articles from December, 1999 newsletter:

** President's Message
** Sportsmen's Club board considers lake assessment project
** Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Lake Assessment Program
** Spreading the word on lakeshore protection
** Look for the line with the loon
** LAKESCAPING FOR WILDLIFE
** What is a volunteer?
** Minnesota's Lake Plants: A Valuable Resource
** Caring for your storm damaged trees
** Letters to the Club
** Attention all Members, Prospective Members, Renewal Memberships...Please Read!!!!




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President's Message
A large number of members attended the 31st Annual Meeting held last August. Cathy Raps was elected as our new member to the Board of Directors. Welcome, Cathy! She will be helping Barb Shook with treasurer and membership duties. Please pay your membership dues promptly. (Please see another area of this newsletter for information regarding our dues.) This will make much less work for Barb and Cathy. The Club needs your continued membership and support. Following the business meeting, we enjoyed Chris Holm's summary of our Water Quality Testing project. I will plan to have another interesting presentation regarding one of our other projects during the next Annual Meeting scheduled for Friday, Aug. 11, 2000. Please mark your calendar now.

The Sportsmen's Club continues to support several worthy projects. A short summary includes: During our November board meeting, Mark Lindhorst of the North St. Louis County Soil and Water Conservation District, together with Jesse Anderson and Julie McDonnell of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, presented a request that we work with them toward a lake assessment project. This is a very worthy project that would supplement our studies. This project is large and comprehensive and will require several volunteers for planning and preliminary studies. We expect a two-year project. Please see the featured article by Jesse Anderson for a more complete review.

The board wishes to ensure a quality project that can be enhanced by teaming with all interested public and private organizations and the Clean Water Partnership through a grant to develop specific goals and a long range plan to maintain and even improve our beautiful lake for the foreseeable future.

Please contact me with your suggestions and offer to help for any of the above projects. Thank you for supporting your club.

Willis Irons, President 1793 Everett Bay Road, Tower irons@duluthinfo.com



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Sportsmen's Club board considers lake assessment project
One of the most important functions of the Sportsmen's Club is to monitor the water quality of Lake Vermilion and to take whatever steps necessary to preserve its pristine condition. As residential development and recreational use of the lake increase, there is reason to increase our vigilance.

Your board has conducted water testing and secchi disc readings for many years and has some good baseline data on the health of the lake. The water testing program, thanks to a generous member contribution, has recently been expanded to include nitrate and phosphorus testing. The Lake Vermilion ecosystem is an incredibly complex one, however, and many other tests and surveys would need to be done in order to get a complete picture of the lake's health and how best to protect it. Your board is, therefore, giving careful consideration to embarking upon a massive cooperative lake assessment program.

A brief description of such a project, prepared by Jesse Anderson, monitoring data coordinator of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, is found elsewhere in this newsletter. The board will be considering this project over the winter and we invite member questions and input.

Dale Lundblad - Vice President



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Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Lake Assessment Program
The Lake Assessment Program (LAP) was initiated in 1985 in response to citizen requests to acquire data on their lakes. During that summer three lakes wae included. Since that time, over 150 LAP studies have been completed. The annual work effort is 10 to 15 lakes per year, dependent on staff's ability to participate in the program, since there is no formal funding source to staff the LAP at this time.

The LAP is a cooperative study of a lake involving Minnesota Pollution Contro1 Agency (MPCA) staff and local citizens, e.g., a lake association or municipality. LAP studies serve to characterize a lake's condition and provide some basic information regarding the interaction of the lake and its watershed. The format used in the LAP studies provides valuable information for the local jurisdiction, the MPCA, and others interested in protecting or improving the quality of a lake. The LAP approach to data gathering and assessment provided a modd for the "Lake and Watershed Data Collection Manual" which was published by the Lakes Task Force of the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board. We rely heavily on recommendations from local water planners and Department of Natural Resources area fishery managers in the selection of the LAP lakes, and work very closely with them in data gathering and report writing. Through this effort we hope to see more follow-up on the LAP recommendations and the delivery of a greater number of these studies to lake associations and local units of government through the county. LAP studies are often important to local water plans:and often set the stage for local lake protection efforts.

