THE STORY OF RED LAKETHE STORY OF RED LAKE

Douglas CountyDouglas County

Pamela Toshner Pamela Toshner DNR Lake Management Coordinator DNR Lake Management Coordinator

715-635-4073715-635-4073

10 June 200610 June 2006

Today’s PresentationToday’s Presentation

• Why I’m hereWhy I’m here

• The birth of Red LakeThe birth of Red Lake

• Red Lake’s characteristicsRed Lake’s characteristics

• Pleasures and concernsPleasures and concerns

• The futureThe 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 Retreating glaciers created Red Lake about 10,000 years Red Lake about 10,000 years agoago

• Bayfield Barrens or Bayfield Barrens or Northwest SandsNorthwest Sands

• Kettle or seepage lake Kettle or seepage lake (melting chunk of ice (melting chunk of ice imbedded in glacial imbedded in glacial outwash)outwash)

• No inlet or outletNo inlet or outlet• Natural progression to Natural progression to

more sediments, plants, more sediments, plants, etc. over thousands of etc. over thousands of yearsyears

Glacial creation continued…Glacial creation continued…

Red Lake Summer Water Clarity

8.59

9.510

10.5

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Year

Se

cc

hi D

ep

th

(fe

et)

Whitefish (Bardon) 25 ft (104 feet deep)Beauregard 6 ft (20 feet deep)

Water is clear but may not be as clear Water is clear but may not be as clear as in the 1960s (1.5 feet decrease)as in the 1960s (1.5 feet decrease)

Aquatic plant community is Aquatic plant community is important and diverseimportant and diverse

• 42 species – all 42 species – all nativenative

• 7 less common 7 less common species indicative species indicative of good water of good water qualityquality

• More taller-growing More taller-growing species than in species than in 1930s1930s

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 goodFishery is good

• Walleye stocked even numbered Walleye stocked even numbered years (35 fingerlings/acre)years (35 fingerlings/acre)

• Northern pike, large- and smallmouth Northern pike, large- and smallmouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, black bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, black crappie, perch, and bullheadcrappie, perch, and bullhead

Land use has changed. Since Land use has changed. Since the 1930s…the 1930s…

• 13% increase in residential land use13% increase in residential land use

• 20% decrease in woodland20% decrease in woodland

• 13% increase in open (<50% wooded)13% increase in open (<50% wooded)

• Cropland decreasedCropland 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 ManagementRed Lake ManagementPleasuresPleasures

• Generally good Generally good conditioncondition

• Wild shorelinesWild shorelines

• Good fish habitatGood fish habitat

• Clear waterClear water

ConcernsConcerns

• Impervious Impervious surfacessurfaces

• Suburban lawnsSuburban lawns

• Fertilizer useFertilizer use

• Tree removalTree removal

Trophic States Of LakesTrophic States Of Lakes

Cultural Cultural eutrophication speeds eutrophication speeds up natural aging up natural aging process of lakesprocess 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

0

30

60

90

120

150

180

1850 1875 1900 1925 1950 1975 2000

Du

rati

on

of

Ice

Co

ver

(Day

s)

Duration

Mon

ths

of I

ce C

over

1850 1900 1950 2000

5

4

3

2

1

0

Climate Change - Trend in Ice Cover Duration

Lake Mendota, Wisconsin

Source: John Magnuson

Red Lake’s future depends on Red Lake’s future depends on you!you!

• Maintain active lake associationMaintain active lake association

• Continue volunteer monitoring (water Continue volunteer monitoring (water chem next year)chem next year)

• Protect wild shorelines Protect wild shorelines

• Restore suburban shorelinesRestore suburban shorelines

• Let trees be treesLet trees be trees

• Get written history from ChesterGet written history from Chester