CLEAN WATER AGAIN

WATERWORKS Column by Gordon Prickett for the 11/7/2012 Aitkin Independent Age CLEAN WATER AGAIN It was late in the season when the water on our lake began to clear up. A final transparency reading with a white Secchi Disk at the center of the lake was just about back to normal for October. What a change from a few months ago when sediment and algae from flooding and runoff in June had colored the water brown and green. TAKING IN THE DOCK Snow birds have flown or are now planning their departures. I am one of the last hold outs on the lake to haul in his fishing boat and canoe. But finally it is time. The hose connected to the lake pump freezes up. Cold winds discourage leisurely paddling. And most of the hardwoods have dropped their leaves to end the panorama of color everywhere. So we unhook the ramp and roll in the dock to its winter resting place on the lake bank. It is an in-between time. Birdbaths and small ponds are skinned over with ice, but lake ice for skating and fishing is weeks away. A “regular” winter with plenty of snow and thick ice will be welcomed by the year-round people and by merchants who look forward to serving snowmobilers and ATV trail riders. PLANNING FOR 2013 Lake Associations have compared programs, speakers, and ideas for activating their residents at recent ACLARA (coalition) meetings, with an eye to preparing for their activities in the new year. A “Paddle Around the Lake” with kayaks and canoes has followed the Fourth of July Boat Parade a few days later on Nord Lake. An updated report from DNR Fisheries for each lake has been a favorite program with fishermen at several lake associations. Master Gardeners have given several excellent presentations for shoreland vegetation management. With twenty members of the Aitkin County Lakes And Rivers Association, we can provide a source of ideas for what may appeal to cabin people from a lake association.

WHOSE LAKE?

WATERWORKS Column by Gordon Prickett for the 10/3/2012 Aitkin Independent Age WHOSE LAKE? When we talk about lakes and lakeshore it’s normal to refer to “my lake,” if we happen to own or use a cabin close by. And if we work for a governmental agency that provides a service in lake country I guess it’s normal to have a proprietary feeling about the water, the fish, the vegetation, the data, and the shoreline of these water bodies. Now I am talking about the “public waters” in our county. They are a local, state, and national asset that we all can share. Our merchants hope that many visitors will come in summer and share the joys of boating and swimming. A normal winter brings snowmobilers, skiers, and ice fishermen. Those of us with a conservation ethic hope that these folks can enjoy the waters and help us take care of them for the future. HOW HIGH IS THE WATER? The information about a lake is also public information, and can be accessed, to the extent that it is gathered, by an Internet-savvy keyboard artist. This summer when storms raged across our county we had an urgent need to learn how high lake levels were climbing. Dock sections were drifting away. Lake level gauges were underwater. Wellheads were underwater and propane tanks were afloat. Boat lifts, canopies, and pontoons were adrift on Big Sandy Lake. Emergency meetings of the County Board in June established Slow-No-wake boating restrictions for all lakes in the county. At the hundreds of lakes in the county the rapid rise in surface levels varied greatly. But the effects of torrential rains were everywhere, with storm water washouts and erosion of roads and shores. Elevations have been established at about 60 lakes in the county, by setting benchmarks and examining the vegetation to determine Ordinary High Water. At 28 of these lakes there are DNR level gauges where regular readings are taken, starting when the ice goes out. By working with the DNR, the Soil and Water Office, and Land Department surveyors, the Sheriff and the County Board adjusted their boating restrictions over several weeks, for particular lakes where levels were extremely high and shoreline damage could occur. The coalition of 20 lake associations, known as ACLARA, is surveying our membership to evaluate how the lakes were affected by these emergency boating restrictions. We will deliver a summary report to the County Board early next year.

