2005-2006
Update & Newsletter
The Eau Claire Lakes Conservation Club (ECLCC) has been active in Barnes and Gordon for 60 years. The organization is devoted to maintaining the area’s natural resources for all to enjoy. Each year the club initiates and participates in projects to preserve, protect and promote the land and waters of the Eau Claire Lakes area. Please read on regarding these projects and how you can get involved.
Recently you may have noticed the new warning signs posted at area boat landings. These signs, which explain how to stop the spread of Eurasian water milfoil, were posted by the club as part of an ongoing effort to stop the spread of this invasive species. Eurasian milfoil first arrived in Wisconsin in the 1960's. During the 1980's, it began to move from several counties in southern Wisconsin to lakes and waterways in the northern half of the state. Milfoil spreads rapidly and can completely take over a body of water, resulting in a threat to the integrity of aquatic communities in a number of ways. For example: dense stands disrupt predator-prey relationships by fencing out larger fish, and reducing the number of nutrient-rich native plants available for waterfowl. The ECLCC posted the landing signs to remind us that a sound precautionary measure is to check all equipment used in area waterways and remove any aquatic vegetation upon leaving the lake or river. Every piece of equipment, including boats, motors, trailers, and fishing/diving equipment, should be free of aquatic plants.
The club’s efforts to eradicate Purple Loostrife continued in 2005. Like Milfoil, Purple Loostrife is an invasive species which spreads rapidly in lakes, ponds and roadside ditches. Club members raise beetles and release the beetles where Loosetrife is growing. This bio-control program is supported by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and is considered one of the best tools in limiting the spread of this non-native invader.
In the past year the ECLCC initiated a program to rehabilitate aquatic vegetation in select lakes. Vegetation in the area’s lakes has been depleted to serious levels by the Rusty Crayfish. Rusty Crayfish eat small fish, insects, and fish eggs. They also eat aquatic vegetation, damaging underwater habitat that is important for fish spawning, cover, and food. It is the club’s hope this rehabilitation project will positively affect the area’s fish population – which has been disrupted by plant and animal invasive species that have found their way to northwest Wisconsin.
For many years the Eau Claire Lakes conservation club has raised Walleye fry for stocking in area lakes. Already in 2006 the club has received 200,000 fry which they are raising in holding ponds until they become fingerlings. Fingerlings are released into lakes to grow into catchable-size sport fish; the WDNR directs stocking efforts and controls which lakes receive the young fish raised by the club. In 2005, the club released Walleye into Island Lake.
In 2005 the ECLCC sponsored two resolutions at Wisconsin’s Conservation Congress. The first resolution would limit the daily panfish limit in Middle Eau Claire Lake to 10 per person. Also a resolution was made regarding the slot size limit for Bass. Both of these resolutions have moved from the Conservation Congress to the WDNR, which has not yet ruled on either. If these measures are approved by the WDNR they would likely take effect in 2008.
Another way that the club insures that the Eau Claire Lakes Area is a premier area for leisure activities is to promote and sponsor roadside clean-up events. In April of 2006 many volunteers helped clean Birch Lake Road, Lake Road, and portions of County Road N. Additionally, the club helps maintain the area’s waterways. In 2005 the club purchased new buoys/channel markers for Middle Eau Claire Lake and is maintaining them as well.
Club members continue to care for the Barnes Rifle Range - located off County Road N, east of the Barnes transfer site. In 2005 an archery range was constructed by club members, near the rifle range. The ranges are heavily used, and require regular cleaning and repairs which are provided by the members of the ECLCC.
A valuable, annual program administered by the conservation club is a hunter’s safety course. Each August members of the club run the week long course which is attended by students who travel up to 30 miles each way to attend the course and receive their gun safety certification. Watch for announcements in July regarding course dates for August 2006.
The Conservation Club annually donates a $500 scholarship to a Drummond High School graduating senior who will pursue further education in a conservation or and environmental field. The 2006 recipient of the scholarship is Sarah Wood – who plans to attend UW Stevens Point this fall. Sarah expects to pursue a degree in Biology or Wildlife conservation.
As you can see the Eau Claire Lakes Conservation Club is an active organization in the area. However the club needs your financial support to continue their work. There are two ways to support the club monetarily. The first is to rent one of the two pontoon trailers that the club owns. Dick Webb of Masterjohn Realty schedules rentals of the trailers from his Barnes office – please call him at 795-2110. The rental rate is $20.00 for four hours. The second way to insure the efforts of the club continue is to become a contributing member of the Eau Claire Lakes Conservation Club. Please do so soon by returning this form.
Thank you
for taking the time to read our annual update.
The club welcomes volunteers and other interested individuals. Monthly meetings are held on the 3rd
Monday of each month at the Barnes VFW Club at 7:00 p.m. (April – November).