articles from December, 1995 newsletter:
President's Message
Before going one step further, I take this public opportunity to thank Rick Pearson for the leadership he provided for the Sportsmen's Club the past three years. Rick infused the job with his own particular brand of creativity and energy, always taking the work -- but never himself -- seriously. A lot was accomplished for the lake and all its inhabitants, and our challenge now is to build on those accomplishments while we stay alert to the problems and possibilities that are waiting for us just over the horizon.
At our October board of directors meeting, we held a goal-setting session where we looked at all the club's activities, assessing each one for effectiveness and possible expansion. Many of our projects we will continue at their present activity level, including: (1) Rough fish removal and hatchery sale; (2) College (conservation) scholarship; (3) Navigation lights; (4) Day-use picnic sites; (5) Loon census; (6) Water clarity testing; and (7) Catch and Release program. Other projects have been slated for expansion and these include the newsletter, exotic species monitoring, water quality testing and membership growth. Under the heading of NEW projects, we're looking at sponsoring a boating safety program, starting a lake history project and developing a long-range financial strategy for the club.
As we get started on our agenda for the next year, we'd like to hear from you regarding the direction we're heading. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome, so please make it one of your "winter projects" to think about our club and where you'd like to see it as we look ahead to a new century on Lake Vermilion. Let us hear from you!
I also bring you holiday greetings from your board of directors. We hope that each of you enjoys a safe and peaceful holiday season, that you stay well over the winter and that you are back with us in the spring to join us in the work we do for the lake we love.
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Meet Our Newest Board Member
We extend a hearty welcome to new director WILLIS IRONS who was elected at the annual meeting August 5 and fills the unexpired board term of Pat Patrow. Will and wife Betty have been Sportsmen's Club members for the past 15 years.' they've had their beautiful home on Everett Bay Road since 1978 anef for the past eight years it has been their primary residence. The couple recently celebrated their 40th anniversary; they are the parents of two children and grandparents of three.
Will is winding down a long and successful career as a periodontist. His offices were located in Virginia and Duluth, and he and Betty made their home in Duluth for 30 years. At one time Will served as president of the Minnesota Dental Association. Now he is a member of the Minnesola Board of Dentistry, the regulatory board that issues and renews licenses and hears complaints.
When you see Will at the lake, he is generally "on the move." A pilot since 1961, he keeps a float plane at his home on Big Bay. And if you don't see Will overhead, you may catch a glimpse of him running. Will ran competitively as a marathoner for 26 years and still runs the Tower 1OK on the 4th of July. His other recreational interests are hunting, fishing, downhill skiing and snowmobiling.
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Lake Vermilion Water Clarity Studied
As was reported in the August issue of this newsletter, your Sportsmen's Club, in cooperation with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Citizen Lake Monitoring Program, has initiated a lake-wide water clarity study. The purpose of this long-term study is to develop a body of data which will enable the Club to identify significant changes in the quality of the water in various parts of the lake and address them. Factors which can reduce water clarity, such as high levels of algae can indicate a pollution problem.
The study was initiated in the early summer as volunteers began to take Secci Disc readings and record them along with other related data. Five, qualified volunteers collected data in 11 locations across the lake. Not everyone got started at the same time, so for this first year we do not have a complete set of data from June through September, but we plan to, starting in 1996. The areas of the lake surveyed are as follows: Head of the Lakes Bay, Niles Bay, West Frazer Bay, East Frazer Bay, Daisy Bay, Pike Bay Narrows (McKinley Park), Wak-Em-Up Bay, Wolf Bay, Smart's Bay, Moccasin Point Narrows, Big Bay.
As the accompanying graph shows, for 1995, water clarity was greatest in the early part of the season, when the water was coldest. As it warmed up and was affected by sunlight, wind and nutrients, the clarity dropped until it reached its lowest point in September, which was the height of the algae bloom. As the study continues over a period of years, we expect to see general patterns develop even though the seasonal cyclical patterns may vary slightly due to weather and other factors. The 1995 data also indicates that water clarity is slightly greater on the west end of the lake, which is supported by historical data gathered by the DNR. The volunteers generally found the physical condition and suitability for recreation of the water to be very desirable until late August and September when the algae bloomed.