The following is a general work plan for this cooperative program. The MPCA recognizes that due to the size and complexity of Lake Vermilion, this work plan will need to be altered (for example, many more sites will need to be sampled).

General work tasks and the group responsible for implementing ehe work tasks are briefly identified in this outline. Group abbreviations are: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA); Lake Association or Local Unit (LA); Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This work plan may be adjusted according to MPCA and LA needs and capabilities.
  1. MPCA's Citizen Lake Monitoring Program (participation is required) (LA)
  2. Water chemistry analysis including nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), chlorophyll .. (measure of the amount of algae in the lake), solids (i.e. sediments), pH, and color, plus a depth profile of oxygen and temperature
  3. Lake/Watershed Analysis
  4. Reporting
    A report will be drafted for each lake by the MPCA with assistance from study cooperators. This report will provide basic information regarding the lake and its watershed. The following items will be included in this report:




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Spreading the word on lakeshore protection
by Marshall Helmberger


A place at the lake with a nice green lawn and a sandy beach may be the dream of many people, but it can be a nightmare when it comes to water quality and wildlife habitat. That's the message members of the Vermilion Sportsmen's Club hope to send as they kick off an effort to educate their fellow lakeshore owners on the importance of leaving natural vegetation along the water's edge.

It's a message also being pushed by the state's Department of Natural Resources, which is increasingly concerned about the rapid loss of natural lakeshore in the state.

"We see lakeshore as the second most endangered habitat in the state, second only to native prairie land," said Carrol Henderson, director of the DNR's Non-game Wildlife Program.

Henderson said keeping shorelines natural not only enhances the scenic value of a lake property, but provides fish and other wildlife habitat, improves water quality, increases privacy and limits erosion. Henderson points out that loons, grebes and other shore nesting birds are highly dependent on that narrow strip along lakeshores. As those areas are converted to lawns and beaches, those critical nesting areas are eliminated.

It is such concerns that is motivating the Vermilion Sportsmen's Club. Club president Willis Irons points to the experience of other parts of the state, where many lakes have very little undeveloped shoreline left.

While most lakeshore in this area remains relatively wild, the increasing development pressure on area lakes will continue and that could mean further reductions in the amount of natural shoreline unless landowners get the message.

"This is all prevention. We're trying to get out ahead of the problem," said Irons. "The old way has been to mow right to the shoreline. If we could head that off, it would be great."

Henderson noted the irony of the situation. "In most cases, the people who move to the lake are doing so because they love nature. But we have this engrained idea of the nice, clean lawn and that's what is causing the problem. Pretty soon, the northern lakes will start looking like the Brainerd lakes if attitudes don't change," he said.

Henderson said lakeshore owners who are buying wild land should minimize lawns and try to maintain as much of the existing natural vegetation as possible.

For those who already have lawns at their lake home, a new book, entitled "Lakescaping for Wildlife," which Henderson co-authored, describes how to restore native plants to your shoreline in a way that can enhance wildlife habitat and your lot's natural beauty at the same time. Henderson said state matching funds are available for lakeshore restoration efforts.

Henderson said landowners can also reduce problems from fertilizer use by making sure to select a lawn fertilizer with no phosphorus (the middle number on the bag should be zero). "One pound of phosphorus can create 500 pounds of algae in your lake," Henderson said.

Want more information?


The DNR is developing a slide/tape program that will be available to groups. Lake associations and sportsmen's groups can also receive wholesale copies of "Lakescaping for Wiidlife," which they can sell as a fundraising tool. To order copies of the book, call the Minnesota Bookstore at 1-800-657-3757. For more information on matching funds for lake restoration projects, contact Mike Halverson at 651 -772-7950.

