed were: Election of Board members; Bad Medicine Lake Property Owner’s Survey summary; Fishing report; Waubun School District; Newsletter; BMLAA Foundation; and distribution of BMLAA directories. The meeting was followed with a chicken/pot-luck lunch.

BAD MEDICINE LAKE AREA ASSOCIATION OFFICERS, BOARD DIRECTORS & TERMS

President, Mike Slette, 573-3766, 7/08-6/11, mike.slette@hotmail.com; Vice President, David Wiest, 701-866- 9374,  7/09-6/12, drdavidwiest@msn.com; Secretary, Tom Lorentzsen, 573-3394, 6/10-7/13,  t4eyes@moorheadvision.com;  Treasurer, Jim Luttrell, 573-3411, 6/10-7/13, jalut@arvig.net; Rose Andersen, 573-3690, 7/09-6/11, rosander@juno.com; Dennis Anderson,  218-573-3502, 6/10-7/13, ,ob79@arvig.net ;Chuck Church, 573-2209, 7/09-6/12, cchurch22@hotmail.com;Steve Lindow, 612-581-4137, 8/10-7/11, steve.lindow@yahoo.com;Carole Olsen, 573-3081, 7/09-6/12,cjolsen@cableone.net; Don Tschudi, 573-3790, 7/08- 6/11 dtschudi@eot.com.

TOWNSHIP NEWS - Carol Peterson, Supervisor 

Township elections will be held with the regular election on November 2, 2010, and will include two Township positions, the terms of Don Tschudi, Supervisor, and Helen Holmer, Clerk, are up this year.  Supervisor candidates for the November election are Doug Trenda and Don Tschudi, Helen Homer is unopposed.  Tim Holzkamm and Carol Peterson are in the middle of their terms.  Remember, Forest Township residents will vote by mail-in ballot.  Ballots will be sent out automatically to voters, the important thing is to be a registered voter.

Board meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month except in March and August.  The March regular meeting will be held Monday, March 7, 2011, and the Annual Meeting March 8, 2011, with March 15^th as alternate.  Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. at the Forest Town Hall.

The June Amnesty Day went well.  Because volume is larger in the spring, the Board is considering three dumpsters for next spring and continuing with two for the August 28 date.  Thanks to the folks who waited until Saturday to bring their things over. 

June 29 a special meeting was held to accept the realignment of Red Top Road.  The vacated section has signs at both ends to redirect traffic. East Bad Medicine Road, Horseshoe Road, and 470^th have had the required gravel and grading completed.  White Tail has scheduled work yet to be completed.

Brushing, mowing, and spraying for invasive weeds was done during July and August.  Becker County Sentence to Serve persons will be doing the brushing.  Tim Holzkamm did a road tour with them.  REMINDER: You may dig out small trees from State/County ditches to transplant.

The Board is reviewing information and bids for creating a Township Web site. The site would provide agendas, approved minutes and reports, township news, officers, and contact information.

Zoning Reminders: Township property owners contemplating building, additions, remodels, or alterations to the lot or lakeshore should contact the Township Clerk and Becker County Zoning – 218-846-7314.   Permits will, most likely, be required.

2010 FOREST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS

Chair: Don Tschudi, 218-573-3790, 38257 Bad Medicine Resort  Rd,  2003 – 2010, dtschudi@eot.com; Carol Peterson,  218-573-2701, 37121 Red Top Rd,  2008 – 2012,  carol_pete@hotmail.com;  Tim Holzkamm, 218- 573-3442, 39414 Pinewood Rd,  2008 – 2012, tholzkam@arvig.net ; Treasurer: Donna Waliczek,  218-573-3792- 36916 Sunset Drive, 2003 – 2012;  Assessor: Lisa Marschall -  15288  490^th Ave, Menahga, MN. 56564. 

CHANGES AT WAUBUN SECONDARY SCHOOL – Our resident school district

Mitch Anderson, school superintendent

After being identified as a “persistently low performing school” by the Minnesota Department of Education in March, the Waubun-Ogema-White Earth School District will receive $1.4 million to transform Waubun Secondary over the next three years.  Funding will be provided under a federal overhaul program called the School Improvement Grant (SIG) that will require the school to take major steps to improve their Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) scores.  The school district presented the grant application to MDE on June 30th. 

The application included plans for improvement and a budget of about $400,000 per year for three years to hire additional staff, modify the schedule to provide additional instruction time each day, provide additional staff development, and put a new teacher evaluation system in place.  Another requirement of the grant included replacing Principal Helen Kennedy.

Michael Cary has taken over as the new 5-12 principal in Waubun.  His most recent employment was serving as the Director of the Center for College Readiness.  The Center functions within the organizational umbrella of Minnesota State Community and Technical College and the Minnesota State College and Universities System.  Mr. Cary will serve the district as the instructional leader of the secondary school.  Non-instructional duties will be assigned to a Site Administrative Manager so that Mr. Cary can focus his attention on teachers and students in classrooms.

Out of 26 low-performing Minnesota schools that applied for funding, 19 will receive a total of $24.5 million, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.  Seven were determined to not have the means necessary to fully and effectively implement the turnaround strategy plans by September.

“The SIG schools have an opportunity to dramatically transform student learning and student achievement,” said Patricia King, Office of Turnaround Schools director. “Not only do these nineteen schools have the willingness to make the quick and dramatic changes necessary to help students achieve, they also have the capacity to make the necessary changes.”

The mission of the newsletter is to provide lake area residents with information to build community. The newsletter will present current lake issues in a non-controversial and positive format.

Newsletter committee: Editors - Rose & Don Andersen: editorial board: Mardy Dovre, Jane Gudmundson, Dave Hagen, Ed Klepperich, Jim Luttrell, Gary Narum, Carole Olsen, and Ray Vlasak.

COLA – Ed Klepperich, COLA representative for BMLAA

Becker County COLA is a coalition of lake associations with the purpose of facilitating cooperation among member lake associations to protect and enhance the quality of Becker County lakes and their shore areas.  They meet the second Thursday of the month at 6:30p.m. at Minnesota State Community and Technical College – Detroit Lakes.  All persons are welcome to attend.    If you want to attend a meeting call Ed Klepperich – 573-3869.

