AROUND THE LAKES
Memorial Day Weekend is Here!
May 26
A wonderful sunny & warm weather forecast and a long holiday weekend. The lake is warming really fast (making up for lost time, apparently) and at this moment is hitting 67 degrees. Hummingbirds are numerous, and it just can’t be much longer until the Air Force (dragonflies) arrive to eat the mosquitoes. The deer start dropping their fawns this weekend, and the birds are singing their mating songs. All seems right with the world.
Hummingbirds are Back and The Lakes are Warming Fast
May 9
Right on time (May 9 is the typical return time) we saw our first hummer of the year this morning. And thanks to the warmer weather, Lake Mildred’s water temperature has zoomed over 10 degrees in less than a week!
Wisconsin Walleye Management Plan
March 26
Fisheries Biologist Max Wolter of Wisconsin DNR just announced an update of Wisconsin’s Walleye Management Plan. You can find that Plan and a lot of other great info at: Managing Wisconsin’s Walleye | Fishing Wisconsin | Wisconsin DNR
OCLRA (Oneida County Lakes & Rivers Association) Next Meeting
of the OCLRA Board is 9-10:30 a.m. Monday, June 19, at the ADRC building in Rhinelander, across the parking lot from Trig’s grocery. All are welcome.
OCLRA NEWS
For the latest news about Loon Mortality from Boat Wakes, Wakeboat Concerns, “Forever Chemicals”, Road Salt, Walleyes, and more, see the OCLRA NEWS story on our “News” page.
Improving Fish Habitat on Lake Mildred and Clear Lake
Paul Evans wrote a great essay about the many factors involved in improving fish habitat here. As Paul says: it’s more complicated than you’d think. Check out his essay HERE.
WAKESURFING – Another way to destroy pristine lakes like Lake Mildred. Large wakes scour the lake bottom, stir up sediment & small plants, cause shoreline erosion & property damage – the list goes on. To learn more, see www.lastwildernessalliance.org/wake-surfing-intro.
WAKE BOAT ISSUES – STORY BY MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL – The issue of wake boats and other power boats that are too large for a given body of water is becoming more and more a matter of serious concern. Damage to property and to wildlife as well as damage to the lake itself is serious stuff.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2022/12/18/wisconsin-residents-seek-to-minimize-damage-to-nature-from-wake-boats/69735263007/
Lake Surface Temp 5/26/23 = 67 degrees
Citizens Lake Monitoring Report 8/22/22
> Water Clarity (Secchi Disc) = 22.0 feet (!)
> Water Temp at 12 feet = 73.2 degrees
– at 20 feet = 66.9 degrees
– at 40 feet = 44.6 degrees
Lake Level Page with lake level history charts, photos & info at Lake Info page OR CLICK HERE.
57°FSunset on Lake Mildred
“A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.” – Walden, Henry David Thoreau
Learn About Loons at LoonProject.org
SPRING 2023 NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE! The Spring 2023 newsletter hasn’t even gone to the printer yet, but you can see it online HERE, or at the Records page.
NEED SOME LOCAL HELP? - Jackson Labs is looking to provide lawn care services to those who are interested. For pricing and availability, please call or text him at (715)622-1979. References are available upon request.
Will Taege installs and removes docks, lifts, boats and pontoons in the Lake Mildred and surrounding area. A limited amount of boat storage is available, as well as boat shrink wrapping. Call or text Will at 715-490-1068 or email wtaege@frontier.com.
OCLRA (Oneida County Lakes & Rivers Association) has a excellent website (www.OCLRA.ORG) to keep you informed about news and events that affect the lakes and rivers of Oneida County.
"Lake Mildred - The History of OUR Great Lake" a Book by Germaine Jonesi and Connie Muckelberg is now available at the History Page. Nearly 200 pages with photos and articles, it is a fascinating look at OUR history. And it's FREE online!
Protect Your Waterfront Investment – View this free PDF about protecting your waterfront investment, presented by UW Extension and the Wisconsin DNR.
UPCOMING EVENTS & MEETINGS
- Annual Spring Membership Meeting
- Saturday, May 27, 2023 – 9 am
- Pines Event Center, 5840 Forest Lane
- Annual Flotilla
- Saturday July 1, 2023 – 3 pm
- Boats Gather For Boat Parade at Boat Landing
- Annual Fall Membership Meeting
- Sunday (Yes Sunday!), Sept 3, 2023 – 9 am
- Pines Event Center, 5840 Forest Lane
Our Lake
New Lake Info Page
For a variety of lake maps, lake history, Ice-Out & Ice-Up history – and other information about Clear and Mildred Lakes- see the Lake Info page.
Where Did Paul Bunyan Originate?
This article explores that question AND describes how the author concluded that the Paul Bunyan tale originated near Tomahawk, Wisconsin. Even Rhinelander's own Gene Shepherd was involved!