Leech Lake update

[Dan Dean]

We have some good news and bad news up here. First the good news as you may remeber early this year we were looking at a major threat to the Walker Bay spawning area, for the time being developmental plans have not moved forward "yet"

Now the bad news, for those of you that fish Walker Bay many of you are Familar with the Chochran weed bed which sits off to the side of Chochrans Marina. There lies one of the premier weed beds in Walker Bay. The DNR has just informed me that developers are about to be granted a permit for either one 170 foot or two 108 foot floating dock systems which would accomadate 20 large boats, unfortunately the weed bed will lie directly in the path of these docks. Infact at 170 feet they will go right over the top! This will represent yet one more critcal piece of habitat lost.

[dickp]

Where is the Sierra Club when you need them?Dan isn't there any Leech Lake group that will seek legal action to stop this?Raising $$$ would be easy.I'll pledge the first $100 to stop it.

[Dan Dean]

Thanks for the pledge Dick, there is a lake association but this was missed. The thing that gets you so mad is that there was no warning this was going on, no real opportunity for imput. It is apparent these permits are just a formality as this developer was marketing these lots with these slips that were not even "officially" approved for the last 6 months.
I asked if an environmental impact study was done and the DNR says it was and that it came back with a conclusion of "no significant impact" You tell me how laying a 170 foot floating dock over a muskie weed bed and running 20 30 foot inboard boats over it all spring an summer is going to have "no significant impact"

Then you find out the developer is the one that chooses and hires the firm to conduct the impact study, why even bother.

Developers purchase property just off the lake and divide it up into lots, run over to the county and DNR to get a harbor or dock permit then they deed a slip to each lot which increases the lot price from say $10,000 to $50,000. This is how all lakes eventually will wind up like Minnetonka a sea of recreational boats and jet skies, where the average fisherman is essentially forced off the water having to resort to night fishing.

We have scheduled a meeting with our state representative on January 3rd to see what can be done to stop this destruction.
Thanks Dick for your concern.

Dan

[Jeff]

It's probably Dale Jones of DW Jones. He is definitely not a friend of the lake. His next project is on the south end of Shingobee Bay. I believe he plans on dredging out a large area and doing the same thing with backlots. Some people will do anything to make a buck.
Jeff

[dickp]

Hi.If its Jones,I'll double my pledge.

[happy hooker]

Dan
If you need any names on a petition send some pages down to me and Ill get it to the muskies inc chapters in the twin cities and some tackle retailers

[Murph!]

This news really ###### me off. It is one of the best weed beds in Walker Bay. I have caught several fish there and some very nice fish. Also a great walleye spot and great ice fishing area. You are right, we better enjoy the lake while we can because the money folks are taking over. It will be like Tonka in a few short years. Looks like it's time to move farther north.

Good luck, Murph!

[John Skarie]

Because of Dan's vigilant eye hopefully this will be looked into further. Muskies Inc. is going to get a copy of the Impact Study and if we can order another one.

Perry Smith, the International President of MI has pledged to help in any way they can.

Thank you Dan for rattling the cage.

John Skarie
Pres. Fargo Moorhead MI

[Jim McCullough]

Dan,

It's good to see you back on the board. You certainly are a fisherman's best friend in the Leech Lake Area. I'm glad to hear that the other problem that cropped up is on the back burner for now. Let me know if you need a signature for a petition or need a letter fired off to someone.

[Bob Babcock]

Many of the people on this board were nice enough to sign the petition Ty Sennett had last year to raise the size limit on the Chip. All of the "how to" or "where they're biting" info that gets passed along on these boards means nothing if we keep losing good places to fish. In my opinion the best reason for having these boards is to garner national support to local problems. The problems that are happening on Leech could be in any one of our own back yards. Dan, let us know what we can do. I'll be happy to help in any way I can. Hopefully many here will do the same.

[Dan Dean]

I really appreciate all the help and offers for signatures, I cant tell you what an efficient tool this board has been to dissiminate information and develop contacts. MI has also been very helpful, infact no sooner did I post this problem when I received a call from the Muskies Inc president Perry Smith, after he hung up with me he was on the phone with the Walker DNR Fisheries Supervisor and the Bemidji office and immediately backed our efforts.
My plans are to get a copy of the Environmental Impact study and have this reviewed. Then I will meet with our State Representative on the 3rd of January, we need to find out if this is a DNR issue or if laws need to be changed in St. Paul. Either way we may need the signatures or phone calls. I can already tell you the DNR is looking at this closer now just because of our involvement.
Thanks
Dan

[Mother]

Mr. Dean

Thank you for reporting these issues to the general public and
the concerned fisherman of this forum. I only get the opportunity
to fish Leech once a year for a few days . I 've seen over the past
five odd trips to "your home lake" the increase in EGO/My Pen#s boat
and cabin/lake castles will eventually severely impact the
lakes natural beauty and fish stocks to a point of no return.

I understand that this is America and we all have equal opportunity
to pursue what we wish,but their is a price - Do we all want to pay
that price. The "developers" have their price and the people seem
to be willing to pay it , no matter the consequences - The keep
up with the Jones mentality -
The minimization of this greed will be in the long run to
have the most positive impact.
Does this mean we can't own lake shore , cabins and boats - no.
We may have to install limits and/or zoning laws.
Set maximum boat sizes . Lot sizes and cabin sq. footage limits.
Taxation based on income/lot size/shore front/cabin sq. footage.
If one wants big - they pay BIG ! Not pushing out the little guy
with a small cottage,like we see so often in the Brainerd area.
Docking and Marinas -in less sensitve areas and strict no-wake zones.
Following good science from a non-biased entity.

A DNR that won't fold over to a little pressure from a developer
or similar entity. A DNR that are EVERYONES STEWARD of the
lands and lakes.A DNR that does'nt always peddle "OUR" land just
because it's profitable or convenient.
WE need to fund and give the DNR the tools to steward OUR land.

We may even have to get in bed with some of our foes - Environmental
groups - to broaden the power base,we both basically want the same
things, but to just different levels and means - we both compromise
and we all get what we really want- We get sustainable fishing,better
opportunty at a little lake cottage,a cleaner lake,retain lakeshore
beauty and the whole lake ecosystem is improved .


Mother

Just an average joe - who wants to do a little fishin'


PS - I will try to do what I can - sign petitions , donate some
money ? Participate in the 'process' .

Anything so I can catch a musky out of the lake - before all
the clowns wreck it.