 LAKE HEALTH ALERT – John Backes

Keep a 30 to 50 foot natural shoreline buffer to prevent run-off from lawns and other hard surfaces from entering the lake. The buffer will act as a sponge absorbing run-off water and keeping harmful chemicals/pollutants from entering the lake.  The chemicals/pollutants cause algae growth, resulting in a loss of water clarity and quality.

Reduce boat wakes by traveling in the middle of the lake or reducing boat speeds. Shoreline erosion is a problem on Bad Medicine Lake during this time of high water....

NEW LAKE DIRECTORY A HIT!!!

Thanks to Jim Luttrell who produced the BMLAA directory, it is wonderful!!!  Not only are we listed alphabetically but also by location.  Directory includes home and lake addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses when available.  It was a lot of work for Jim, but what a neat item it is. Hopefully we can get to know our neighbors better which helps to build community. 

BMLAA 2010 Directory

If you paid dues for membership in the BMLAA for 2010, you are entitled to one BMLAA Directory per dues paying member.  Normally these are to be picked up at the annual meeting of the association.  If you have not received your directory you may pick them up at High Pines Resort- 46522 Wildwood Trail, Bad Medicine Resort- 38257 Bad Medicine Lake RD, Chuck Church- 37311 Red Top Rd, or Jim Luttrell- 39124 Horseshoe Rd.

Non-members may purchase directories for $5 per copy from the same sources listed above.

 BMLAA MEMBERSHIP REPORT

As of August 1, 2010 the BMLAA member list is 185 members strong. If you have not paid your membership dues or would like to join, you may still do so by filling out the dues form which is included in this newsletter.  For those of you who paid last year but have not renewed, we may e-mail you to remind you to pay your dues.  Separate mailings will not be sent to those without e-mail.  Annual dues are only $15 per person. 

For your 2011 dues payments we intend on sending a post card sometime in January or February of 2011.  Since we are now on a calendar year for the association, early payment is encouraged so we can update the members list, addresses etc. to keep the list current for the 2012 Directory and the mailing list. Your cooperation with early payment will be appreciated.

If you have address changes or e-mail address changes, please send changes to Jim Luttrell at 39124 Horseshoe Rd, Ponsford, MN 56575 or by e-mail (preferred) at jalut@arvig.net

DUES   Annual dues to join the Bad Medicine Lake Area Association are $15 per person.  Send to BMLAA, 39124 Horseshoe Road, Ponsford MN 56575.  Use the application form below and include a check. 

Member’s Name ___________________

Lake Address ______________________

Home Address ______________________

Lake Phone          ________ Home Phone _____________

E-mail Address ______________________ 

ADOPT A HIGHWAY CLEANUP

BMLAA adopted a two-and-a-half mile stretch of County Road 37 that runs from Red Top Road to 113.  Fall cleanup is scheduled for October 2^nd; weather permitting, the alternate date is Oct 9th.  Meet at the entrance to Red Top Road at 9 a.m.   Call Chuck Church 573-2209 or Jim Luttrell at 573-3411 if you have questions.  Just show up to help.

 BAD MEDICINE BOOK CLUB

In August we met at Sangers to discuss Sergeant York and the Great War, edited by Tom  Skeyhill. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is September's study for book club.  Bonnie Strohmeier will lead the discussion. Roger Geddes suggested our October selection, The Abercrombie Trail-Across the Endless River, by Chad Carhart.  The book for November is The Help by Kathryn Stockett which is Ruby Anderson’s selection.  Come join us in September.  For information call Marlys Johnson, 573-3732

 MINNESOTA CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER

The DNR’s bi-monthly magazine, Conservation Volunteer, is free to anyone who requests it.  Subscriber’s tax-deductible donations cover all costs.  The magazine engages, entertains, and educates readers with a lively mix of photographs and stories about Minnesota’s woods, waters, and wildlife. 

You can subscribe, it can also be given as a gift, at:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/index.html 

Or by writing to: Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, 500 Lafayette Road, St Paul MN 55155

 DNR LEAF PEEPER REPORTS

To get the latest information on when and where the fall colors are expected to be at their peak, check out the DNR’s Web site:  www.dnr.state.mn.us 

WEBSITES

BMLAA –badmedicinelakeareaassociation.com  Contains BMLAA board minutes, and newsletters

COLA – www.mnlakes.org/beckercola  

MINNESOTA WATERS –www.minnesotawaters.org     

MN DNR: www.dnr.state.mn.us 

BAD MEDICINE LAKE STATISTICS

Current Level (July 29) –  1599.95 feet, MSL

2009 Range  1599.76 – 1599.43

2008 Range  1599.32 - 1598.73

2007 Range  1599.27 – 1598.69

2006 Range  1599.74 – 1598.53

2010 Ice-out  1599.81 (April 2)

2009 Ice-out  1599.59 (April 24)

2008 Ice-out  1599.05 (May 9)

2007 Ice-out  1598.95 (April 25) 

2006 Ice-out  1599.47 (April 13)

Highest Recorded Level, 1600.77 July 10, 2002

Ordinary High Water Mark, 1594.86

Natural Basin Run-out Elevation  1608.3

SECCHI DISC WATER CLARITY READINGS

Ed Strohmeier

May 20 – 29 feet, 28^th  – 31’

June 3^rd – 28’, 13^th – 25’, 19^th – 22’, 27^th – 20’

July 4^th – 19’, 10^th – 22’, 18^th – 23’, 25^th – 28’, 30^th – 24’

August 8^th – 19’

 MINNESOTA SEASONAL RECREATIONAL PROPERTY OWNER’S COALITION     MSRPO

MSRPO is a non-partisan grass-roots group that advocates for property tax fairness and equity at the Minnesota State Capitol for families that own cabins, lakeshore, hunting shacks, and seasonal property in Minnesota.  MSRPO educates legislators, the general public, and property owners on the negative impacts of Minnesota’s antiquated property tax system. Without MSRPO the average cabin owner would be paying at least 40% more in property taxes.   Membership is not dependent on any level of dollar contribution but on any amount you contribute.  Obtain membership information at www.msrpo.org  or 952-854-1317.   Join today to help educate the Minnesota legislature in 2011.