MAKING WAVES

From the WATERWORKS Outdoors Column 9/5/2012 in The Aitkin Independent Age by Gordon Prickett In the recent excitement about boating on our flooded lakes I learned something new about fast boats. They can take on gallons of ballast water in order to make the largest possible waves for the wake boarder being towed behind. Many decades ago I learned to ride surf boards and water skis. Being pulled with two other friends, on water skis and a flying disc, we thought we were pretty hot stuff. The boat towing us was skimming across the water at top speed without much of a wake. Next for us came the slalom ski, a wide ski with tandem foot positions. Fifteen or twenty years ago, when my water ski days had ended, wake boarding began on some of the local lakes. I noticed that beginners took a lot of spills, as they learned to jump wakes and practice flips. A few neighbors became expert in this new sport. As wake boarding has mostly replaced water skis, the boats have gotten bigger and more powerful. These days I happen to paddle a canoe much of the time or slowly troll in a fishing boat. I can handle the rough water from strong steady winds, and I head for shore in a storm. But the intermittent tall waves from a wake boarding crew are another matter. Especially when that wake builds up near shore. Jetskis are required to proceed out 150 feet at no-wake speed before they are allowed to open up. During the recent flood emergency in Aitkin County, there was a 300-foot distance from shore on certain critical lakes where no-wake speeds were mandated. There might be an acreage size of a lake (small and narrow lakes) at which wake boarding and other surface use are just not compatible. MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD One of the purposes of the Aitkin County Rivers And Lakes Association (ACLARA), a coalition of twenty individual lake associations, is “To serve as a voice of the membership to governmental bodies and agencies.” In June we were asked by the Sheriff and the County Administrator for contact names at each of the lakes, as the County was assessing the risks of high water and was holding emergency board meetings to consider regulating boat traffic. At the ACLARA meeting August 11th both Scott Turner and Patrick Wussow reported on their efforts in the past three months, as the County was faced with unprecedented flood waters and runoff. In a discussion of the reaction by lakeshore property owners to the changing “Slow-no wake” speed restrictions, the speakers asked lake associations for their suggestions about future policy for the flood next time. If readers from lakes without lake associations are interested, another one of ACLARA’s purposes is “To help form new lake associations in the County.” It is a good way to make your voices heard.

SUMMER BROWN WATER

From WATERWORKS An Outdoor Column by Gordon Prickett for the 8/1/2012 Aitkin Independent Age BROWN WATER Since the storm of June 18th and the extreme flood events that have followed in Aitkin County, many of our lakes have changed from their normal clear transparency in the Spring to waters with a brown-colored stain and a substantial reduction in measured clarity of the lake water. Most lakes have risen more than a foot above the Ordinary High Water Level, where the vegetation changes from aquatic to terrestrial. In some cases the lake levels by June 26th were two feet over normal high water. Due to torrential rains falling on saturated ground, extreme runoff has flushed soils and lawn chemicals into the lake. Wave action and boat wake action have eroded the soils on the shoreline, and trees rooted on the water’s edge have toppled. It will be some time, probably not until next Spring, before our lake water quality will return to normal. In the meantime there are a few lessons to be gained from the difficult weeks that we have just come through. LEARNING FROM HIGH WATER Anything that can absorb the energy of rushing water, slow the flow, will prevent or at least limit damaging erosion of the lakeshore. Rain gardens that collect and absorb rainwater, as well as rain barrels to store and use the rain for watering, are helpful measures in dealing with storm water. A zone on the edge of the lake that is not mowed and left to natural vegetation will act to buffer the downhill force of rain runoff. Last week I was asked to examine a lake property where unlicensed vehicles had been stored outside for years. Junked cars and trucks in the Shore Impact Zone are more than unsightly to neighbors. They contain hydraulic fluid, grease, gasoline, and oil that eventually can contaminate the area and pose a risk to lake water quality. Yes, this is a violation of Aitkin County’s recently revised Shoreland Management Ordinance. But until the Zoning Office hears about it, the vehicles remain. Then there are the 57 DNR public access docks on the best fishing lakes in the county. The road we use to back in our boat trailers where I live has been badly eroded. Looking at several other DNR boat landings in the county I have seen that these sites are seriously eroded, with much washed-in sediment. Repair is needed. I have also learned that only 28 lakes in Aitkin County are gaged, so that in an emergency it is a task for a surveyor to find out how high the lake level is on Gun Lake, Big Pine Lake, Long Lake, Nord Lake, or Hammal Lake. We have much work to be ready for the flood next time.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE!

from WATERWORKS by Gordon Prickett, an Outdoors Column for the 7/4/2012 Aitkin Independent Age. Everybody’s talking about it. Sandbagging in downtown Aitkin. The Mississippi took four or five days to crest at a level near 1950 records. While a tornado strikes and leaves, flooding continues on for weeks, sometimes months. Emergency service from Aitkin Area road crews and law enforcement has been exceptional during the storms and in the aftermath, and the difficult recovery work will continue for a long time. The dry fall and dry early spring here meant that docks on county lakes were installed at lower elevations than normal. However, heavy rains in May, and a torrential downpour on June 18 and 19 put many docks underwater and many lakes and rivers have reached high water marks not seen in decades. Sections of docks and debris floating in lakes, and even loose watercraft, have brought danger on the water. SLOW THE BOAT DOWN! In this emergency the Aitkin County Board has enacted boating speed limits at the urging of Sheriff Scott Turner. At this writing, all county lakes, North of State Highway 18 and County Road 2, are under a SLOW-NO-WAKE restriction. Boat wakes can cause tremendous shoreland erosion. By observing slow-no-wake speeds, meaning 5 mph or less, the boat’s wave action is reduced and shore damage is prevented. EROSION PREVENTION Driving across the county and cruising the lakes today you see the amazing power that stormwater can deliver. Cutting away banks, gouging out new paths downslope, the water rushes ahead carrying sediment into pools and flushing watersheds into lakes. For years Best Shoreland Practices have taught us to use “Buffer Strips” at the water’s edge. Leaving a 10 to 20 foot “No-Mow Zone” of natural vegetation beside the river and lake, makes a Buffer Strip. The deep plant roots prevent erosion, and the vegetation filters out sediment and contaminants. The result is cleaner water. A much cleaner lake results than if everyone tries to have clipped bluegrass all the way to water. A walking path through the Buffer Strip can provide adequate access to boat and swimming docks. For the rest of the summer, here’s wishing you “Clean Water and Safe Boating.”