The data collected has been and will continue to be sent in to the MPCA which will include it in the annual Citizen Lake Monitoring Program Report and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's water quality database.
The Club would like to thank the volunteers who collected this data. Their generous contribution of time and expertise will prove to be of significant importance in the Club's efforts to protect the water quality of Lake Vermilion. Those volunteers are: Richard Wullschleger, Rev. J. Rolland Christenson, Dr. Raymond Sampson, Patti Bergstrom and Mel Hintz. The Program Coordinator is Board Member Dale Lundblad.
If any Club member would like to volunteer to take water clarity readings in an area of the lake not already included in the program, please contact Dale Lundblad before March 1.
-- Secchi Disc Data --**
| Location |
May |
June |
July |
August |
September |
October |
| Head O'Lakes Bay |
9 / 8 |
8 / 14 |
11.5 / 10.5 |
10.5 / 8.5 |
6.5 / 6.5 |
12.5 / 12.5 |
| Wakemup Bay |
11.5 / 10.5 |
9.5 / 15 |
11.5 / 11.0 |
8.5 / 8.0 |
7.0 / 9.5 |
14.5 / 14.0 |
| Niles Bay |
N / A |
N / A |
10.5 / 9.5 |
8.0 / 7.5 |
7.5 / 6.5 |
N / A |
| Wolf Bay |
N / A |
N / A |
9.0 / 10.0 |
10 / 6.5 |
3.5 / 6.5 |
N / A |
| West Frazer Bay |
N / A |
N / A |
10.5 / 7.0 |
8.5 / 6.5 |
5.5 / 8.0 |
N / A |
| Smart's Bay |
N / A |
N / A |
11 / 8.5 |
8.5 / 7.0 |
4.0 / 7.0 |
N / A |
| East Frazer Bay |
N / A |
N / A |
10.0 / 9.0 |
8.0 / 3.5 |
3.5 / 4.5 |
N / A |
| Moc Point Narrows |
N / A |
N / A |
9.5 / 9.0 |
8.0 / 6.0 |
4.0 / 6.0 |
N / A |
| Daisy Bay |
N / A |
N / A |
9.0 / 8.5 |
8.0 / 6.0 |
5.5 / 5.0 |
N / A |
| Big Bay |
N / A |
N / A |
-- / 9.5 |
8.0 / 8.0 |
7.0 / 8.5 |
N / A |
| East Pike Bay |
N / A |
N / A |
8.0 / 8.0 |
6.0 / 8.0 |
6.5 / 6.5 |
N / A |
** - numbers indicate clarity in feet: two numbers indicate two seperate readings during the month
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1995 WATER TEMPERATURES IN HEAD OF.THE LAKES BAY
Water temperatures were measured at various depths during the 1995 open water season in Head of the Lakes Bay. Measurements were made off the north end of Schmidts island where the water depth is 50 feet. A weighted temperature sensor with a cord marked at 5-foot intervals was used to determine temperature and depth. Temperatures were read from a meter in the boat to the nearest degree Fahrenheit. Secchi Disc readings were also taken at the same time and location where temperatures were measured.
Plots of the water temperature at various depths are shown in Figures 1,2 and 3. Each figure has a key which shows the date readings were made and, in brackets, the Secchi Disc measurement for that date.
Figure 1 shows the warming of Head of the Lakes Bay. The first temperature profile was made about six days after the ice left this part of the lake. In early May, the entire water column gradually became warmer. After the middle of May, the upper part warmed faster than the lower depths until a thermocline began to develop in June.
The temperature profiles for the summer period are shown in Figure 2. From the middle of June to the middle of August there was little change in the temperatures in the upper portion (69 to 72 degrees) and in the lower portion (49 to 50 degrees) of the water column. The thermocline, however, moved deeper.
The lake started to cool after the middle of August (figure 3). The thermocline continued to move deeper as the upper part of the lake cooled. As the thermocline approached the bottom in September, the water temperature at the bottom rose above 50 degrees for the first time in 1995 to 54 degrees. The lake then cooled uniformly until the last readings were taken on October 24. This part of the lake froze November ll.
Water temperatures were also measured in Wakemup Bay east of the north end of Taylors Island where the water depth was 25 feet. Temperatures measured in Wakemup Bay were very similar to those measured in Head of the Lakes Bay on the same day and at the same depth.