And if you would like to get involved in helping the Vermilion Sportsmen's Club spread the word, contact Willis Irons at 218-753-6589.



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Look for the line with the loon
Every year at tax time, Minnesota taxpayers have an opportunity to make an income tax donation that will benefit the state's nongame wildlife - the thousands of species of animals, such as loons, that are not pursued by hunters or anglers.

Hunters and anglers support huriting and fishing through the federal tax they pay on the purchase of firearms, ammunition, fishing tackle and other equipment. That federal tax generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually for fishing and hunting projects throughout the country, and Minnesota shares in the proceeds from this tax-generated fund.

Nongame wildlife species in Minnesota do not fare so well financially and depend to a large extent on the generosity of taxpayers. The DNR's Nongame Wildlife Program protects habitat for 800 species of nongame animars. Donations by Minnesota taxpayers have historically provided 90 percent of the program funding, with the remaining 10 percent coming from the lottery's Environmental Trust Fund.

Here's how to make a donation. Look for the line on your Minnesota Individual Income Tax Return that shows the silhouette of a loon. The line will say: "If you you wish to donate to the Nongame Wildlife Fund, fill in the amount here." Fill in an amount and the Department of Revenue will do the rest.



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<
>LAKESCAPING FOR WILDLIFE
By Carrol Henderson, Director
DNR's Nongame Wildlife Program


One of the most endangered natural habitats in Minnesota is our native lakeshore land. This land of over 15,000 lakes offers an abundant variety of opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of lakeshore settings as fishing enthusiasts, hunters, canoeists, tourists, campers, and as lakeshore owners.

People who typically buy lakeshore lots do so because they love the lake country and they love the outdoors.

However, there is a terrible stereotype of what the "perfect" lakeshore lot should look like when developed. It includes an open, manicured bluegrass lawn right down to the water's edge. All of the aquatic plants in front of the property are removed and a sand blanket is put in to create a swimming beach.

The landowners who do this have perfectly good intentions and they do not wish to damage the environment. They are only trying to keep up with their neighbor's yard-keeping standards, or to manage the lot like their parents or grandparents did.

What they have really done is to eliminate the rich natural diversity of their lakeshore habitat and replace it with a boring, labor-intensive backyard "just like the one they left behind in the city."

If you ask lakeshore owners, "How was the fishing?" on a Monday morning, they usually say, "I don't know - I was too busy mowing the yard."

Also, bluegrass iawns require constant treatment with fertilizers and herbicides that wash directly into the lake. This contributes to eutrophication and to the possibility of killing aquatic organisms.

The water "weeds" that were ripped out to make the swimming beach were actually native aquatic plants that helped prevent shoreline erosion. They helped purify the water and their photosynthesis created oxygen. They provided habitat for hundreds of aquatic invertebrates, game fish, forage fish, and nesting sites for waterbirds like loons, red-necked grebes, terns, red-winged blackbirds, and ducks. All those species go homeless without aquatic vegetation.

The native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and moist soil plants along lake shorelines provide one of Minnesota's richest wildlife habitats. There is an abundance of songbirds, woodpeckers, raptors, mammals and amphibians: along the natural lake edge. It is a wildlife buffer zone between the land and the water. When those plant elements are removed to make way for a bluegrass lawn, most of the habitat value is destroyed.

In fact, the open lawn down to the water's edge is an invitation for nuisance wildlife problems to occur. Canada geese walk onto the lawn to eat the bluegrass. The abundance of droppings makes a barefoot game of croquet or volleyball out of the question. Mallard ducks also like to loaf on such open shorelines because it is a good vantage point to watch for predators. Any muskrat that burrows into the bank now becomes a "pest" because the burrows cave in when the lawn mower passes over them.

Is this a vicious cycle or what?

Let's try a fresh, ecological, holistic look at lakeshore~ lot management and habitat preservation. I think there are creative ways to have a neat, attractive lakeshore lot that is more in balance with nature and that actually requires less lawn maintenance and very little use of herbicides or fertilizers. This concept is called "lakescaping for wildlife."

