articles from August, 1993 newsletter:
President's Message
What a lousy summer!! Rain, cold, no fish and everything else. What are some of the lines I've heard? "lt's been so wet I've grown webbed feet!" "I should have planted wild rice in the garden." "I only put the deck furniture out this summer to get it washed!" Gloomy, gloomy and gloomy.
I wake up in the morning, check the rain gauge (bucket) to see how much fell last night and go back in for coffee. There's nothing else I feel like doing so I turn on the tube and switch to CNN. And there's lowa, Illinois, Missouri, et.al. Then I remember the line that goes -- "I cried because I had no shoes until ... " Our hearts go out to those people. What must it feel like to take a boat trip across town to check on the roof of your house? How much does it hurt to see acres and acres of your crops under whitecaps? Yet the spirit they show talking about their tragedy. The joining together of hands across sandbagging lines and feed stations. The faith they have in each other as they talk of getting over this and getting on with their lives. So I finish my coffee, quit my whining, put on an extra layer of clothes and get outside to tackle another project from the to-do jar.
We've got a lot to be thankful for here on the Lake. Fish are still to be had in the Lake rather than in the living room. There's a boat ride to take, even if it's with warm clothes. I'm thankful the loons are still here. l'm thankful the Club is still active and celebrating its 25th year. And I'm thankful we have young members like Rae Anne who care about this Lake of ours with the intensity we have burning in our hearts. Isn't it just GREAT to live on Lake Vermilion this summer?
To the Lake, Rick Pearson
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25th Annual Meeting Saturday, August 7 in Tower
The 25th annual meeting of the Sportsmen's Club will be held at the Tower Civic Center on Saturday, August 7. The seating capacity at the Civic Center is limited, so reservations must be received no later than Wednesday, August 4. The social hour will begin at 5 p.m. with the dinner to follow at 6 p.m. The buffet dinner will be catered by Zup's of Ely. Cost of the dinner will be $6.50 for adults and $1 for children under age 6.
The following directors will stand for re-election: Dale Lundblad, Jack Sparks, Ray Harris and Doug Watt. Nominations from the floor will be accepted, but please have the potential nominee's permission before presenting his/ her name.
The program will consist of a review of the past year's activities and members will also have an opportunity to bring up matters of personal concern regarding club business or problems around the lake.
To make reservations (by August 4, please) call: Barb Shook, 666-2222; Vi Harris, 666-2300; Patty Borgstrom, 753-3102 or Paula Bloczynski, 753-2107.
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Did You Know That?
-- in 1989 Americans dumped 365 million gallons of motor oil, or the equivalent of 27 Exxon Valdez spills?
--if every household in America had a faucet that dripped once each second, we would waste 928 million gallons of water a day (enough to fill 7.5 billion 8-ounce glasses)?
-- it takes 36,000 gallons of water to produce one automobile -- that's enough water for the average family of four to bathe, brush their teeth and wash clothes for more than nine months?
--the average family turns on the tap to use waterbetween 70 and 200 times per day?
--an average of 800,000 water wells are drilled each year in the U.S. - that's tapping into our underground water supplies at approximately 100 times each hour for domestic, farming, commercial and water testing needs?
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A Young Member Voices Concern
July 7, 1993
Rae Anne Buchanan
7719 Josante Shores Road Cook, MN 55713
Mrs. Barb Shook c/o
Lake Vermilion Sportsmen's Club
Cook, MN 55723
Dear Sportsmen's Club of Lake Vermillon:
My family and 1 are year-round residents of Lake Vermilion. On Friday, June 15, 1 saw something very awful from our house on the south shore of Niles Bay.
It was a typical morning for me until my attention was turned to a crying loon. I was very startled so I ran to a window to see what the problem was. It wasn't the sound of the innocent, carefree loon I was accustomed to. It was a sound of fear and violation and it wasn't a sight I would wish to witness again. A dark green 16-foot fishing boat with a black 25-hp. motor and three adults, all with blue rain gear and a golden retriever, were chasing a loon. They were traveling faster than trolling speed and they kept about 15 feet behind the loon. The dog was in front of the boat barking hysterically which only made the loon more confused. My main concern was to get these heartless people away from the loon. I yelled at them and they finally left when they saw me standing on my dock. They were headed west. I was home alone and didn't have access to a boat so I was unable to get a license number. It is very frustrating knowing that there was nothing I could do to stop them.