We appreciate receiving comments and suggestions regarding the content of ANOTHER GOOD DOSE OF BAD MEDICINE.  Information in this newsletter is as accurate as that received from various credible sources.  Corrections will be published in the next newsletter.  Feel free to submit content, please understand we may need to edit if space is an issue.  Articles must be consistent with the mission of the newsletter.   Rose Andersen, Editor  rosander@juno.com 

INVASIVE SPECIES

Bruce Anspach, Water Inspection Program Assistant, Division of Ecological Resources, 218-699-7295  Bruce.anspac@state.mn.us 

The invasives keep invading and we need to be vigilant to the spread.  An invasive species is a non-native that has reproducing populations that potentially cause economic, environmental, or harm to human health, or potentially threaten natural resources or the use of natural resources in the state.  The closest infested lake to Bad Medicine Lake would be Leech Lake with eurasian watermilfoil (EWM).  Curlyleaf pondweed (CPW) is in Hubbard County but we do not designate a lake as infested when it just has curlyleaf pondweed.  The reason is that CPW was one of the 1^st invasives to be introduced into Minnesota in 1910 and is in over 500 lakes and rivers.

For Bad Medicine Lake, I would be most worried about ZM (Zebra Mussels) and SWF (Spiny Water Fleas).  EWM and CPW are close and more of a threat of getting into the lake, but they like shallow fertile lakes, Bad Medicine is a cooler deeper lake, making it more of a habitat for ZM and SWF.  Both ZM and SWF feed on the base of the food web, zooplankton, putting stress on young fish by removing their food source.  Both also inhibit the use of the lake. ZM shells are sharp and once the shells start to wash up into the shallow area no one will be able to walk barefoot in the water.  ZM will also attach to any hard surface clogging water intake pipes damaging motors and water pumps.  SWF will end up fouling fishing lines and downriggers, interfering with fishing.

 How to stop the spread:

Inspect your boat, trailer, and equipment and remove any aquatic plants, animals, and mud before leaving the water access.

Drain the water from your boat, motor, bilge, live wells, and bait containers before leaving the water access.

Before transporting boats, docks, boatlifts, swim rafts, or recreational equipment either: spray with high pressure, rinse with hot water, or dry for at least five days to remove or kill species that may not be visible.

Dispose of unwanted live bait in the trash, don’t dump in the lake.

To learn more about invasive species program go to:

http://files.dr.state.mn.us/eco/invasives/index.html 

To look at the infested waters go to:

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/invasives/infested_waters.pdf 

 LAKE STEWARDS 2010 - Chuck Church

Our Aquatic Invasive Species Water Craft Inspection Program consists of volunteers who conduct water craft inspections at our public access from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. each weekend.  We have done this from the opening day of fishing season and hope to continue until Labor Day weekend. We have missed only three days and have a total of 17 volunteers. The original seven volunteers were trained by the DNR and we have trained the other ten on the job.  We wear fishing vests and hats that identify us as Lake Association/DNR agents and we educate visitors about invasive species and check boats for vegetation before they enter our lake.  We fill out an inspection report for each boat that we inspect and these are sent to the DNR.  Our hope is that our efforts will help keep our lake free of invasive species and raise the level of awareness of the threat of invasive species to clean water.  It is my belief that we are also setting an example for the DNR and other lake associations that people who care about their lake can make a difference.

Note: We are one of a very few lakes that have a successful volunteer inspection program.  If you are willing to be a volunteer, we desperately need more folks to fill out the rest of the summer. You can train with an experienced volunteer and learn a lot about invasive species. So far, our collective experiences have been very positive. The visitors who come to use our lake are appreciative of our efforts and seem to know that what we are doing is a constructive endeavor.  Sometimes we serve coffee and cookies and have a donations jar for our program. You only stay at the public access for three hours and have the rest of the day for enjoying our beautiful lake.

Call 573-2209 and I will get you started with an experienced volunteer, you will not be disappointed, this is good work and best of all, it is fun. We do not work if it rains

 LAKE HAPPENINGS

The Stadum/Gudmundson Ice-Off Banquet will honor another king to the royal kingdom on Saturday August 14. Queen Erica will pass the crown to her father, Paul, who came closest to guessing the actual day that the ice came off the lake this year.  The king has requested that lamb be served at the banquet and "as many desserts that the cook feels inclined to prepare."  Guests at the banquet will come from Moorhead, Grand Forks, Minneapolis, Washington DC, and Paris.

There are specific written regulations for the Ice Off competition.  This year the Gudmundson family got to select dates first.  It so happened that the date that Paul chose last year was the closest to the actual ice off date.  The rule states that you have the date you selected up until the next person's choice.  Because Paul selected the last date of the previous year he had up to the first date selected of this year.  Since the ice came off before that person's date, Paul won.  

LONG LIVE THE KING!!!

The Dennis Andersons organized the third annual pontoon “Flotilla party” on July 10.  It was a beautiful evening and a lot of fun.  It was an opportunity to meet and visit with neighbors and friends who share this wonderful lake with us…

Thanks Denny and Ruby!!

LANDSCAPING WITH NATIVE PLANTS

Lindy Ekola, Shoreland Habitat Specialist, MN DNR, Glenwood Area Fisheries Office, Lindy.Ekola@state.mn.us

There are many benefits to including native plants in the areas where we live, work, and recreate.  Since native plants are incredibly diverse in form and color they create a naturally beautiful landscape, such as what we see along an undisturbed shoreline. Native plants also provide food and habitat for Minnesota’s native wildlife.  Native plants are well adapted to the soil and the climate, thus they don’t need fertilizers and watering is unnecessary.

But what exactly do we mean by “native plants”?  Native plants are plants that were growing in a specific area for a long time before the introduction of plants from other parts of the world.  There are many species of native plants found in Becker County from trees like basswood (Tilia americana) to flowering plants like marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) and grasses such as big bluestem (Andropogon geradii).

All plants have specific requirements for the environment in which they grow.  Some plants grow best in full sun, prairie smoke (Geum triflorum), and some do best in aquatic habitats, hardstem bulrush (Scirpus acutus).  Some plants are non-native species that were introduced to an area. At times these species become invasive and create problems in the environments in which they grow.  A good example of this is the non-native yellow iris, (Iris pseudacorus). Yellow irises should never be planted in Minnesota because they compete so aggressively with native aquatic vegetation.  The iris, blue flag iris (Iris versicolor), is native to Becker County, is beautiful, grows well, but doesn’t create environmental problems.

