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VOL 17 NO 1 A PUBLICATION OF THE LAKE BEULAH PROTECTIVE & IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION Spring 2009
From the President’s Desk
Welcome to the Spring 2009 edition of the Lake mandated planning process that all municipalities
Views newsletter! I was looking back through my must undertake. It sets out the community’s goals and
emails from the last twelve months and noticed plans for the next twenty plus years. The Lake Beulah
that about five hundred of them pertain to our lake. Protective and Improvement Association has reviewed
There are so many issues that we have to deal with as this document in detail. We have also sponsored
stewards of the lake and its surrounding environment meetings with other concerned organizations with the
that it is hard to know where to begin. It certainly aim of reviewing and commenting on the Village’s
makes me pine for the days when all we had to worry Smart Growth Plan. The result of these meetings was
about was invasive species! an eighteenpage document that we have submitted to
The biggest agenda item that we have been dealing the Village. This document outlines our concerns and
with over the past eight years is the Village of East relays our comments on the Smart Growth Plan as it
Troy’s Well Number 7. As you are probably aware, the stands right now. We will be giving more details of
Village has been using this well for several months. We this very important development to you at the Spring
are still in the appeal process of contesting the permits Annual Meeting.
that were issued for the well. Your generous financial This year we are continuing our partnership with
support has been critical in allowing us to continue to Camp Edwards to promote the education of the area’s
challenge the legal status of this well. It is our intention youth through their “Water Days” activities. The
to see this process through to its conclusion. Association has also been active in monitoring other
We have also partnered with the Lake Beulah threats to Lake Beulah, especially the increased
Management District to implement independent testing observations of Gypsy Moths in the forests surrounding
of the water quality of the lake. This data is in addition the lake.
to the measurements that our volunteers have been Please make plans to attend our Annual Spring
collecting for the past several decades. When taken Meeting to learn more about these and other items of
together, this information will help us better understand interest to those who love our lake. The meeting will
the environmental impacts of Well 7. Appropriate be held at 9AM on Saturday May 2nd at the East Troy
actions will be taken should we see any deviation from Town Hall. See you there!
the established norms for the lake.
You may also have heard about the Village of East Scott Miller, M.D.
Saturday, May 2, 2009 beginning @ 9:00 AM In This Issue…
Town of East Troy Town Hall Gypsy Moths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Boating Season Is Here! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
N 9220 Stewart School Road, East Troy, WI Critter Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
The usual coffee, donuts, and good fellowship will be available. Water Clarity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
LakeViews Spring 2009
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LakeViews Spring 2009
Lake Beulah Water Clarity By Ron Anders 2009 Boating Laws Update
By Town of East Troy Police, Chief Jim Surges
In the water quality testing done by the overall water quality and health, with a Secchi Disc Instead of being educated about our boating laws
Association, there are several characteristics for depth at the higher number of feet being the best through an encounter with our patrol boat, a review of
which we sample. Five area sites in the lake are quality. our boating laws may prove less painful.
monitored. All of the data collected are then Algae in the water are essential and natural SlowNoWakeA speed no greater than is
forwarded to the Wisconsin DNR for permanent organisms, but too many or the wrong types will necessary to steer your boat. This speed must be
records. affect the clarity (and odor) of a lake. Obviously, observed during the following circumstances:
This monitoring is separate and distinct from a deeper Secchi Disc reading indicates a better
that done by the Lake Beulah Lake Management quantity of algae. The shallower the readings caused 1. 150’ from shore.
District – which is a governmental body for the by greater amounts of algae, the poorer the clarity. 2. 100 feet from any pier, raft, moored boat, skin
maintenance and for issuance of any appropriate Greater clarity means fewer algae. Conversely, 3451678*9/:;*<6*/*8=4>>16?*
ordinances. total clarity can 3. While traversing any channel on Lake Beulah. B6/EGH*48*BC1*JA/H1*B<*1FP<O*O<D6*N</B87*8J113?*QFH1*
At each of the indicate a sterile 4. Between shore and any slownowake buoy <BC16*B6/EGH*1FB168*BC1*8H1F1*<6*O<D*/JJ6</HC*/61/8*
located along the shoreline. with limited sight distance, you must reduce your
five testing sites, lake environment.
