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County leaders ask DNR to halt plan for Bear Lake
Residents say water levels are too low
Published Thursday, July 9, 2009
The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 Tuesday on a resolution requesting that the Department of Natural Resources not continue its management plan that many believe could end with the lowering of the water levels of Bear Lake.
Commissioner Linda Tuttle abstained from voting because her husband owns property near Bear Lake, west of Twin Lakes and north of Emmons.
The resolution, also approved in 2002, tells the DNR the commissioners do not believe the DNR’s lake plan is working. The commissioners are also asking that Bear Lake no longer be classified a wilderness lake, and Dick Hoffman, of Freeborn County Environmental Services, said this classification allows the DNR to adjust the water levels of the lake.
“I would hope that the DNR would rethink, maybe not putting the dam in, but at least their idea of what needs to be done on that lake — their plan,” said Commissioner Glen Mathiason. “It doesn’t seem to me, and to the rest of the commissioners that it has worked with the way things look.”
The issue centers around a dam the DNR is planning to replace with a variable-crest dam, which means the levels of the lake can be lowered. The existing dam is a variable-crest dam, but many citizens who spoke at the commissioners meeting stated a new dam would allow the DNR to more easily lower the lake’s water levels. The DNR has lowered the levels of Bear Lake before to kill fish.
Glen Mathiason
Mathiason said many people in the area are concerned about that possibility, because such a move could affect more than 3,500 acres of farmland.
Mathiason said he’s not opposed to them replacing the dam, he just doesn’t want to see the levels of the lakes lower.
Four representatives from the DNR attended the meeting, after the commissioners requested the DNR be present to talk about their plans for the dam.
One of the main issues many people have with the quality of the lake is the amount of cattails growing in the lake. The commissioners discussed how this may prevent the water from reaching the dam. These cattails are not native and don’t form roots, so they float across the lake, Mathiason said.
“I stood on the dam, and I couldn’t see open water, I mean other than right at the dam. Looking out I couldn’t see any open water. There’s got to be a way that we can get rid of all that,” said Commissioner Linda Tuttle.
Mathiason said some farmers have approached him with concerns that if the level of the lake lowered, that would affect how the type of soil in that area retained moisture.
At the same time, Mathiason said there is a petition that supports the DNR’s project and a petition that opposes it.
Regardless of whether adjusting the levels of the lake is the right thing to do, Jeanine Vorland, DNR wildlife division, said the dam is aging, showing signs of deterioration and could wash out sometime in the future.
The dam was built in the 1940s, and she said she hopes the issue of the dam and the issue of the depth of Bear Lake are not viewed as the same issue.
“One of our biggest goals here, is to work with you, and to work internally, and to work with the other citizens within Freeborn County to try to put a project together that meets the needs of the Department of Natural Resources and the citizens of the state,” said Mark Matuska, south regional director with the DNR.
The commissioners and Matuska both talked about a collaborative approach, but the discussion was often heated.
Debate on restoring the quality of Bear Lake is not a new issue. Commissioner Dan Belshan said the commissioners contacted the DNR about their management plan not working in 1996 and 2002.
Belshan also read from a resolution the commissioners presented to the DNR in 1996 asking them not to implement their management plan on Bear Lake. This resolution talked about the negative effects of the management plan, and the commissioners said the beauty of the lake was suffering, and cattails were an issue then.
“It’s not just this board that’s questioning the DNR and, personally, you guys. It’s been an ongoing thing for 35 years,” Belshan said.
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Comments
Posted by michie62 (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The DNR doesn't get Bear Lake at all. Since the time of my great-grandpa being game warden and they lowered it and made it a "duck lake", Bear Lake has been mistreated by the DNR. Those of us who lived by it, especially my grandpa and others, have fought to save that wonderful lake. I hope those still living by it will fight to save Bear Lake from the DNR and their ideas. Or else Bear Lake might just be a memory.
Posted by ErnieGann (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It sounds like more government excuses for failure.
"Thirty-Five years of failure don't mean anything."
If their Central Planning hasn't worked for 35 years, maybe they should try something else.
Posted by Lars (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems kind of odd to me that they held this meeting at 8:30 in the morning. Seems like farmers would have an easier time attending this meeting than those who have normal working hours. I think they need to have another meeting so people can actually voice their opinion on this issue.
I was under the impression that Freeborn county was finally starting to see the importance of our water quality...I guess that is not the case. Out of our states 11,842 Bear Lake is only one of 33 that are designated to be managed as waterfowl lakes. Now they want to remove it from that list? Seems like a step backwards to me.
For those of you who support the drawdown of Bear Lake I urge you to contact the board of commissioners.
Posted by toby (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you Ernie. It seems so often refusal to admit a mistake by governing bodies which continue down the wrong path with continuing boondoggles. I read a letter to the editor in the trib which called the dnr, D*mn Near Russia. These people are only protecting their jobs accomplishing nothing. If your faucet leaked for 35 years would you not get a different plumber?
Posted by wakemaker (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 1:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Come on guys...we'll all been told the Gov. is here to save us! Relax...sit back and it will all be ok. No more payments, no more healthcare, it's all good.
Posted by SunMan (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 4:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like everybody has this one right: The government just doesn't understand the farmers around Bear Lake.
Oh wait... the government is in charge of all the ag welfare, I mean subsidy checks... and we GOTTA keep them coming or else all the estates surrounding the Lake won't be able to afford new 4wd pickups anymore.
Posted by MnMarshrat (anonymous) on July 12, 2009 at 12:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SunMan, you hit the nail on the head there.
Seems to me that the DNR is being pushed around by some farmers who have the money to push this back in their face with lawsuits. These water level managments are a benefit to "waterfowl production lakes" as Bear L. is designated. What'll it turn to if the DNR doesn't do something due to "local opposition" and their trying to appeal to only a few? But the managment would lower water levels, HA! The deepest it is out there is maybe 4 foot, then its muck and mud. I say take a look at what has been proven effective in years past, and not go by who can cry the loudest. Contact the Board of Commisioners if you support it.
I call for another meeting, and get more than 4 people to show up. Make your voice heard.
Posted by trifid (anonymous) on July 13, 2009 at 10:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, boys, the local Bear Lake corporate farmers ARE throwing their money around to get what they want----more ag subsidies on their pathetic marshland they try to drain so they can plant corn, get a corn-base, then collect ag welfare from the govenment. What a scam!
And 30 yrs. ago they were sneaking down to the dam at night and knocking planks out in order to lower the lake. All they care about is their piles of corn, polluted land, and government checks.
And now the county board puppets show their colors. What spineless opportunists! But most of them have been(or are) corporate farmers or greedy landlords who pretend to care about OUR lakes and streams. It is one big facade!!
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