Native plants are increasingly used for gardening, landscaping, and restoring and reclaiming native plant communities.   They can provide natural beauty, cost-effective landscaping alternatives, environmental services, and habitat for wildlife.

More information about native plants is available on the Minnesota DNR website at:  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gardens/nativeplants/index.html

Information about native plant nurseries is at:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gargens/nativeplants/suppliers.html 

 DIG UP OR TRANSPLANT NATIVE PLANTS? - Linda Luttrell

Many of us are tempted to try transplanting some of the beautiful flowers we see around Bad Medicine Lake from the ditches or woods. While wildflowers are an interesting way to landscape your yard, transplanting from the wild is probably not a good idea. Most do not transplant well. The conditions in which they’ve been growing are often hard to duplicate in a yard or garden. Native mycorrhizal fungi exist in the wild and are necessary for many wildflowers. Lady slippers are an example of this symbiotic relationship. The Indian paintbrush along Hwy 37 in the spring is semi parasitic on roots of other plants and will not transplant well.

There are several plants on the endangered or threatened list. These include several lady slippers which we all know about, but also trilliums, gentians, sedges, blood root, mayapples, and coneflowers. It is against the law to dig them. It is also a law that if you want to transplant natives from someone’s property you must get written permission.

Another reason not to dig wild plants is your safety. The most common concern is coming in contact with poison ivy.  Even though the taproot is edible, the wild parsnip’s sap is toxic to skin. When its juice comes in contact with skin in the presence of sunlight, it will cause blisters and discoloration. Some people even get a poison ivy type rash from the hairy stem of the lady slippers.  That being said, our best bet is to buy nursery propagated stock or to plant seed.

If you want to grow wildflowers be sure to research the MN DNR invasive species list as you wouldn’t want to plant something that will take over your whole yard.  Butter and eggs, toadflax, and wild yellow iris, which are pretty along the highway, are just such plants and shouldn’t be let loose in your yard. Loosestrife is not a good plant; it can escape to wetlands and choke out the beneficial plants.

Actually, wildflowers can be used for weed control but you have to give the wildflowers a running start or the weeds will keep the area for themselves. Weeds and wildflowers are sun-worshipers so whoever reaches the top first wins.

If planned and planted right, native plants and wildflowers can add to the beauty of your property, tell-tale the seasons, and offer bouquets to your table.

 THANKS!!!!

Thanks to everyone who donated to the Veronen's 4th of July Celebration. We are grateful for the love and support from our Bad Medicine community.  The American flag that was displayed that night was sent to us from "Ace" Antonio Acevedo. It was flown over Afghanistan on a combat mission in an F-15E Strike Eagle in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

 BAD MEDICINE LAKE SWIM

Donna Waliczek

Yes, the Bad Medicine lake swim is on.  At this time, everyone needs to get in and swim.  Once you have swum the entire lake, contact Donna at:  573 - 2254. Realize that there are a number a ways to complete this challenge.

Options: 

#1.  One person swims the full length,

#2.  One person swims sections on different occasions,

# 3. Your family does it as a relay.

However you choose to do it, just DO IT!!! This is the perfect summer.    

Enjoy.  

Bruce gave an excellent talk at the 2010 BMLAA annual meeting.  We asked him to write this article for the newsletter highlighting his report.

PROTECTING THE QUALITY OF BAD MEDICINE LAKE

Bruce Paakh, Limnologist, MPCA

 Bad Medicine Lake is very different from the majority of lakes in Minnesota. It regularly has one of the top Secchi disk clarity readings each summer in Minnesota and has had the honor of the top reading during at least one summer. There are several reasons why Bad Medicine Lake is as clear as it is. The list includes the fact that Bad Medicine Lake has a very small watershed (the area around the lake that drains into it). There are no inlet streams bringing nutrients into the lake. The lake is deep and in a forested region of the state. There is no agriculture in the watershed. All of these factors contribute to the lakes low phosphorus levels that in turn result in great water clarity.

 The element phosphorus (P) is what we call the limiting nutrient for aquatic plant growth. This means that all the other nutrients and requirements for algae and aquatic plant growth are present in the lake in sufficient quantities. Phosphorus or the lack of it, limits the amount of algal growth in lakes. When additional phosphorus enters the lake, it usually translates to more algae. The clarity of the lake is directly related to the amount of algae in the water. Lake clarity is measured with a white metal Secchi disk. Chlorophyll and phosphorus levels are determined from the analysis of lake samples in the lab. Understanding that increased phosphorus levels lead to increased chlorophyll levels and decreased clarity levels is very important in understanding how lakes become degraded. 

 Figure 1. Shows data from a large variety of lakes in Minnesota. Each dot on the chart represents the summer mean (average) phosphorus and Secchi reading for a particular lake. If you start at the upper left corner of the graph you will find the lakes with the lowest phosphorus levels and highest clarity. The location of Bad Medicine Lake data on this chart is indicated with an asterisk. As you follow the trend line down and to the right you can see that as phosphorus concentrations (on the bottom) increase, the clarity (on the left side) decreases. The lakes in the lower right side of the chart are typically in the SW portion of the state where agriculture and shallow lakes are the norm and the lakes in the upper left portion are typically in the NE portion of the state with deeper lakes in forested watersheds.

 Lakes on the upper left portion of the graph are considered sensitive to change. Small changes in phosphorus levels within these lakes can cause significant changes in water clarity. For instance, if you increased Bad Medicine’s 9.0 ppb mean phosphorus to just 15 ppb, the expected average clarity would drop from 23.6 feet to about 12 feet. Conversely, the lakes on the lower right part of the graph are not sensitive as changes in phosphorus levels have relatively little effect on the clarity of the lake. Restoring clarity to these lakes requires significant reductions in phosphorus often at a considerable expense, without any guarantees that the lake will respond positively. Sensitive lakes such as Bad Medicine Lake must be rigorously protected to maintain the water quality condition. Passive attempts at protection, along with continued development of the shoreland will be insufficient in protecting these lakes.

