Bailey wrote:lanyard wrote:h2ofwlr wrote:If I am not mistaken there is a low rise dam (keeps it up 2' higher) on Pelican @ Ashby, and why the water does not flow out of Christiana like it used to. The homeowners want a fishing type of lake that used to be more of a large duck slough/lake.
You're mistaken, partially.
Currently interest in the lake is to maximize it for waterfowl. Why the dam was put in wayyyyy back when, I don't know.
On an outflow basis the damn height/width is not congruent to the lake area. So, it can only let out so much water, regardless of what's in the lake. Think of filling a funnel too fast.
Downstream, the dam has MORE value in not fluctuating Pelican Lake's levels. The watershed for Christina is significantly larger than Pelican. By damming Christina (a portion of Pomme de Terre headwaters) it's easier to control DOWNSTREAM water levels by backing up the Christina chain (Christina, Ina, Anka). There is also a dam at the Pelican Lake Outlet, into Pelican River.
As I understand it, walleyes were introduced at some point to control minnow populations and a decent fishery developed in late '70's/early '80s, but this was an outcome, not a purpose of lake management. Like Pelican by Monticello,lots of people get mad you take their fishing hole slough away in a land of 10,000 lakes.... (I have a local story on this, but it requires beer). Somehow catching easy fish for 5 years wipes away. 100's years of history.
Heron Lake on the other hand (down by Worthington) is kept artificially high to allow ease of access according to riparian land agreements drawn up 100 years ago that provided legal definition of access and ownership to a center-point in the lake. Think of a Homeowners Association, but with a REALLY big slough as the property.
Except at heron lake it hardly matters. The first weekend can be ok but after that it stinks. My dad has a buddy in a club on heron lake and he does not even hunt it anymore. He still is member but spends in time in canada hunting. I guess he has gone maybe a few times in the last five years but not much. He has alot of money so I guess he still pays but says the hunting is poor.
Correct. The hunting sucks ass at Heron Lake because the surrounding propeety owners won't let the DNR lower it.
Used to work construction and meet Area Wildlife people from Windom at the dam, damn near 20 years ago. It was weird, man. There seems to be enough political.pressure and local interest in the lake being high than managing it for waterfowl . I guess paying bokoo $ for dead swamp you can drive your boat on is better than challenges in access but shooting birds.
It's been awhile since I looked at the Heron Lake info, will see if I can dredge any of it up.