I am embarrassed to be a part of the human race when I see such cruel and disgusting behavior. We are all lucky to live in such a beautiful country and see such amazing wildlife every day. Why would anyone want to change that ? What kind of person gets a thrill out of harming animals?
For the past 20 years we have had a pair of loons making their home near our home. My family and I have enjoyed watching them raise their young, and this year was no different. They are very protective parents, but this particular morning the distraction caused them to lose their baby. After these people had their fun and left, the baby loon was nowhere to be found. The next couple of days the loons were back in front of our home obviously searching for their lost baby. The loons now appear to have adjusted to their loss, but can we?
Sincerely,
Rae Anne Buchanan
(Editor's Note: Following is the Minnesota Statute pertaining to this incident.)
Minnesota State Statute 97-B .091 reads basically -- A person may not use a motor vehicle to intentionally drive, chase, run over, kill or take a wild animal.
A self-propelled vehicle (this includes motor boats) cannot be used/operated on a highway, ground, on the water, or in the air for the above purpose.
Minimum Minnesota fine: $612.
Any questions regarding the exact wording of the statute, please contact any Sheriff's office.
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DNR's Advice for Beaver Damage Control
Beavers have become a nuisance to maintaining roads, ditches, ag-land and lakeshore property. In many cases, the only effective way to deal with them is to remove them. There are several ways to remove nuisance beavers.
Probably the most effective method is to shoot or trap the animals. Because of the extensive problems they have caused, landowners may trap or shoot them on their own property,without a permit or license, however they must contact their DNR conservation officer within 24 hours after taking action. Leaving a message on the officer's answering machine is sufficient as long as you state your name, address, phone number and number of beavers shot or trapped. To remove beavers from someone else's property you must have permission of the landowner and a free permit from the conservation officer.
Permits can be obtained by phone. The conservation officers also have a list of experienced area trappers who might be willing to help control problem beavers.
(lnformation provided by Jeff Lightfoot, DNR Wildlife Manager, and DNR Release #42).
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High Water BEWARE!
As of late July, much of of the talk around the Lake involves the high water conditions. Many docks are under water and a considerable amount of debris is floating in the lake.
Many feel the Lake is higher than they've ever seen it, due to the unusually wet summer. The actual level of the Lake on July 23 was 1358.60 feet, as read on the DNR gauge attached to the Sunset Creek Bridge. The Lake level is measured in feet above sea level.
Is it at record high levels? It's high, but not quite a record. It is actually only about 3 inches above the ordinary high water level of 1358.35 feet. The "ordinary high water level" is that established benchmark from which zoning setbacks are measured.
How does it compare with the historic average level for the month of July? Much higher. The recent 10-year average for July was 1357.65 feet or almost 12 inches lower than the current level of 1358.60 feet.
The all-time highest level was 1359.22 feet recorded on April 27, 1966, and again on June 14, 1970. That was almost 7-1/2 inches higher than the current level.
The all-time lowest level was 1356.07 feet, recorded on November 8, 1976. That's over 2-1/2 feet lower than current levels.
To those of us who live on the Lake, it seems like the Lake level fluctuates significantly from spring to fall. In reality, however, the water level of Lake Vermilion is very stable as compared to other area lakes. It fluctuates only about 1-1/2 feet during an average year. The difference between the all-time high and low levels is only a little over 3 feet.
Could it get even higher this year? Well, the 30-day forecast is for above average rainfall, so there is that possibility.
In any event, boaters are advised to watch for debris including large logs and are warned not to assume the high water levels will allow them to travel through normally shallow or hazardous areas.
Property owners should keep an eye on their docks, as high water combined with wave action can rip them apart and carry them away. Shoreline erosion is also a concern during high water conditions.
Additional information on water levels can be obtained from DNR Hydrologist Amy Loiselle (phone 218-749-9610) who kindly provided the historical water level data for this article.
Dale Lundblad - Board Member
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