 Another important concept to understand about lake degradation is how landuse influences water quality. Each landuse has a range of phosphorus export (runoff) values associated with it. Figure 2. gives the typical ranges we come to expect from each of the landuses listed. The chart uses the units of kilograms of P per hectare per year. The same relationship exists if the more commonly used units of pounds of P per acre per year were used. The reason there is a range for each landuse is that factors such as slope, soil type, and the degree of the intensity of the land use can all affect how much phosphorus leaves the area in a given year.

The Bad Medicine Lake pre-development watershed was forested and this landuse has the lowest P export coefficient. As the forest is converted to an urban landuse (homes, impervious surfaces and lawns), the P export coefficient increases about 10 times. Lots that have been left relatively natural with small lawns, shoreline buffers and most of the original forest intact have the least impact. Lots where the forest has been removed and replaced with large lawns and large impervious surfaces tend to have the greater phosphorus contribution. If a lake lot (or the entire lake watershed) is converted from 90% forest and 10% urban to 40% forest and 60% urban you can use the chart above to get a feel for the change in phosphorus loading to the lake. Changes to lake water quality occur incrementally and cumulatively over time so as to not be very noticeable but be assured that the process is ongoing and will continue unless action is taken to reverse the trend

There are many ways to reduce your impact on the lake. The Becker COLA and Becker County recently published the guidebook "Becker County Shoreland Guide to Lake Stewardship". This booklet has a wealth of information and ideas for the landowner to implement on their property (BMLAA made an effort to distribute theses booklets to all BML property owners last fall and this spring.  For a copy contact Chuck Church – 573-2209). I cannot stress enough the importance of a community effort to protect this lake. Maintaining the water quality of Bad Medicine Lake must be a concerted team effort that involves the entire lake community.

 I would like to conclude with a word about the advanced monitoring and assessment the association is pursuing with Bemidji State University and the MPCA. The work that is planned will provide the type of detail about the lake that will enable a much greater understanding about the complex biological, chemical, and physical interactions taking place within Bad Medicine Lake. I applaud the association for the dedication to understanding and protecting this unique Minnesota lake. Please feel free to contact me at my office 218-846-8115 with any questions you may have regarding this article.

 BAD MEDICINE LAKE BIOLOGICAL AND SHORELINE STUDY GRANT

Forest Township board of supervisors passed a resolution at its August 9^th meeting to submit a grant application to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in the amount of $39,702.  The grant would provide partial funding for a $79,502 Bad Medicine Lake biological and shoreline study in partnership with Forest Township Board, Bemidji State University, Bad Medicine Lake Area Association, and Bad Medicine Lake Area Foundation.  The grant application was not successful; other grant sources are being explored.  More details to follow in upcoming newsletters.

NORTH COUNTRY SCENIC TRAIL

Karen Stenberg, Communications Director

The Laurentian Lakes Chapter has had a busy and active summer.  Monthly hikes beginning in May have introduced new people to our chapter and have helped spread the word of the North Country Trail in Becker County.  Twenty six came out for the National Trails Day hike in June.  Articles in our local papers and radio interviews covering the Americorps group also gave us some much needed publicity.

Hosting twelve enthusiastic members of the Americorps was certainly one of the highlights for our chapter this summer.  Hailing from urban areas across the USA, these young people had a quick introduction to the use of hand tools in early June and then continued with “on the job training”.  Chapter members helped out by supervising each day, encouraging, and offering advice on the ever present ticks, mosquitoes, and deer flies.  The group gained an appreciation for the beauty of the north woods and their work was a great service to our chapter.  Several mentioned how they would like to someday return and hike sections of the North Country Trail.  Special thanks to the Vlasaks who housed the group for four weeks.  They were to be with us for six weeks but were called away two weeks early to the Gulf for oil-spill response.   They were able to complete four miles of treadway south of Elbow Lake Road along with building and placing one boardwalk.

The trail is now complete south to the Old Many Point (Camp 7) Forest Trail. New updated maps are located at the kiosks and wilderness campsites are located at Horseshoe Lake (north of SE Juggler Lake Rd.), Pine Island Lake, Old Headquarters trailhead, and Gardner Lake. The campsites have a fire ring, privy, and two tent sites. By the time this newsletter reaches you, there should be a trailhead parking area on Elbow Lake Rd.

Opportunities to hike and volunteer will continue with guided hikes on Sept. 11^th (location yet to be determined) and on Oct. 9 in Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge.  Wednesday workdays are continuing and you can volunteer by calling or emailing Ray Vlasak.  More participants are always welcomed and encouraged!

 BAD MEDICINE LAKE AREA FOUNDATION

  Ray Vlasak

The Bad Medicine Lake Area Foundation [BMLAF] was established in 2004 under the direction and approval of the Bad Medicine Lake Area Association [BMLAA]. The BMLAF is dedicated to protecting and preserving the diverse water and land resources of the lake area for our enjoyment, as well as those who come after us.

The BMLAF consists of a volunteer Board of BMLAA board members and non-board members who own property in the lake area. The foundation is a component fund of the West Central Initiative, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit regional foundation.

Two Aquatic Management Area (AMA) projects to protect sensitive habitat shore areas are currently in process.

EAST SIDE AMA

The East Side Shoreland Preservation Project, funded by a Reinvest In Minnesota [RIM] Grant which matches local cash and land donations dollar for dollar, is now completely funded and is in the land purchase phase. Local cash donations total $159,587, and the value of land donations is $112,000. The RIM match is $271,587, and the DNR Fish and Wildlife Dept. is contributing $82,326 to reach the total project cost of $625,500. 

WEST SIDE AMA

The MN DNR has agreed to fund the second AMA project on the west side of the lake with a Legacy Natural Areas and Wildlife Grant. This grant does not require a local match; however, the BMLAF will need to raise $45,000 to supplement the DNR offer.

Additional preservation projects consistent with the Foundation’s mission and the broader State goals for wildlife are under consideration. Public awareness of the expanding impacts of invasive species and development on MN lakes is increasing. Bad Medicine Lake property owners should be proud of their accomplishments.

Please support this important conservation work by making a donation to the BMLAF.  Similar to other nonprofit organizations you support, this can be facilitated by making an annual pledge through WCI. Together we can make a difference.

There are still copies of Bad Medicine at the Lake, published by the department of Mass Communications at Minnesota State University Moorhead.  They are available from Ray Vlasak for a donation of $25 per copy.  Get yours before they are gone.

