2004-2005 Update and Newsletter
For almost 60 years the
Eau Claire Lakes Conservation Club has been serving the Barnes and Gordon
communities. The mission of the organization has been to insure the area
surrounding the Eau Claire Lakes chain remains a premier four-season
recreational area. Over the years the club has undertaken many projects to
fulfill their mission; this past year was no exception.
Work continued in 2004
on a Purple Loostrife eradication project. Purple Loostrife is an
invasive perennial plant that spreads rapidly in lakes, ponds and road side
ditches. It crowds out native plants and reduces food, shelter, and nesting
sites for wildlife, birds, turtles and frogs. Club members have worked on raising
beetles and releasing them where Loostrife is growing. This bio-control program
is supported by The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and is
considered one of the best ways to limit the spread of this invasive species.
As in previous years,
the club will raise Walleye fry throughout the summer of 2005. In the fall the
fry will be transferred from holding ponds to local lakes - increasing the
quality of fishing in the area. This project is undertaken in conjunction with
the Red Cliff Indian Reservation's Fish Management group. The lakes which will
receive the Walleye fry are determined by the WDNR.
The club is also
attempting to get permission from the DNR to stock Middle Eau Claire Lake with
pan fish obtained from other lakes where stunted growth has been a problem.
This program is designed to address the falling fish population in Middle Eau
Claire Lake.
Work on fish projects
continues even in the winter months! During the past winter, members of
the conservation club built a Walleye spawn bed on Robinson Lake. The bed,
which measures 30' x 70' contains many sizes of gravel, and has been placed in
an area along the lake's shore.
Keepiing the area clean
is another way the club insures that the Eau Claire Lakes is a leading area for
leisure activities. In 2004 the club sponsored two road-side clean-up days.
Held in the spring and the fall the days brought out many volunteers - both
young and old. Additionally the club donated funds to scuba divers who
conducted an underwater clean-up on Middle Eau Claire Lake. The divers brought
up everything from bottles to refrigerators!
For many years, club
members have volunteered time and labor to installing, removing and maintaining
many of the docks at area boat landings - thus guaranteeing area visitors have
adequate access to area waterways. Additionally, club members also care for the
Barnes Rifle Range - located off County Road N, east of the Barnes transfer
site. The range is heavily used, and requires regular cleaning and repairs.
The Eau Claire Lakes
Conservation Club also conducts a hunter safety class once per year. The 2004
class, which was held in August 2004, included participants from Solon Springs,
Mason, Gordon and Barnes. A total of 23 students attended the week-long class.
Mark your calendars for 2005; the club will conduct a Hunter Safety program
again this summer - August 8th through the 13th.
ln preparation for
the Barnes Centennial Celebration, the club erected signs at 16 locations in
the Barnes community. These signs commemorate historical sites and events..
These signs were created by Bob Paszak who donated his talent and labor!
The bulletin boards at
the boat landings on Upper, Middle & Lower Eau Claire lakes were upgraded
in 2004 by the conservation club. Now, all have Plexiglas to protect the
educational lake materials displayed at each landing.
The Conservation Club
annually donates a $500 scholarship to a Drummond high school graduating senior
who will pursue further education in conservation or an environmental field.
The 2005 recipient of the scholarship is Steven Sill - who plans to attend UW
Stevens Point this fall. In the past year the club also donated funds to the
Drummond Library for reading materials related to conservation. Over fifteen
books have been purchased including the Backpacker's Field Manual,
Encyclopedia of Edible Plants, and the North American Waterfowl Guide.
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 the club's pontoon trailer.
The trailer can be rented by contacting Dick Webb at the Barnes office of
Masterjohn Realty - 795-2110. The rental rate is $20.00 for four hours. The
second is by becoming a contributing member of the Eau Claire Lakes
Conservation Club. Please do so soon by returning the form at the bottom of
this newsletter.
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).
Current contacts
for further information are the following officers:
President...............Dave Scharlau ...795-2560
Secretary...............Dave
Pederson...795-2047
(In order to use the following form, you will need to highlight it, copy it,
and paste it into your word processor and print it out.)
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2005 Eau Claire Lakes
Conservation Club |
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