Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) and Town Board Election

Greetings,

I just received a call from Harley Ogata.  Harley lives on Hugo Rd. Harley has been on the board for the RCWD.  In his tenure he has helped to guide the Alum treatment, the Oneka Ridge golf course re-use irrigation project and the dam replacement.   He has served us well!

Harley is resigning from the board.  Harley has represented Ramsey County, so we need someone from Ramsey County to step up and volunteer for the board.  You will need to decide quickly, the decision will be in November.  Harley would be glad to talk to anyone that is interested in taking on this role.  You can contact Harley at: 653-0885

I think you can also contact Phil Belfiori at:

Email:

 pbelfiori@ricecreek.org

Phone:

 (763) 398-3071

I took this photo on my way home from work.  It is the little lake next to the Gateway trail crossing on Hwy 96.  The sunset couldn't have been lined up any better and it just looked spectacular. Good thing I had my camera.

(click photo to enlarge)

(The following is only relevant to White Bear Township residents.)

On another note, I was trying to find out who is running for a spot on the White Bear Township board.  It took me a while, but I finally found the info. There are two seats open.  Seat A and Seat B.  People running for seat A are:

- Kevin Chandler

- Ronald J. Denn

- Steve Ruzek

For Seat B, Robert Kermes is unopposed.

I know very little about these candidates.  But, I do know that one of our neighbors is hosting a meet and greet for Steve Ruzek.  Tom Fiutak and his wife, Colet are hosting the gathering at 5770 West Bald Eagle Blvd, next Sunday evening, the 26th. 6:30  - 7:30pm.  If you are interested in finding out more about Steve, you can contact Tom at 651-724-1822 or.

I wouldn't have normally announced this, but I would hate for any of us to be ignorant of the candidates when we get our ballot.

I got to the sample ballot for my location via: http://xnet.co.ramsey.mn.us/elections/precinct_finder/ , then clicked on the sample ballot.

Obviously, if you don't live in WBT or Ramsey County this won't be of much interest for you.

Regards,

Jim Moore

Fall colors & Bald Eagle Island

Fall colors are amazing this year, so I went out last weekend to find some beautiful sights to photograph.  I have a favorite road just north of H2 on Centerville, in North Oaks.  It was prime last weekend.  I also drove around the neighborhoods near Pine Tree Lake (east of White Bear Lake) and found some beautiful settings to photograph.

Then on Tuesday, I brought my camera to work so that I could take some pictures in the evening in Stillwater and along Hwy 96.  I have been wanting to take pictures on this route in the fall since I started working in Somerset almost two years ago.  But last fall was such a bust for fall colors that I didn't see anything worth photographing.  Finally, this year's colors are amazing.  I don't think I have ever seen more beautiful fall colors.

So... This link will get you to my favorite shots of my two shoots.  Hope you enjoy.

Here's one of them:

On a Bald Eagle Island development front, the proposed development got a tie vote from the planning commission.  The next big event for this project is before the Town Board.

Public Hearing on the Bald Eagle Island Project

Nov. 3rd at 7:00 p.m. at Heritage Hall.

This could be an emotionally charged event.  If you want to have a say in whether it passes or not, I suggest you make it a point to attend.  I suspect it will be standing room only.

Regards,

Jim Moore

President, BEAA

Great news: Bald Eagle Dam update

I received some good news in an email from board member Jim Aschman, yesterday. 

Jim wrote:

I attended the RCWD (Rice Creek Watershed District) meeting today. They had a discussion on the Bald Eagle Lake dam replacement. It seems that the DNR is going to fund $160k and RCWD is going to kick in $120K.  Hugo is expected to leave in their $120K.  With MNDOT contributing $252K, we have a total dam fund of $652K. The updated construction estimate is $637,263.  Hugo needs to accept the grant at their meeting, probably on Oct. 22.  Should be a go for next year.

 

On another note:

If some of you still have your boat lift with canopy in the water and the seagulls are loving it, you might want to consider getting the Gull Buster.  It is a small local company.  The seagulls were loving my canopy several years ago and made an absolute mess of it.  I've had the Gull Buster for two years now and the canopy is as clean as can be.  It has four extendable diagonal posts and you run fishing line around the 4 posts and diagonal across the posts.  I can still take the canopy off without removing it.

Photo (click on image to enlarge):

This was taken in my front yard on Sept 15th.

