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From the Lakeland Times:

DNR may lower Manitowish Chain levels

After spending three years at the negotiating table with Manitowish Chain stakeholders, the state Department of Natural Resources has proposed changes to the operation of Rest Lake Dam, which the agency claims will rejuvenate the lake sturgeon population and reduce flooding of residential property on the Manitowish River.

The proposal, presented by DNR water resource specialist Jim Kreitlow at the Manitowish Waters Lakes Association annual meeting in July, would increase instream flows (water released from the dam into the Manitowish River) during sturgeon spawning in May and June to create more suitable habitat for successful spawning and fingerling survival.

DNR research has shown that sturgeon are not naturally spawning on the lower Manitowish River – a situation Kreitlow attributes to low river flows in past years, and which the agency was mandated in the state’s sturgeon management plan of 2000 to rectify.

Changes reasonable

Kreitlow’s proposal specifies that instead of the current minimum instream flow allowed during the sturgeon spawn, of 50 cubic feet per second (cfs), the minimum flow should be raised to 75 cfs between May 1 and June 8, dates chosen because water temperatures are usually ideal during that time for spawning activity.

“I feel sufficient field data has been collected and that the proposed changes are reasonable,” Kreitlow said at the meeting.

Another change included in the proposal involves extending the fall “draw down” period to eight weeks instead of five or six, which according to Kreitlow should reduce flooding of residential properties along the Manitowish.

The third major change, and most controversial for lakes association members, is the proposal to adjust the optimum summer chain levels.

The current dam operation contract requires chain levels of at least 7.3 - 8.6 feet, but Kreitlow said the chain in recent years has in reality been kept between 8.4 - 8.6 feet as a way to keep lake homeowners happy.

The impact, he said, has reduced river flows to inadequate levels for successful spawning to occur.

“To maintain high levels in the chain, water flow over the dam was reduced even below the minimum of 50 cfs down to 15 cfs,” Kreitlow said. “That is a problem with us.”

Instead, Kreitlow proposed, the lake levels, in dry years, should be kept at a minimum of 7.6 feet and a maximum of 8.6, a change that would allow adequate flows for the sturgeon while still filling the chain to what the DNR determined would be a high enough level for recreational boaters.

If the year is so dry that the minimum of 7.6 feet cannot be reached by July 1 in conjunction with the 75 cfs instream flow, the DNR and dam owner Xcel Energy would consult to determine a temporary lower instream flow until the chain could be filled.

Economic impacts unknown

Though Kreitlow had been invited to the lakes association’s meeting to present his proposal, members of the audience expressed doubt that the changes, especially the focus on a minimum fill of 7.6 feet, would not harm homeowners on the chain of lakes.

“If the lake levels even get close to 7.6, a lot of people are in trouble because they can’t get their boats off their lifts,” said lakes association president Jack King. “Last year was a really low year, what were the elevations last year?”

Water levels on the chain last summer were between 7.6 and 7.8 feet, Kreitlow responded, emphasizing that the current contract states the lake levels can legally drop to 7.3, so this change would actually benefit lake homeowners during dry years.

“We are trying to evaluate the options and try them out,” Kreitlow said, adding that the proposal would be utilized on a five-year trial basis and then re-evaluated.

Other association members expressed concern that the increased instream flows during May and June will prevent the chain from filling by Memorial Day, which has been the typical fill date in the past.

“Has anyone considered the economic impacts this could have on local businesses, if people aren’t coming up here until July?” a member asked Kreitlow. “I have to wonder, who is being favored, the sturgeon or getting the lake levels up?”

Kreitlow answered that while the economic impacts had not been studied, if the DNR and the stakeholders cannot come to a mutual agreement and the agency has to order XCEL to make the changes, an environmental assessment would be required by law and would include an economic analysis.

“It’s in everyone’s best interest not to go to court on this,” Kreitlow said. “But the DNR has the authority to make an order on the dam, which would be available for public review and subject to a public hearing.”

Expensive fish

Staying with the topic of the proposal’s economic impacts, a lakes association member asked Kreitlow how much state money has been spent to formulate this proposal over the past three years.

“What is the worthwhileness of this?” asked someone from the audience. “Why is so much tax money going into this project?”

Kreitlow said he wasn’t sure exactly how much had been spent, but said there are three DNR employees, including himself, dedicated to the project.

“I know a lot of folks here think this is a wasted effort, but a lot of people at the agency think this is an important effort,” Kreitlow said. “We have been mandated by the state to re-establish the sturgeon population.”

When asked by another lakes association member if restoring the local sturgeon population costs the DNR more than $10,000 per fish, Kreitlow responded that he “would guess it’s under that.”

“I really can’t answer that,” he said. “I don’t want to put a price on it.”