A TIME TO REMEMBER 

Pamela Gudmundson

 Red, white, blue, red, white, blue.  I ran my fingers along the ends of the old logs making up the inside of the cabin Curt and I had just purchased on the northeast side of Bad Medicine Lake.  The logs had been alternately painted red, white and blue.  How curious, I thought. Why are they painted like this?  I didn’t have to wait long for my answer.

It was a crisp October evening in 1997.  Our neighbor, Tim Holzkamm, came over to welcome us to the lake.  We invited him in to warm himself by the big stone fireplace.  Tim settled in and began chatting about the lake in general.  His family had lived on the lake since the 40s.  Tim, himself, had grown up on this lake.   Then, he paused for a moment and looked around the cabin.  “You know,” he said, “There’s quite a tale connected with this place.”

I sat forward in my chair and whispered, “The red, white, and blue.”

“Yes,” Tim said and proceeded to tell us the story.

The cabin had been built in 1931 by Dr. Eugene Cohn of Chicago as a retreat for his son, Ewald, who was suffering from World War I-related shell shock.   Ewald would spend the summers there painting and writing poetry as a form of therapy.  He was a prolific painter.  His theme was Red, White, and Blue.   He painted the cabin logs, and the fireplace; even the rocks in the woods red, white and blue.   In 1938, Ewald and his mother spent the entire winter secluded at the lake. One day in the early spring, his mother suddenly became very ill.   Ewald trudged through a snow storm all the way to Detroit Lakes to find help.  Ewald hadn’t had so much as a haircut in months.  He arrived in town ranting and looking like a wild man.  People didn’t know who he was until someone suggested that he might be the young man from that cabin on Bad Medicine Lake.  Ewald was packed into a car and driven over the frozen fields back to the cabin.  But, it was too late.  By the time he arrived, his mother had died of a cerebral hemorrhage. 

After that, the cabin was used by occasional hunters and others until it was purchased by Tim’s family in 1947.  According to Tim’s father, Emil, the cabin was filled with boxes of patriotic pamphlets and poetry written by Ewald.

Over the years, the materials have disappeared and most of the paint has been removed by subsequent owners. When we bought the place in 1997, only the ends of the logs held Ewald’s art.  We had those sand-blasted off when we renovated the cabin the following year.

I have tried to do research on the internet to find out what became of Ewald, but I have had no success.  All is not lost and gone, however.  Every once in a while my eye catches an errant splash of red, white or blue on the end of a log.  I stop, run my fingers over it in tribute and remember!

Editor’s note:  Those of us from an earlier generation remember the slogan, “From the land of sky blue waters comes the beer refreshing.”  As legend has it, in the 50s an advertising executive from Campbell-Mithun Ad Agency in Minneapolis visited a log cabin on the north end of Bad Medicine Lake just off MN 113.  He was so taken with the view, he used it as a setting for a Hamm’s Beer ad campaign.

 SEPTIC COMMITTEE REPORT 

Chuck Church

Just because your sinks drain and your toilets flush does not necessarily mean that your septic system is operating properly.  It is suggested that you should pump it at least once every three years if you are a year-round resident or once every three-five years depending upon your seasonal usage to maintain the design capacity of the effluent tank, or tanks, as well as the integrity of the drain field.  Frequency of pumping is influenced by many variables e.g. the number of people, usage, and number of water using appliances that you own (dishwashers, washing machines, disposals and water softeners).

If you have an older septic system (installed before the early 80s) it may have a block tank with an open bottom.  These older systems appear to work for a very long time however; they leak raw sewage into the adjacent ground water which eventually can find its way into your well water and/or the lake.

As you know, clean water and concern about septic systems scored as top priorities on the recent lake survey.  Last summer we conducted a voluntary septic certification program and the response was good, but still left us with many old and/or unrecorded septic systems.  At last check, the Becker County Zoning Office still has 100 of 236 property parcels on the lake with no record of a septic system.  Many of the 100 are properties that are undeveloped, but many of them are properties that have septic systems that were never recorded for a variety of reasons. 

To begin to address this problem, as Chair of the Septic Committee, I presented a proposal to our membership at our June annual meeting.   The purpose of the proposal was to produce a color coded AIS map of every parcel on the lake coordinated with an accompanying spreadsheet incorporating the latest septic records from Becker County.   The membership approved moving forward.  At our July 17th BMLAA board meeting, the board selected a proposal from RMB Labs.  I obtained permission from the Becker County Zoning Administrator for RMB to access county records and told RMB to proceed with our contract.  We should see a finished map and spreadsheet in August.

When the RMB report is completed, septic committee members: Chuck Church, Dennis Andersen, and Dave Wiest, will study the results and make recommendations to the BMLAA board for future action.  The first step might be to contact owners of parcels that have no septic record to help us understand which parcels are undeveloped and which ones have a septic system.  As a lake association, we do not have the authority to force anyone to update their septic system; any action by the owner is voluntary.  However, we hope to appeal to owners of out-of-date systems that it is in their best interest to have their septic system updated so that it does not threaten their drinking water or the lake.

There may be grant money available to land owners to assist with the steps needed to upgrade their septic systems. Other lake associations have gotten funds to help with this effort. There is also a low (3%) interest loan program available for property owners to update old systems.  Ed Klepprich wrote an article in our last newsletter explaining this loan program.   It is our hope that with a little patience and persistence we can get every septic system on our lake operating safely, efficiently, and within code for the benefit of all residents and our beautiful lake. 

 SUMMARY OF THE BAD MEDICINE LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS SURVEY

Steve Lindow and Mike Slette

 The purpose of the survey sent out earlier this year was to gather feedback from land owners and use the information to give direction to the BMLAA board.  The last survey was done in 2004.  The feedback is also used to update the lake management plan which is important for the association in applying for grants to improve our lake.  Of the 150 surveys sent out 86, or 57%, were returned—a strong response by any measure.   

