Transcript LAKES, LEADERS, AND GRANTS

THE STORY OF RED LAKE
Douglas County
Pamela Toshner
DNR Lake Management Coordinator
715-635-4073
10 June 2006
Today’s Presentation
• Why I’m here
• The birth of Red Lake
• Red Lake’s characteristics
• Pleasures and concerns
• The future
Wisconsin lakes and streams are
held in trust for all citizens as
“common highways and forever
free.”
Article IX, Section 1,
Wisconsin Constitution
MN DNR
Retreating glaciers created Red
Lake about 10,000 years ago
Glacial creation continued…
• Bayfield Barrens or
•
•
•
Northwest Sands
Kettle or seepage lake
(melting chunk of ice
imbedded in glacial
outwash)
No inlet or outlet
Natural progression to
more sediments, plants,
etc. over thousands of
years
Water is clear but may not be as clear as in
the 1960s (1.5 feet decrease)
Secchi Depth
(feet)
Red Lake Summer Water Clarity
10.5
10
9.5
9
8.5
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Year
Whitefish (Bardon) 25 ft (104 feet deep)
Beauregard 6 ft (20 feet deep)
Aquatic plant community is
important and diverse
• 42 species – all native
• 7 less common
•
species indicative of
good water quality
More taller-growing
species than in 1930s
Borman, S. November 2005. Lake Plants and Lakeshores of Northern Wisconsin: How Have They changed Over the
Past 70 Years? North American Lake Management Society's 25th International Symposium, Madison, WI.
Fishery is good
• Walleye stocked even numbered years (35
fingerlings/acre)
• Northern pike, large- and smallmouth
bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, black crappie,
perch, and bullhead
Land use has changed. Since the
1930s…
• 13% increase in residential land use
• 20% decrease in woodland
• 13% increase in open (<50% wooded)
• Cropland decreased
1973: 34 cottages mostly on west shore
2006: ??? Most cottages replaced by homes and more
homes overall
Borman, S. November 2005. Lake Plants and Lakeshores of Northern Wisconsin: How Have They changed Over
the Past 70 Years? North American Lake Management Society's 25th International Symposium, Madison, WI.
Red Lake Management
Pleasures
• Generally good condition
• Wild shorelines
• Good fish habitat
• Clear water
Concerns
• Impervious surfaces
• Suburban lawns
• Fertilizer use
• Tree removal
Trophic States Of Lakes
Cultural eutrophication
speeds up natural aging
process of lakes
Undeveloped – Apr.-Oct. phosphorus/sediment runoff model
Source: Wisconsin Dept. of Natural
Resources
1940s development – Apr.-Oct. phosphorus/sediment runoff model
Source: Wisconsin Dept. of Natural
Resources
1990s development – Apr.-Oct. phosphorus/sediment runoff model
Source: Wisconsin Dept. of Natural
Resources
Climate Change - Trend in Ice Cover Duration
180
Lake Mendota, Wisconsin
Duration of Ice Cover (Days)
5
150
4
120
390
260
130
Duration
00
1850
1850
1875
1900
1900
1925
1950
1950
1975
2000
2000
Source: John Magnuson
Red Lake’s future depends on you!
• Maintain active lake association
• Continue volunteer monitoring (water
chem next year)
• Protect wild shorelines
• Restore suburban shorelines
• Let trees be trees
• Get written history from Chester