August 2, and July 15, 2013 Water Monitoring Report

Sorry for the delay.  Water clarity is still much better in the lake than last year although the water is greening up.  Dotted bars indicate the Secchi disk was visible sitting on the bottom, so a true reading is not available.

American Lotus Bed

Field Notes: Timber Breakwall and Fragile Habitat Signs

A new pilot project aims to find a new way to combine to a sediment trap with, fish habitat, and wetland protection functions.  This project, funded by a US Fish and Wildlife Service grant through Green Lake County, has constructed a 300 ft. breakwall by installing a two rows of cedar timbers and filling the space in between with old Christmas trees and other brush.  This breakwall will provide unique fish habitat on Lake Puckaway, but its primary purpose is protect the wetland on the leeward side by reducing wave energy, and the quieter water behind the wall should allow sediment to fall out of the water.  Plants should then have a better chance of taking root, and provide even more fish habitat. This pilot looks to be less expensive, and more natural alternative to rock. 

Ted Johnson and Eric Evensen from WDNR lend a had installing Christmas trees.

Plant beds like the ones made of cane (common reed, or phragmites) or bulrushes provide excellent cover for fish, and prevent erosion by reducing wave energy.  The plants are frequently under stress from high water, heavy waves, and sometimes damage from boats, so the lake district has installed "Fragile Habitat" signs at many of these beds.  These signs ask that anglers and boaters keep their boats out of the beds.  These beds are popular fishing spots and will remain so, but the must be treated with care by not entering with the boat, or dropping anchor in them.  This is important at all times of the year, but stems are particularly vulnerable early in the year before they can be seen above the water line. Even dead stems from the previous year help push oxygen to the roots through the winter, and as they begin to break dormancy in spring.  Running a snowmobile through a cane bed has been known to kill the plants below, and the snowmobile path can be visible in spring as empty trails through the beds.  So cast a lure into, but don't drive or drift into the cane, and bulrush beds.  Thank you.

July 8, 2013 Water Monitoring Reporort

Water nice and warm today, about 81 degrees at 3:00 pm.

July 1, 2013 Water Monitoring Report

Water quality seems to have slipped into its typical pattern which should continue through the rest of the open water season.  This pattern is a decrease in water quality as water comes down the Fox River and through the lake.  This pattern developed later than the previous two years, likely because the cool spring has slowed algae growth.  Now with water temperatures in the 70's and 80's the green stuff can grow rapidly.  Still the temperature is cooler than last year, so maybe we will be spared heavy blooms.  Although I don't publish the Grand River measurements on the blog, it again has the highest water clarity measured in the early summer season.  Today it was 4.3 feet, but the Secchi disk was still visible while sitting on the bottom.

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.   :)