Five major priorities were identified from the survey: 

• Water quality: Maintaining lake clarity is the top concern of all survey respondents. To monitor water quality people requested that water quality testing continue.  A committee is submitting a multi-year water quality research project that will help us understand the lake dynamics better and help maintain clear water. What you can do:  1) To help maintain water clarity residents are strongly discouraged from using fertilizer or at a minimum only use phosphorus-free fertilizer.  2) Provide for natural vegetation buffer zones along the lake shore to reduce soil erosion and phosphorus run-in from the shoreline.
• High water: The lake’s high water continues to be a top priority but not as great as 2004.  Typical concerns were loss of trees, shoreline damage, and free-floating trees in the lake.  What you can do: To promote safety, residents can remove dead trees from their shoreline or if part of a tree breaks off then secure it to the shoreline.
• Septic systems: Proper functioning and maintenance of septic systems is a concern in relation to water quality.  What you can do: To prevent pollution from septic systems residents are encouraged to update their systems and regularly pump their tanks. 
• Recreational use: Lake usage concerns had to do with the following: 
  1. Fishing: Catching too few species especially walleyes.  Residents wanted to see DNR data on fish stocking and the results of test net surveys done every five years.
  2. Boating:  Too many large boats and high speed boats, especially on weekends and holidays, with the large wakes pounding into the shoreline causing erosion.  What you can do: To reduce erosion, boats are encouraged to go slow (no-wake) near shore.  High speed use (including tubing) is encouraged further out in the middle of the lake. 
  3. Jet skis:  Usage remains a concern but not as much of an issue as in 2004. 
  4. ATVs:  Concerns around the need for more enforcement of regulations were greater than raised in 2004. 
• Zoning regulations: Issues around improper use of lake shore revolve around enforcement of zoning codes (e.g. building structures too close to the water), removal of vegetation too close to waters edge, and establishment of sand beaches.  What you can do: Township property owners contemplating building, additions, remodels, or alteration to the lot or lakeshore should contact the Township Clerk and Becker County Zoning – 218-846-7314.  Permits will, most likely, be required.

Survey respondents indicated they saw improvements in garbage handling, the BMLAA newsletter, the purchasing of marginal shoreline through the BMLAA Foundation, and the focus on maintaining the lake’s water quality.  Residents state that they value Bad Medicine for its clear water, beauty, quiet and peaceful environment, and the look of its undeveloped shoreline.  Interestingly kayak ownership has doubled since 2004 and those who enjoy photography and x-country skiing have increased significantly.  Thanks to all who participated in the 2010 survey!

AN IMPACT TO BAD MEDICINE LAKE 1,472 MILES AWAY

Kjersten Skatvold

We didn’t do it.  It doesn’t affect us.  Our landscape wasn’t hurt; our livelihoods were not directly affected.  It is easy to watch the evening news, CNN, or Fox News and have the forward mentioned thoughts drift through your mind when seeing images and hearing statistics of the Gulf oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  It is easy to sympathize with the residents, business owners, and clean-up officials that have a monumental task at hand to clean up the Gulf Coastline and waters.  But, once again, it doesn’t affect us, we may think, or does it?

The pristine waters of beautiful Bad Medicine have been a lure of anglers, vacationers, cabin dwellers, residents, and water lovers for years.  These unspoiled waters have also been the home to our resident loons that we have come to know and love not only as our state bird, but also as a symbol of our “up north” sense of calm and peace. However, will we get to share our lake with the common loon for much longer?

Studies have tracked loon migration to the effected Gulf Coast region for many years.  According to an article in the Fargo Forum in early July 2010, a group from the MN Dept of Natural Resources and the US Geological Survey have tagged ten loons on separate lakes in MN and WI to study the effects of the Gulf oil spill on the loon population. The study is hoping to find two answers.  First, are the loons going to be migrating to the Gulf Coast or the Atlantic Coast?  Second, are the loons going to die or will they be returning to MN and WI. When the Gulf oil spill occurred, most of the loons had already migrated north. Officials do expect some mortality in the loon population but the question will be how much.

Cited in the same article, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported that in June 2010, 1,500 birds were found dead or soaked in oil and only one was a loon.  On a positive note, this is not the first time the MN DNR has seen this happen to a bird from our region.  Fifty years ago, bald eagles, ospreys, peregrine falcons, and brown pelicans faced a drastic decline in population from the chemical DDT.  These birds have bounced back after the 20 to 25 years it took to recover. Officials from the DNR hope that it does not take that long for the loon population to recover.

Another study that was written in the Star Tribune about the same time quoted a larger experiment that includes 80 loons with the purpose of learning about botulism poisoning that is a threat to loons.  In this study the loons have sophisticated geolocator tags attached to their legs.  The tags will record daily location, temperature, and even water pressure every 20 seconds to determine how deep loons dive to snatch fish. Their strong skeletons and solid bones allow them to swim as deep as 250 feet.  By learning more about how loons forage and what they are exposed to, scientists hope to learn how to prevent or lessen botulism outbreaks.  Most of the data will be collected next summer when the loons return to Minnesota and are recaptured.  Although it wasn’t part of the research plan, the transmitters and tags may also inform state and federal researchers about another risk to the birds, the oil in the Gulf that is contaminating nearshore grasses and marsh areas where loons spend the winter.

For now, we must wait.  Wait to see how our state bird fares over their winter migration to the Gulf Coast.  Let’s hope for a long, warm fall so our aquatic friends can return to cleaned beaches and waters of the Gulf Coast and back to our lake.

 LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF YOUR PROPERTY

Dave Hagen

A few years ago, the Bad Medicine Book Club read the book, The White Earth Tragedy. You might say that each of us can read a portion of this book by going to your Abstract of Title and reading that history.

The White Earth Reservation abstracts are not like other land title histories which usually begin with a homesteaded property by the United States government under the President in office at the time of the homestead.  Our Abstracts (history) begin with the designated Allottee and then continue through individual heirs and usually along the line there is a default or a forfeiture and perhaps a recovery.

The Anishinaabe bands (Chippewa and Ojibwe) came together in Minnesota at the White Earth Reservation created by Congress in 1867. The Nelson Act of 1889 attempted to concentrate them on one reservation and issue them privately owned allotments of land.  Your abstract may read about mixed blood Indians and full blood Indians. Many coming, especially from Wisconsin, had intermarried with fur traders who were mixed bloods while those who had lived on a more subsistence oriented lifestyle were considered fullbloods.

The 1887 Dawes Act or General Allotment Act mandated that tribal land be allotted to individual Indians in parcels up to 160 acres each.  The government was also to hold the property in trust for the individual for 25 years while they determined that the Individual learned how to regard the land as real estate in the manner of other non-reservation land owners.  After the trust period, they could sell the land and pay property taxes.