Secchi Disc measurements indicate the relative clarity of the water; the greater the depth, the clearer the water. The water in Head of the Lakes Bay was clearest from the middle of June to the middle of August, when the clarity deteriorated markedly. Clarity was worst when the thermocline passed below the 30-foot depth (most of the bay is in the 30- and 40 foot depth ranges). As seen against the white Secchi Disc, the suspended matter was brown in color and had the appearance of suspended sediment.
Richard Wullschleger November 15, 1995
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JOHN LAUERER'S LIGHTHOUSE
Living Was Fun in Pine Country - but able bodied men did get lost!
A considerable portion of my life during the last half of the present century has been lived on Pine Island, along one-quarter mile of lakeshore. Pine Island, where the singing loons, calling during the "wee" hours past midnight, are the only sounds that ever disturb my sleep. Pine Island, where the huge pines, towering high around the cliffs encircling our cabin, are the back drop for a bald eagle as he lowers his flight path when he descends to come down a bit lower. He has apparently decided that I have been motionless long enough on my deck, that I might not be any danger.
The reason for my buying 50 acres of this Pine Country was my desire to be closer to nature and further from speeding cars. I wanted to see bear, deer and, above all, wolves, in my world, not to kill, but to see them and to have them see me. When on the island, I am removed from other evils of "modern progress" -- SPEED, drugs, rapes, violence, guns on the streets, etc. I have been paying my state $7,500 and California $585 real estate taxes per year. But the $1 ,624 I pay for my share of Pine Island is the most pleasant to pay of all my taxes.
Several years ago I decided ii would be nice to have a light to show both my boat docks and shore stations in our island harbor. When I was told the light was used and appreciated by many Lake Vermilionites, I began to like my light even more. I decided to keep the light burning even in my absence and in the winter, since it goes on and off automatically and needs no care. Because I think of how, for so many years, the lights on ocean shores not only guided steamers safely into harbors, but also warned them away from dangerous rocks, I gave myself permission to call this valuable addition to my domain "A Lighthouse," a warning against the very bad rocks along my shore.
I want to share with you an example of what can happen to a couple on Pine Island. Having been with the same "right woman" for over 50 years, I have seen many friends become disabled and unable to stay here, so that as a couple we spend more and more time alone here, especially when our children or grandchildren are not around. Such was the case late one evening in early spring. Only the sounds of life from the TV indicated there was life in the cabin, but outside there was plenty ol action, plenty of life coming our way.
There was wind; the trees told us that. It was cold. A pounding at the door changed the evening, and when I opened the door in walked four large, middle-aged men.
They looked sad, worried, scared and only one or two had the energy to talk. They were, of course, lost, and none had a compass or a map! None of them knew where they were, could tell me which direction Tower was, where Isle Pines was, where north was, etc. I have never seen anybody smile more about the warmth and light from our fire. My maps were studied; my directions were given and accepted with much enthusiasm. Smiles began replacing those sad-looking mouths.
In all my decades of teaching experience, I have never had such attention. My words were so appreciated. After they all understood where they were and how they could get to where they wanted to go, they went on their way. I was convinced my "lighthouse" not only helped these men to get to me for help, but would help them to stay away from me for the rest of the night. It would help them to keep going in the right direction and not get lost again.
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Kathy The Good Samaritan ...
Another rescue along our rocky shore took place this last August, during a terrific windstorm. I heard a man call out, "Where is Pine Island?" Going down to the shore to investigate, I found my daughter Kathy had already gone to the rescue of two men in a canoe, loaded with camping gear, who couldn't find their way back to their campsite. Realizing they weren't going to be able to battle the wind and waves to get around the point in their canoe, she was loading their huge stack of gear into our big cruising boat.
The two men and Kathy's daughter Leah were helping her. I felt somewhat guilty just watching them, but my daughter, the self-appointed "boss," kept the foursome working smoothly. When the camping equipment was piled in our boat, she took their canoe and placed it crosswise on the front bow of our big cruiser and roped it on there like a sailor would have, very firmly.
In helpless silence I looked on, for I was afraid the rescue trip Kathy was planning was too dangerous in the strong wind. But respecting my daughter's judgment, after all for years she has been a counselor in a huge Wisconsin high school, and knowing that she was determined to go in spite of the storm, I kept my mouth tightly closed.