The primary feature of this concept is to imagine that you are creating a natural buffer zone along the lakeshore that extends 50 feet out into the water and 50 feet onto the land. Your goal is to preserve or restore as much natural vegetation as possible to that zone while still providing for reasonable lake access and recreational opportunities for your family.

If you own 100 feet of lakeshore frontage, think in terms of naturalizing about 75 feet of shoreline and using 25 feet for lake access, a boat dock, and/or a swimming area.

A "lakescaping plan" for a lakeshore lot that provides both a variety of wildlife habitat components and a lawn in which the amount of area to be mowed is only one-tenth of the size of the total lot area. It includes only about 1,200 square feet of lawn area and would require very little time for mowing.

A variety of native trees and shrubs create wildlife benefits in all four seasons. They are arranged to allow a scenic view of the lake and yet still give a sense of privacy to the home.

Species used include sugar maple, white spruce, burr oak, white pine, common hazel, American mountain ash, pin cherry, red-osier dogwood, American highbush cranberry, nannyberry, elderberry, red splendor crabapple, gray dogwood, and pussy willow. Birdwatching opportunities should be excellent because fruits will be provided for wildlife on a year-round basis. The trees and shrubs will also provide nesting sites.

Offshore a bed of aquatic vegetation has been restored. It includes hardstem bulrush, arrowhead, narrowleaf cattail, and burreed. Tern nest platforms are anchored within the vegetation, and a loon nest platform is anchored offshore.

Several kinds of perennial flower gardens are the naturalizing feature of the yard that provide much wildlife benefit and reduce the need for maintenance and fertilization. They include native flowers as well as some exotics that are not invasive.

The wet site, a short height flower garden is planted in the wet soil along the shoreline. It includes native sedges, blue flag, jewelweed, marsh marigold, and dwarf blue gentian.

Somewhat further up the bank is a moist site garden of medium height flowers that includes Virginia bluebells, wild bergamot, sedum, and turtlehead.

The moist site, tall height flowers include cardinal flower, foxglove, delphinium, scarlet bergamot, Joe-Pyeweed, boneset, and sweet rocket.

The dry site butterfly garden, medium height (#6) includes yarrow, butterflyweed, stiff goldenrod, little bluestem, sideoats grama, blazing star, fireweed, blackeyed susan, daylily, sweet william, purple coneflower, common milkweed, swamp milkweed, American columbine, Indian hemp, and asters. The dry site, short height butterfly garden includes yarrow, butterflyweed, asters, gayfeather, and lupine. There will be an abundance of butterflies and hummingbirds present because of the nectar provided by the perennial flowers.

Nest boxes and shelters used on the property include bluebird, purple martin, chickadee, screech-owl, and bat. The presence of bats and other insect-eating songbirds can help control biting insects like mosquitoes.

Pest species like Canada geese will not be likely to "invade" property that has a screen of emergent aquatic vegetation in the water and an unmowed shoreline.

Obviously, if a lakeshore lot still has its natural, original vegetation present, it is best to leave it intact as much as possible. Gap views of the lake can be provided instead of clearing all the trees so the whole property is exposed to the lake and lake users.

There can be a footpath around the property to provide for enjoyment of the wildlife and the vegetation. And there is a dock for lake access.

The main points to keep in mind are that there is no one stereotype of the perfect lake lot. For a given lake area, study natural shorelines to learn what the natural conditions are like. What emergent plants are present? What wildflowers and shrubs do best in the shoreline setting? Every lake will be somewhat unique in regard to soil and bottom conditions, pH, and growing conditions.

Talk to other shoreland owners who maintain or who have re-established natural habitat. Find out from them what strategies have worked well and which ones have failed. Find out what plants have worked best for them. If lakeshore owners share information on their habitat restoration and management efforts, it will help contribute to healthier, more diverse lake ecosystems and more fish and wildlife to enjoy as a result of "Lakescaping for Wildlife."



