Rabideau L. changes possibly

[Lee Borgersen]

A few changes possibly may come in the near future to the quiet waters of Rabideau Lake, located just six miles south of Blackduck.


  ..
That’s because the Department of Natural Resources is investigating the possibility of changing the way the water levels are managed in the 723-acre lake. If the area residents were to approve the new plan, it could result in the wild rice growth and the prevention of winter fish kill, according to area DNR Wildlife Supervisor Dave Rave.

After creating a new management plan, the DNR hosted a public-input meeting on Aug. 30 to get input from the residents around the lake. At this point, those residents have time to respond to the proposed changes before the new plan goes into effect or a new plan is undertaken.

The proposed change initially came about when a previous lake resident, who had had a loose agreement with the DNR to control the water level, moved. Rave said the state then became interested in taking the lake back to the sort of system in place almost 20 years ago before the private landowner began controlling the lake levels.

The lower water levels supposedly would allow the lake’s unique qualities to come back into play.

“So, Rabideau is a very strange lake because there’s basically two basins to it,” Rave said. “There’s a northeast basin that’s very shallow and has lots of wild rice. And then there’s a southwest basin that’s very deep.”

The northeast basin is approximately 560 acres, and the southwest basin approximately 163 acres.

Rave said keeping the water at a lower level would help that wild rice to grow in the lake’s shallower end. Ultimately, the lower levels also could help keep the lake’s fish population healthier, as well, by preventing un-oxygenated water from spilling into the deeper end and resulting in fish kill.

By decreasing the water to a lower level than it has been at in recent years, Rave said they could be able to facilitate the goals for both ends of the lake.


 
“We wanted to be able to lower the water enough to get good rice production but at the same time make sure we didn’t have problems with the fishery,” Rave said. “We came up with a good plan that worked for both.” 

However, there has been some opposition to the DNR’s plans for the lake. When the state agency originally took over the management of the lake, there were some complaints about the water level being so low. Because of that, the DNR held a public input meeting about a year ago and raised the levels a little higher.

“They told us they didn’t want the water that low, so we went back to the drawing board and rewrote the plan to hold the water a little bit deeper,” Rave said.
After altering the plans for the lake, the DNR held its most recent meeting in August. According to a press release from the Department of Natural Resources, written comments on the proposal can be submitted up through Sept. 29.   

Ultimately, the vote will be up to the lake’s residents how the lake will be managed. At least 75 percent of the landowners around the lake need to approve the plan for it to go into effect.

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If the lake residents did approve the change, there wouldn’t be any major costs associated with the project. According to Rave, it would merely be the cost of having staff travel to the lake to manipulate the boards at the lake’s water structure and, therefore, the water levels.


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[LPS]

If the indians want wild rice tell them to get it on the rez...

[Rebel SS]

If the indians want wild rice tell them to get it on the rez...

Ya, like they eat a lot of wild rice....HA!! To go with with their Duck L'orange and braised truffles, right?  GO BUY IT OUT OF A BOX, like I do!!! Wait; mines Rice-a-roni, because I can't afford spendy wild rice!!!   

[mike89]

I so agree Rebs' good rice is now a treat,  all the places I went to buy are gone now...   so sad tooo....

[Rebel SS]

Maybe they should drop the casino thing, and do what their ancestors did, like they're always talkin'......harvest and sell some rice......at less than the current $6 a lb.

[mike89]

hand harvested around here is closer to $8.00 a pound.....

[glenn57]

Maybe they should drop the casino thing, and do what their ancestors did, like they're always talkin'......harvest and sell some rice......at less than the current $6 a lb.

hell, i paid 10 last fall, but this was locally wild rice from someone thats white and actually does it all himself. i did get 5#'s free too!!!!!!!!

on a side note that lake gave up some really nice sunfish years ago to the point it got beat real hard.

[mike89]

yes Glenn you are right on that it is closer to $10. a #..  you scored on the free stuff!!

[Rebel SS]

Yow!! Guess I'll stick to my Rice-a-roni and Uncle Bens....

[glenn57]

Yow!! Guess I'll stick to my Rice-a-roni and Uncle Bens....

not even close to the same!!!!!!!!! but we eat that gourmet stuff too!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rebel SS]

I KNOW that, ya knobhead!!!  The gourmet guy who don't like bacon....   Don't you have some pickles to poke?!

[glenn57]

I KNOW that, ya knobhead!!!  The gourmet guy who don't like bacon....   Don't you have some pickles to poke?!

maybe if i put katchup on the bacon i might like it??????

[Rebel SS]

 

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