When everything was loaded and lashed down, away they all went, in spite of my fears, my daughter, my granddaughter and the two lost men headed toward the horizon around the eastern end of Pine Island. I have never worried more about the safety of my children, especially as hours went by and our boat, with Kathy and Leah, never returned.
Eventually, downhearted, I went up to the cabin to tell my wife to look up the emergency numbers for the sheriff and the rescue squad. Before we could find a number, I heard voices from the dock -- from the "Lighthouse" -- the voices of my daughter and granddaughter.
Submitted by John Lauerer,
Member of SCLV since 1977
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Here's Where Your Money Comes and Goes . . .
Those of you who were able to attend the Annual Meeting had an opportunity to look over the annual financial statement prepared by an accounting firm in Virginia. I thought for your further information I would break down some of the important categories so members would have a more detailed account of our receipts and expenditures.
These figures run from June 1994 to June 1995.
RECEIPTS
Membership ........ $6,893.00
Decals ....... 17.50
Patches ....... 10.00
ADDITIONAL DONATIONS
$2,160 - From the family and friends of Marjorie Betker to be used for a picnic site in her memory.
$1,000 - Separate checks from members specifically for the scholarship fund.
$1,062 - Additional donations to the picnic sites sent in with dues
EXPENDITURES
NEWSLETTER
$2,776 - Cost of newsletters includes printing, bulk mailing permit, all changes of addresses and new members added to mailing list.
DIRECTORS' TRAVEL
$666 - 12 directors' travel for 12 meetings plus 12 mos. Treas./Membership fees.
OFFICE EXPENSE
$730 - Office expense includes stationery, envelopes, stamps, file folders, financial spread sheets and first class mailing of the billing statements.
NAVIGATION AIDS
$554 - Navigation aids includes the purchase of 6 new lights, batteries and bulbs.
INSURANCE
$1,684 - Club liability policy.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
$1,200 - Includes a donation to TIP, entrance fee to Environmental Fair, Appreciation Dinner, entrance fee to Shoreland Management Conference
for one director.
ROUGH FISH REMOVAL
$60 - Nets and supplies for the sucker trap on the East Two River.
SCHOLARSHIP
$400 - Scholarships for Zack Aune and Erin Elliott.
CATCH AND RELEASE
$428 - Printing of 2,000 updated Catch and Release booklets.
WATER QUALITY
$40 - Secchi discs for further water quality reading.
SPECIAL ADS
$150 - Special ads in Cook News-Herald, Timberjay, Tower News and Mesabi Daily News on the Scholarship Drive.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
$2,200 - Picnic sites includes docks, ramps, picnic table. These expenses were in addition to the picnic site established and paid for by family and friends of Marjorie Betker.
ANNUAL MEETING
$230 - Annual Meeting expense includes rent of the Civic Center, dram insurance and cleanup.
Remember these figures run from June 1994 to June 1995. Since that time we have received additional donations to the Scholarship Fund, and the Club still has two CDs in the Tower Bank that are currently valued at a total of $9,168 and and IDS account with the current value of $7,531 .These figures are rounded off to the nearest dollar and submitted for your approval by . . .
Barb Shook, Treas./Membership
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The Recipe Corner
PORCUPINE MEATBALLS
1 lb. venison or ground beef
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup wild rice (uncooked)
1/2 tsp. season salt
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/3 cupfine, dry bread crumbs
3/4 cup evaporated milk
oil, for frying
1 can cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken soup (10-3/4 oz.)
1/2 soup can water
1/2 soup can dry white wine
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. sage (optional)
Combine first 7 ingredients, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 4 dozen meatballs, 1 inch in diameter. Brown lightly on all sides in a small amount of oil over medium heat. Mix soup with water, wine and seasonings. Pour over meatballs, cover and simmer over very low heat about 1-1/2 hours, or bake covered in a 275' oven for 1-1/4 hours. Serves four.