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What is a volunteer?
Webster's Dictionary describes a volunteer as "a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service acting of one's own free will without valuable compensation..."

Have we got a volunteer for you...! It all started many years ago, and for those of you who attended the annual meeting, this is a recap of the work that Betsy Mann does as a certified wildlife rehabilitator. For instance...what do you do when you have some orphaned raccoons and one of them has the colic? Yes, the colic! You go out and you buy the proper formula to keep the little guy alive until he can be released. Fawns? You bottle feed them until they can handle solid food, and you go out and buy it. What if you have a sick baby otter? You take him to the vet, pay the bill, nurse him and if he still doesn't show swimming skills enough to survive in the Little Fork River...you go out and buy a wading pool to help him with his natural ability to swim. Sick owls? Same thing...food and care, and all of this with no compensation...not even a tax break on food. These are all out-of-pocket expenses.

Let me give you a recap of the animals and birds, etc. that Betsy has taken care of over the years: 32 deer, 5 gophers, 1 eagle, 4 squirrels, 2 loons, 6 skunks, 20 ducks, 3 fox, 4 geese, 3 muskrats, 7 rabbits, 1 wolf, 3 bears, 1 trumpeter swan, 9 raccoons, 1 otter, 17 owls, 16 hawks and 36 other birds.

We did make an appeal at the annual meeting for volunteer donations which were turned over to Betsy. Those in attendance were very generous and all funds were given to her.

Thank you, Betsy, for the incredible job you have done over the years.


Thank you letter from Betsy


Sportsmen's Club Members:

I want to thank you all for your generous donations to my wildlife rehabilitation work. It will help so much in paying for feed, bedding, vet bills, transportation and phone calls. It's greatly appreciated.

I would also like to give a special thanks to Barb Shook for bringing my situation to your attention.

Thank you,
Betsy Mann



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Minnesota's Lake Plants: A Valuable Resource
Donna Perleberg, Aquatic Plant Ecologist, MDNR Ecological Services Section, Brainerd, MN


Beneath the surface and around the shores of Minnesota lakes are "forests" of underwater plants. There are more than 100 species of native emergent, floating-leaved, and submerged lake plants in Minnesota. These plants are specially adapted to live in wet places and provide many benefits to the environment. For example, aquatic plants release oxygen into the lake and take up nutrients and toxins. Rooted plants help stabilize the shoreline. Fish and wildlife rely on plants for food and nesting cover. Lake plants, such as blue-flag iris, waterlilies and water buttercups, have showy flowers that rival those of many garden plants. Others, like the bladderwort, trap and feed on insects. Wild rice is a favorite food of many shoreland dwellers. This summer when you're out on the lake, take a closer look and you'll be surprised at what you find!

Like terrestrial plant communities, lake plant communities vary across the state. Minnesota's lake plant communities can be divided into three general types: the soft-water flora of the northeast, the hard-water flora of central and southern Minnesota, and the alkali or sulphate flora of the western prairie lakes. Certain lake plants can be found throughout the state, while others are restricted by specific water-chemistry requirements.

The amount of plants in a lake can be influenced by factors such as water chemistry, basin type, and climate. Nutrient-poor lakes in northeastern Minnesota generally have a low number of lake plants, while lakes with more nutrients, such as in central and southern Minnesota, generally have more plentiful aquatic plant communities. Since plants require light to grow, very shallow lakes may naturally have more plant growth than deep, steep-sided lakes. Plant communities can also vary within a lake. Windswept, rocky or sandy shores generally have fewer plants than do shallow, protected, mucky bays. Plant communiffes can change in response to annual climate variations and changes in the watershed. In dry, hot years, plants may grow earlier and more abundantly, particularly if lake levels drop and plants can occupy more of the lake bottom.

