Field Notes: June 28, 2013

New phragmites shoot and roots, 13 days after cutting and planting

I have been gone on vacation for little more than a week, and now that I am back, it is time to get busy with planting.  You may have noticed clumps of plants appearing here and there around the undeveloped parts of the lake.  These are likely phragmites plants, which make up the cane beds.  I have begun several experimental plantings by cutting stems from wetland plants and poking them into the lake bottom.  It may seem strange, and it may not work, but after 13 days the first cuttings are already sending out roots and shoots.  Whether or not these can produce a healthy enough root system to survive the winter remains to be seen, but even if mildly successful this could be an inexpensive tool to establish new beds or expand existing ones.  

Water is really too high to begin planting bulrush plants, but there is no guarantee the water will go down, so I’m slowly planting if hope that conditions will improve.  Our custom grown plants should have a fair chance at making it because they are between 3-4 feet tall.  Planting is never comfortable, but in deep water it is a real strain, and if a person is under 6 foot they need a snorkel with the current conditions. 

It appears that there will be no nesting on the rafts this year, but we have learned a lot from the experience, and plan on making some modifications to the rafts to make them more attractive to the birds.  The artificial island on Lake Butte des Morts had a record number of nest with eggs this year, so at least there should be more birds to attract in this part of the state.  

June 16, 2013 Water Monitoring Report

Happy Fathers' Day!

Many people were out enjoying the lake, with warm temperatures both in and out of the water (74 F).  Unfortunately heavy boat traffic was causing significant shore erosion above and below the the slow-no-wake area.  This, and Saturday's storms left the river turbid while the lake was fairly clear.

Field Notes: June 3, 2013

Daryl Christensen adding hay to
Forster's Tern nesting platforms

Wildlife

So far there are no Common Terns nesting on the rafts, but several adults, and non-breeding birds are still hanging around.  Daryl Christensen and I placed 20 small platforms for Forster's Terns, at Pancake Island among the River Bulrush that grows there, on Friday. The birds are either nesting or have staked their claim on them.  Daryl has been placing these platforms for many years.

Update: 19 of 20 platforms had nests

Forster's Tern Nest Platforms

Habitat

I began some experimental plantings of cuttings of common reed (canes).  If these are successful it will be a great way to establish and expand existing cane beds for very little cost.  

Underwater photo of wild rice in its
submerged growth phase.

So far it is looking like a good wild rice year up the Dead River.  Wild rice is a fragile annual grass, so sudden changes in water level could change that overnight.  

Last year's emergent plantings are struggling for light even though the water is somewhat clear in places.  Plants are coated with algae, sediment and other debris.  This can cause stress, and may end up killing some of the plants.  

Fish 

It is interesting to see massive schools of tiny fry, of several unknown species.  These are being preyed upon by Northern Pike, which just hatched in April, but are already 2-3 inches long.  I have seen several at our planting sites and take full credit for these fish.   :)

June 3, 2013 Water Monitoring Report

Today's average in-lake water clarity was 4.2 feet, and was courtesy of a massive zooplankton bloom.  It is massive in that zooplankton are very large, some large enough to see while standing in a boat, and massive in the number of individual tiny animals.  Large zooplankton are very efficient algae eating machines, and graze algae faster than it can reproduce. These zooplankton are feeding the walleye hatchery fish, not to mention yellow perch fry, and many others.  Soon the rapidly growing young fish will drive down the population of large zooplankton and algae will begin to dominate.

Water temperature was 67-70 degrees.

A Water Flea, or Daphnia, like this one from Lake Puckaway is a welcome sight.
Water Fleas eat large amounts of algae, and provide food for young fish.