There were countless changes made to these policies. In 1891, the allotment was reduced to 80 acres; in 1902, the heirs could sell their land with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior; in 1904, the allotment was increased for those with 80 acres back to 160.        (Continued on next page)

 The Clapp Act of 1904 provided for disposition of timber. For instance, my abstract conveys a Timber Deed to the Nichols-Chisholm Lumber Company in Sept of 1906. That deed conveyed all pine timber standing upon, dead and down and growing upon the property in question. That original portion was 46.5 acres and the payment agreed upon was a total of $1600.00.

In the early 1980’s, my neighbor, Neil Hensrud found a buyer for his property and completed a sale contract. The buyer needed financing and upon having the title examined, the lender found there was a cloud on the title due to the many changes from the government as well as prior heirs of the allottee on the property. Consequently he still owns the property (by choice). Because of these types of problems the State of Minnesota approved the White Earth Reservation Land Settlement Act (Welsa) in 1985. This act called for the State to transfer 10,000 acres of State land to the Tribe in exchange for cleared title to 100,000 acres of privately held land in the reservation. (I understand the State has never transferred that land as of the present time.) It also stipulated the payment of 6.5 million dollars to the tribe, which was used to build the Shooting Star Casino. This however, cleared the cloud on our titles much of which was caused by the mixed bloods (half-breeds) taking advantage of the full bloods and obtaining titles for little and leasing or selling to the timber companies.

Currently the Anishinaabe own approximately 10% of the land area in the White Earth Reservation. They have a White Earth Land Recovery Project by which they are trying to recover more land for reservation ownership.

 MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE ADDRESSES STATE-WIDE LAKE POLLUTION ISSUES

Don Andersen

The following is paraphrased from a Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial of June 30, 2010. 

Despite being far upstream, Minnesotans have shared the nation’s anger and frustration over the oil spill and its impact on the Gulf of Mexico.  But they needn’t look to where the Mississippi River ends to see the degradation of once-pristine waters.  They should be similarly outraged about what’s happening near the Mississippi’s source, north-central Minnesota, and its iconic lake country.  Many lakes and rivers throughout Minnesota are in decline, as detailed in the June, “Losing our lakes” series written by the Star Tribune’s Jim Spencer and Tom Meersman.  While not as dramatic as the oil spill, our pollution problem is just as man-made.  And like the oil spill, it calls for both policy prescriptions as well as societal shifts in behavior.

Lake home owners should be even more motivated to do the right thing.  For those owning or building cabins — or building second and often bigger lake homes, it’s the lake that’s the lure.  But too many property owners are spoiling their greatest assets with environmentally unsound development.  And counties, benefitting from the expanded tax bases from part-time residents who use few social services, are all too often willing participants.  Cass and Crow Wing counties, for example, granted nearly nine of 10 requested variances since 2005.

Some of the newcomers’ neighbors may be resentful over the damage done from overbuilding, but some of their quaint cabin’s septic systems are just as problematic.  The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has estimated that 39 percent of the lakeside septic systems are substandard, resulting in sewage seeping into the ground or sometimes just directly into lakes.

With so little incentive to avoid, let alone fix, the pollution problem, it’s time for the state to more aggressively address the growing environmental problem.  Gov. Tim Pawlenty needs to act expeditiously on the proposed more rigorous rules for lakefronts by transferring them to an administrative law judge who will oversee public hearings across the state.  And Pawlenty and the Legislature should consider giving the DNR expanded power over county decision-making processes on variances.

Voters showed how much they value our waterways at the ballot box in 2008 by passing the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, which received more statewide votes than any candidate for elected office.  Like so many in Minnesota, we have slipped into complacency.  If we aren’t willing to regulate and invest in what makes us unique-indeed, what makes us Minnesotans-what are we willing to invest in? (End of Star Tribune editorial.)

1205 Minnesota lakes are on the official “IMPAIRED QUALITY” list.  How many have been removed from the list?  ZERO!!!  It costs twenty times more to rescue a lake than the prevention steps to stop an “impaired” designation.  Can it happen in Becker County?  Prime example is the north shore of Big Detroit Lake.   Beautiful green lawns meet a shoreline clogged with mats of thick weeds.  Swimming is nearly impossible and it requires some effort to get a boat through the tangle.  Buffer strips to contain nutrient-laden runoff were mostly unheard of as these homes were built and landscaped over the years.  What will BML be like in 20 years?  What could happen to BML property values if our waters are degraded as reported above?  Tougher restrictions on variances and penalties for “after-the-fact” permits are needed.  A small fine does not deter people from doing environmental damage to high priced lakeshore.

We cannot be smug or comfortable with our gin clear water clarity.  Any lake development tends to move us closer to the degradation tipping-point, the impaired list.  It can happen very quickly.  Threats are many: climate change, invasive species, irresponsible shoreline development, septic pollution.  All of us have control over some of these threats. Let’s do what we can to keep that tipping point in the far distant future.

 FISHING REPORT - Steve Lindow

Historical Walleye stocking records (1998-2009)

 Historical DNR test net surveys (average number caught per net 1980-2006)

 Historical trout stocking records

1977-1982 7000-9000 each year

1983-2010 16,000 stocked each year

During years 2000-2010 the 16,000 trout were divided into 12,000 in spring and 4,000 in fall for the purpose of trying to grow larger trout the following year.  Trout fishing season is closed from November 1 to mid May fishing opener.

FISHING THIS SUMMER

Trout fishing was good again as usual. In the summer, slip bobbers with a worm, or Berkleys Power Bait in 30-45 feet of water works well. Downriggers with spinners, small red spoons, or little Rapalas work at the same depth if you like to troll.

Walleye fishing was slow to start with and then slowed down even more. Most walleyes ranged from 16-19 inches, very few 10 inch fish are being caught which doesn’t show good promise for the future years. If we want more and bigger walleyes, you have to release fish smaller than 16 inches!

Smallmouth bass fishing has really been fun early and late in the day. They bite on just about anything.  Keep the smaller fish to eat and release the larger fish to spawn.

Northern fishing is slow in the summer. They seem to go deep and probably are eating trout, catching them is difficult.