Humans can directly and indirectly change lake plant communities. Increased nutrient loading in the watershed may spur some plants to more abundant growth while other species cannot tolerate increased nutrients and siltation. Lakeshore development often results in the removal of lakeshore plants to allow access for lake residents. Some lake groups conduct large-scale aquatic plant removal projects. On a smaller scale, even everyday lake activities such as boating, dock placement and swimming, can affect plant communities. Human activity may also be responsible for transplanting certain lake plants, like Eurasian water milfoil, from one lake to another. Most lake users do not appreciate the value of diverse, native lake plant communities until they have been destroyed and replaced by less desirable exotics.

Like the Secchi disk readings, changes in the lake plant community may indicate that larger changes have occurred in the watershed. Learning more about the types of plants that typically occur in a lake can help volunteer lake-monitors recognize changes. Some lake groups are well-organized and conduct annual searches for exotics such as Eurasian water milfoil. A very simple way to measure changes in the plant community is to measure the maximum depth where vegetation roots in a lake. As water clarity increases, plants can grow in deeper water. Midsummer is a good time to measure maximum rooting depth because that's when the vegetation typically reaches its peak.

More information about aquatic plants, their value, and how to protect them can be found in: A Guide to Aquatic Plants: Identification and Management by D. Fink. Minnesota DNR Ecological Services Section. 1997. 52 pages including line drawings and descriptions of common Minnesota aquatic plants and state laws about aquatic plant control. For a free copy, call the DNR at (651) 296-2835 or (800) 766-6000. Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality by C. Henderson, C. Dindorf, F. Rozulmalski. 1999. Minnesota DNR Nongame Wildlife Program. 175 pages including designs for native lakeshore landscapes, plant installations and maintenance. To order, call Minnesota's Bookstore at (800) 657-3757.

SECCJI READER, MPCA, Summer 1999



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Caring for your storm damaged trees
By Mike Albers - DNR Forest Health Specialist
(Reprinted from the North St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District Fall Newsletter)


The care you give damaged trees now can impact tree survival. Here are some dos and don'ts for dealing with storm damaged trees.

  1. Deal with the hazardous trees first. Hazardous trees are those that have a target - something that will be damaged if the tree or part of the tree falls.
  2. Watch for detached branches that are hanging in the tree, loosely attached branches and split trunks. Broken but firmly attached branches that post no immediate danger can be pruned later. Trunks split down the middle should be removed. Cabling or bracing is only recommended for a very valuable tree and must always be done by a professional arborist and inspected annually.
  3. Do seek professional help from a forester or arborist when deciding which trees to remove. If a large branch or stem has been pulled out or broken taking 40 percent to 50 percent of the circumference of the main trunk with it, the tree should be removed. Leaning trees with evidence of root lifting or soil movement should be removed. Trees with less damage may also need to be removed, especially if they also have columns of decay, cankers or other defects.
  4. Use proper pruning techniques. Do not flush cut branches. Prune to preserve the branch collar, the swollen area at the base of a branch. Do not leave stubs. Keep as many live branches as possible in the crown.
  5. Don't top trees. Topping trees removes a large portion of the leaves the tree needs to produce food. Topped trees are more susceptible to insect and disease pests. Branches that develop after topping are often weakly attached and easily break off during winds.
  6. Don't remove living trees unless necessary. Tree removal shoutd be the last resort. A professional forester or arborist should check a questionable tree to make sure it is not hazardous and is worth saving. Even if it doesn't look good now, it can rebuild crowns and look good again in a year or two.
  7. Don't be rushed by bargains. Anyone with a chain saw and a pickup can cut down a tree. But, improper pruning or removal can cost you more money from damages.
  8. Don't use climbing spikes on a tree you want to save. Climbing spikes damage the tree and make it more susceptible to insect and disease problems, especially decay.
  9. Don't try to save a leaning treeit most likely has broken roots and won't survive. If it does survive, it often becomes a hazard. Mature trees rarely survive attempts to pull them back into place. Very young trees may survive if they are gently pulled back into their vertical posi tion. Be sure to press out air spaces in the loosened soil, water the entire root system twice each week in the absence of rain. Cover the root area with two to four inches of wood chip mulch. Stake the tree for the first year to prevent it from falling again.
  10. Don't use rope, wire, wire in a garden hose or any narro`4 band of material when staking a tree. These will injure the trunk and could kill the tree. Use instead a broad strap or other fabric at least one inch wide. Date the staking and remember to take it down next year.
  11. Don't fertilize damaged trees. Fertilizer can inhibit a tree's ability to recover. It creates a fast-growing, green tree with lots of leaves, but if the trees roots have been damaged, the root system may not be able to support the extra growth, and is more susceptible to drought.
  12. Don't use paint or wound dressing to cover wounds. These materials may actually interfere with the natural wound sealing process.
  13. Do water stressed and damaged trees. If conditions become dry, trees will need 1/2 to 1 inch of water per week during the growing season. Be careful not to overwater trees, especially on heavy clay soils. Check the soils under the tree. Water only if the soil is dry. Watering will help trees repair and rebuild and will help them defend themselves from insect and disease pests that attack damaged trees.
  14. Do use mulch. Mulch can help stressed trees by helping to conserve water in soil, keep the soil cool, prevent soil compaction, and encourage more root growth. Wood or bark chips make the best mulch and should cover an area at least 2 to 3 feet in diameter around small trees (larger area for larger trees) with a depth of 2 to 4 inches. Pull the mulch back at least 4 inches from the trunk. Mulch against the trunk encourages rodents chewing on the bark and can also encourage stem decay.