BERRY-WILD RICE MUFFINS
1 cup cooked wild rice (about 1/4-cup uncooked)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
5 tbsp. oil
1 cup milk
1-1/4 cup flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. sugar
1 cup dried blueberries or cranberries (fresh or frozen)
Combine wild rice, eggs, oil and milk. Sift flour with baking powder, salt and sugar. Stir the liquid ingredients into the dry, mixing only until blended. Stir in berries and spoon batter into 1-1/2 doz. muffin cups.
425 degrees -- 15-18 minutes.
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In the Name of Progress
You "snow birds" are going to owe us "ice lovers" big time for this. Even as I sit here trying to explain just what is happening, the heavy equipment is rolling. Yes, the construction of the new highway is underway. As most will recall, the initial leg of old County Highway 77 was completed from the "Y" Store to the Casino road two years ago. Well, now they have struck out with another section which will reach from that point to just past the Greenwood Town Hall, with a tentative completion date of mid-summer 1996. Well, we all know how that goes, but it could happen.
Surely goodness and controversy shall follow us all the days of our lives, and this is no exception. It seems that one of our elected officials broke an axle on the old road and said, "Hey, these people need a new highway. We will just keep on raising their taxes till it is paid for." They held the necessary public input meetings and while not everyone was in favor, the conclusion was, go for it; full speed ahead. Lots of people felt that the scenic and rural values would be lost. That they have, for now. It is little more than a sea of mud, rocks, bumps and ruts. But, that too will freeze and it will be better then. Do you rememberthe Lost Lake bypass? Well, folks, that was an interstate compared to this one. I know one family who wants to move their cabin over one of the holes so they can have a basement. I, personally, am not in disfavor of the project; I do hope that they get it done while I still have a little paint left on my car.
Eventually, plans call for continuation of the road on to Cook. It will follow the high ground around Lost Lake swamp. I am sure the Cook merchants will like that a lot. The Tower merchants will probably blow the bridges.
Upon completion,the new road will receive a new number, since it is to be a combination state and county highway. Whoopee Do. And I thought 77 was an easy number to remember. All of those people who have been overshooting the bingo hall turnoff may well end up in Canada.
Yes, good folks, we are in for another stint of chipped windshields, broken headlights and cracked pelvises. I heard of a man following a small compact car on one of the bypasses. The little car went down in a pothole, but didn't come out the other side. The first man pulled up beside the crater and all he could see was the other man's head. He said, "What are you doing down there?"
The other guy said, "l'm standing on a hay wagon."
Just the other day, I'm trying to get to the Wayside Coffee Shop for the 9 a.m. United Nations meeting we have there every day. I pulled out on one of the many detours and was immediately confronted by a big, yellow, monster earthmover coming straight at me doing at least 35 mph. Defensive driving took over as I tried to miss him on the right. That maneuver would have worked if it wasn't for the 20-ton D-8 Cat sliding downhill right at me. Go left! Nope; there's this giant road grader pushing a wall of mud and rocks with which he fully intended to bury me. There is only one option remaining, other than up, and my car is not quite that good. As I glanced in the rear view mirror, preparing to slam it into reverse, I saw the granddaddy of all dump trucks bearing in on my trunk lid. He's flashing his lights wanting me to get out of the way. Well, what do you do now? You can close your eyes; fumble in the glove box for your Rosasy; and await the crunch. But, nothing happened. I waited some more. Nothing. I opened my eyes and they were all gone. I don't know where they went. Turned off somewhere, disappeared.
OK, so it is really not all that bad. But rest assured, all you "heat seekers," we full-timer poor people are going to save some of it for you next spring. Hurry back and drive your old car, if you have one.
See you on the lake,
Sparky
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Watch Out For Thin Ice!!
Before venturing out on the ice, take note of these guidelines from our DNR. These are recommended minimum ice thicknesses and intended as rough guidelines for new clear ice only.
If the ice is 2 inches or less -- STAY OFF!
The ice should be:
4 inches -- Ice Fishing
5 inches -- Snowmobile or ATV
8-12 inches -- Car or small pickup
12-15 inches -- Medium truck or van
The DNR also offers the following suggestions for safe ice travel:
-- many ice drownings involve children. When your child is near the ice, you should be near your child.
-- avoid alcoholic beverages when you're on the ice. They can make you feel colder and slow down your reaction time in case of an ice emergency.
-- carry two large nails to use as ice picks to pull yourself out if you fall through the thin ice.
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