 

A fall photo from the bluffs near Lake Pepin, taken last weekend (not anywhere near peak colors):

 

Regards,

Jim

Update on a number of subjects

Bald Eagle Island

I came across a few items this week that might be of interest to you.  I happened upon an article on the potential future owner of the island (Hans) just posted on the White Bear Press page.  It looks like Hans is moving forward with his plans.

Purple Loosestrife

It turns out that there hasn't been much progress on it this year.  I do know that there are some biological measures that we can take via a beetle that eats the plant.  These beetles have to be collected from other sites where they exist and then transplanted to our infestation.  This will need to happen in June or July when the beetles are most active.

From Rice Creek Watershed's Facebook page

Rice Creek Watershed District

September 22

DNR Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist Keegan Lund examines an aquatic plant sampling rake held by RCWD District Technician Catherine Nester on Bald Eagle Lake. The RCWD and DNR recently collaborated to complete a plant survey on Bald Eagle Lake. Water clarity has been markedly better on Bald Eagle Lake this year, in large part due to the spring application of aluminum sulfate (“alum”). With increased water clarity, the RCWD and DNR hopes to find an increase in native aquatic vegetation – especially at deeper depths. The results of the survey are being complied, but early indications are promising. While on Bald Eagle, the DNR and RCWD also worked to remove (by hand) an invasive plant – flowering rush.

Horseshoe cattail bed concern

This is the large cattail bed east of the island in the middle of the lake.  Concern was espressed that this bed has been getting smaller.  I happen to have a few pictures from 1945, which show the cattail bed to be pretty much the same size. So, I don't think there is any change in its size.

And, of course... A Bald Eagle Lake sunset.

I happened to be canoeing in Quetico Provincial Park in August and took this photo at McAree Lake.

Click an any of the images to get a larger version.

Regards,

Jim

Huge flock of Purple Martins roosting on Bald Eagle Lake

I'm not sure if this is an annual event, or the first time.  We happened to be out on the lake this weekend near the horse shoe shaped weed bed on the lake.  There were several thousand Purple Martins bedding down for the night. But, prior to bedding down, from 7:55 to 8:15, the sky was thick with them as they were flying in waves overhead and they even zoomed right through our pontoon boat. In the end, they came to roost like squadrons, hundreds at a time. There was a huge whoosh as each squadron swooped in. It was an amazing sight.  We were right up against the weed bed and had front row seats.  Last night was our second night watching it.

This video doesn't do it justice.  It's tough to really capture the experience.

The DNR has delayed their visit to the lake with regards to the Purple Loosestrife.  I'll post an update at a later date.

Regards,
Jim

Purple Loosestrife

Greetings,

We just got off the lake tonight and it was a beautiful and quiet evening on the water.  There was a rainstorm and it cleared up quickly. As a result, there were no big boats or waves to disturb us.  There was no wind to push us around.  We  were just enjoying the setting sun and relaxing.  The temperature was perfect.  Just awesome and no one else figured it out! (except a few fisherman).

"If you're lucky enough to live on a lake, you're lucky enough."

Earlier this week, I saw some pictures of Purple Loosestrife (PLS), which is a beautiful purple flow that grows on in marshes.  The problem is that it replaces the cattails and prevents wildlife from entering.  It is an invasive plant introduce from Europe and threatens our marshes.  It is now in full bloom and it has a significant footing on the north end of the lake.  I have also seen it at the end of Bald Eagle Point, near the boat launch and on the south shore of the Benson Bay neighborhood.

I am in communications with the DNR to determine the best course of action to control the plant.  They will be out on the lake this week to get a better picture of the infestation.

There are three approaches and we may use all three.  We can control with weed killer (variant of Roundup), manual removal and beetles that eat the plants and keep it under control (not eliminate it).

If you see the plant in your vicinity and can remove it, that would be great.  They recommend not even composting it. It is best to throw it in the garbage.

I checked the water clarity this weekend.  It was 5.5 ft.  Still pretty awesome

Sunset tonight

 

Take care,

Jim Moore

Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) Project at Oneka Ridge Golf Course

Greetings,

RCWD presented the Oneka Ridge golf course project on Friday and the Pioneer Press was their to report on it.

I haven't checked the lake clarity, lately, but it look like it's holding steady.  The aquatic plants have sure enjoyed the increased sunlight. The crop is very healthy this year.

Here are a couple more sunset photos (click on photo to enlarge):

This one was taken last night on Devil's Lake near Webster, WI

 

Twilight tonight on Devil's Lake