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Letters to the Club
This is what Lake Vermilion means to those of us fortunate enough to be here. Also this is what grandparents are all about. Thank you, Mark, for your letter and generous donation to the Club.

Greetings: I wanted to submit a letter for inclusion in a future Vermilion Sportsmen's Club Newsletter:

On July 30th, 1999, Lake Vermilion lost one of its longtime members/residents. Herman Essig, 88, of Washington, III., passed away in his hometown. Earlier this spring, as he had since the early 1940s, Herman was at his cabin off Sunset Island with his family, opening up for the season. He made multiple trips every year, and as was custom, other family members would rotate in and out, bringing a fresh stock of supplies and big appetites. Herman, and often his 84-year-young brother Ed, would stay for a month or so at a time. They would keep the fishing oil warm, cut down brush, repair the cabin, patch the boathouse, and spend their leisure time fishing. No depth finders, trolling motors, or fancy spinner baits were allowed. A hook, a minnow, and a good sense of which way the wind was blowing was all that was needed in determining where the "hot spots" would be. And Herman usually brought in the largest catch for the day.

The stories of adventure in the Northwoods were innumerable, including encounters with the black bears, lodging at the mouth of Trout Lake Portage (now gone) prior to the cabin being built, driving 18 miles of mud and rock road to get to Moccasin Point Lodge, and getting lost in the night on the lake. Many, many folks from Washington came to know and love Lake Vermilion through their experience with Herman, and many in the area of Sunset Island and Moccasin Point Lodge came to love Herman. Always the optimist, with a smile on his face, and a "never quit" attitude, he made a lasting impression on everyone who crossed his path over the 50+ years he roamed the lake. Up to the last days of his life, he was making plans for the next 10 years. His cabin, in need of a new roof, wouldn't be patched, it would be REPLACED! He didn't want to have to worry about that for another 20 years if he could help it. He was on full throttle all the time, and that was the way he lived his life. Full throttle, until he left us just as quickly. He lived until he died, and in the process he touched many, many lives.

Lake Vermilion will be a different place without him.

Mark Helmuth, Grandson 110 S. High Washington, IL 61571



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Attention all Members, Prospective Members, Renewal Memberships...
Please Read!!!!


Our newest board member elected in August, Cathy Raps, has agreed to take over the membership duties for the Club. From now on, all dues should be sent to:

Sportsmen's Club of Lake Vermilion
c/o Cathy Raps
P.O. Box 456
Cook, MN 55723




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