WILDLIFE AND HUMANS

This WATERWORKS column by Gordon Prickett is written for the Outdoors Section of the June 6th 2012 Aitkin Independent Age. Around the lake where we live there has been trouble with what DNR-Wildlife refers to as “Nuisance Species.” Whole patches of rushes have been chewed off and then pulled up by the roots and consumed. Muskrats. Recently a neighbor’s pontoon had it’s fuel line chewed on just before they tried to motor it over to the public access for winter storage. Stories are told of wiring on pontoons being gnawed by critters at the waters edge. Again the destruction was caused by muskrats. Several years ago we had a population explosion of beavers. New beaver families built lodges and began felling trees on the loon nesting island. Shoreline maples and oaks were girdled as these skilled loggers and builders expanded their colony. Thanks to an experienced trapper, who took twenty beaver in one open trapping season between late October and mid-May, we were able to restore balance in our habitat. The mature hardwoods along the shore are no longer threatened. We are studying how to deal with the growing number of muskrats all around the lake. Information from the DNR tells us that an adult female may have two or three litters in a summer, with as many as ten young per litter. In marshes they build domed houses with mud and vegetation, but in our lake they have tunneled into dens on banks. Predators of muskrats may include mink, otters, eagles, foxes, and racoons. Fairly soon I expect you can add our skilled trapper to this list. WHEN BOATS NEED LIGHTING Most of our boating is during daylight hours, but as we launch our boats after a winter of storage, it’s important to get ready for early and late outings. Be sure to test the navigation lights; the sockets and wiring may have corroded, like mine! A stern (rear) white light must be visible from all directions (360 degree circle). Red and green bow (front) lights shine red to port (left side) and green to starboard (right side). The combination of red and green covers an arc of 225 degrees ahead of the boat. Each light is seen from directly ahead to a point 22.5 degrees to the rear of the beam (midpoint of the boat) on each side. Boats must be lighted from sunset to sunrise, so today, June 6th, navigational lights must be on before sunrise at 5:27 am, and shining again after sunset at 8:57 pm. These times may be found at the back of the current Minnesota Boating Guide published by the DNR.

A NEW STICKER FOR ALL BOATS

from WATERWORKS, an Outdoors Column by Gordon Prickett for 5/2/2012 Aitkin Independent Age A new aquatic invasive species (AIS) rules decal should be attached to all types of watercraft operating on any waters in Minnesota. These decals have become available from the DNR starting in January 2012. After August 1, 2014 if your boat doesn’t have one displayed, you can be ticketed for a petty misdemeanor and required to pay a penalty. This peel-off decal has two parts. The top portion explains what you must do and what you may not do, according to the AIS laws. This upper part is attached on the boat. The second portion of the decal is at the bottom. and it is to be placed on the winch post of watercraft trailers. It simply alerts you to CHECK THE DRAIN PLUG! and asks “Please wear your life jacket.” State law now requires boaters to remove the drain plug before leaving the water access area. Of course, this sticker also reminds you to put the plug back in before launching. At our April ACLARA meeting, nearly everyone there admitted having launched a boat at least once without the drain plug in. These new decals are free, and can be picked up at DNR offices and Deputy Registrar offices, from DNR Conservation Officers, and at most bait shops. A SUMMARY OF AIS LAWS What follows is written on the decal you must stick on your boat: “These laws are intended to protect your lakes and water recreation from harmful effects of aquatic invasive species (AIS). Under state law your compliance with AIS inspection requirements is an express condition and legal requirement of operating or transporting water related equipment.” “You must... CLEAN visible aquatic plants, zebra mussels, and other prohibited species off of watercraft, trailers, and equipment before transporting from any water access. DRAIN water from the boat’s bilge, livewell, motor, ballast tanks, and portable bait containers before transport from water access site or shoreline property. KEEP drain plug out and water draining devices open while transporting watercraft.” “You may not... TRANSPORT aquatic plants, water, or prohibited invasive species (e.g., zebra mussels, Eurasian water milfoil). DUMP live bait into state waters, on the shore, or on the ground. LAUNCH or attempt to place watercraft or trailers with aquatic plants, zebra mussels or prohibited invasive species into any waters of the state.”