2021 Spring lake management report

 LAKE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPORT - Spring, 2021

This morning, Tom Boisvert, the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Coordinator for Burnett County, made a presentation at the 2021 Wisconsin Water Week Conference on his recent study of calcium levels in Burnett and Washburn County lakes.  I watched the presentation through an online uplink.  Previous calcium levels in Wisconsin Lakes were estimates based on water conductivity; Tom measured the actual calcium content in water samples collected in 30 lakes last summer.  Lipsett Lake was one of the 30 chosen for sampling.  

The DNR considers calcium levels below 10 mg/L as being too low for zebra mussel’s to produce shells and thrive.  Levels between 10 and 21 mg/L are considered as borderline suitable for zebra mussels, and levels above 21 mg/L are considered highly suitable for zebra mussels to become established and thrive, if introduced.  Unfortunately, Lipsett Lake has a calcium content of 23.6 mg/L which suggests that if zebra mussels are introduced, they will likely become a viable, reproducing community.  For reference, the calcium content of Big McKenzie, with a current zebra mussel density estimated to be in the thousands/sq.ft., is 20.6; a level near the top of the borderline suitable range and below the Lipsett Calcium level.

Clearly, the news of the Lipsett Lake level of calcium is disappointing and indicates that we need to be extra cautious to avoid AIS introduction.  For the 2021 summer we have taken a significant step to try to keep zebra mussels out of our lake.  More specifically, in late December Rick Pearson and family made a substantial donation to the Lipsett Lake Association, part of which was specifically earmarked for assisting our efforts to keep all AIS, including zebra mussels, out of the lake.  Consequently, I am pleased to announce that this summer Kathy Hudson, our 2020 CBCW monitor, has agreed to monitor our public access four days each week (Friday-Monday).  She will likely be assisted on occasion by her husband, Leonard, who worked for us in 2019.  That will leave only three midweek days with no monitor and, fortunately, these are often days without significant fishing pressure.

Several other preventative measures can be taken by all of us.  One is to always decontaminate your boat and trailer when entering and leaving the lake, even if they are only used in Lipsett Lake.  Remember this is now the law.  A second way to protect the lake is to make certain all of your guests are aware of the decontamination law and also spray down their boats, trailers, and personal watercraft.  A boat or personal watercraft that has been in a water body with AIS (zebra mussels, eurasian watermilfoil, etc.) could easily introduce these unwanted and harmful pests into Lipsett Lake.  In addition, if you purchase a used boat, trailer, lift, or personal watercraft, make sure you decontaminate thoroughly.  There are documented cases of lakes becoming infested with AIS by careless people who purchased used equipment.

We need to remain vigilant to keep AIS out of our lake.  If introduced, they will seriously diminish the recreational, as well as the property values of Lipsett Lake.

Thank you.

Bob Baker
Lake Management Committee Chair