@ABC<D:C*4B*48*<EB1F*34EGHDAB*B<*31B16>4F1*348B/FH1* speed accordingly.
data is usually Chlorophylla and
with certainty, please err on the side of safety.
collected twice a phosphorous tests
month in summer are indicators of Age Restrictions Waterskiing
1. No one under the age of 10 may operate a 1. Skiing is allowed only from 10:00 AM until
for clarity (Secchi the concentration
motorboat. sunset, Monday through Friday, and between 10:00
Disc), temperature, of algae in the lake.
2. No one under the age of 12 may operate a AM until 6:00 PM on
and dissolved The levels
personal watercraft (generic term jet ski or PWC). Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. (The weekday
oxygen, with a of nitrogen or
3. Persons between 10 and 12 may operate a 10:00 AM start rule is frequently violated – please
reading taken at p h o s p h o r u s advise newcomers to our lake)
motorboat (except PWC) if accompanied by a parent
three foot intervals concentration are 2. Use of a Personal Flotation Device is strongly
or guardian, or a person at least 18 years of age
to the bottom. In directly related designated by a parent or guardian. recommended while waterskiing on Lake Beulah.
addition, samples to the amounts 4. Persons 12 thru 16 may operate a motorboat 3. During weekends and holidays on Lake Beulah,
of lake water are dissolved in the under the requirements of number 3 above, or if they you may only use one towrope behind your boat at
sent to the state water, and in turn, have successfully completed a DNR Boating Safety a time, therefore only single skiing is allowed. If you
hygiene laboratory directly relate to I<D681*/F3*J<88188*/*H16B4GH/B1?*K<*<J16/B1*/*LMI;* tow a device that can carry several people, you may
for readings on the quantity of persons at least 12 but under16 years of age must be do so as long as only one towrope is used.
c h l o r o p h y l l a lawn fertilizer used in possession of a valid, state approved boating safety 4. The boat and skier are a complete package.
and phosphorous in the surrounding H16B4GH/B1?*-L/61FB/A*8DJ165484<F*48*F<B*/*8DN8B4BDB1*E<6* The skier as well as the boat must stay clear of areas
concentrations and watershed. Lake /*8/E1BO*H16B4GH/B1?2 requiring slownowake. Therefore, pulling skiers
incorporated in the Beulah is primarily from shore or dropping them off is prohibited. If you
record. a ground water Speed Restrictions have someone who cannot deepwater start, there are
For determining clarity, a Secchi Disc is lowered drainage lake, fed by underwater springs and 1. On Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, a boat several, places on the lake with shallow areas which
to see at what depth it is still visible with an runoff. The outflow is under Highway J at Mill must observe the SlowNoWake rule from 6 PM are not in slownowake zones.
unaided eye. Clarity and color are not chemical Pond and into the Mukwonago River system. to 10 AM. This includes Saturday morning. If your 5. Each boat towing a skier must have one
properties of water itself. They are indicators We are fortunate that over the years Lake Beulah boat’s speedometer does not work at low speeds, or competent observer in the boat in addition to the
and therefore a measure of both physical and has maintained appropriate levels of phosphorus in you have no speedometer, if you are on plane, you’re driver.
chemical properties of the sampled water. the water. The conscientious use of nonphosphorus going too fast.
Since water itself does not have a color, various lawn fertilizers, as required by the Town of East 2. A boater must travel no faster than is reasonable Personal Water Craft
components dissolved or suspended in the water in Troy Ordinance, will continue the quality of the and prudent under the existing conditions. Sorry (jet skis, wave runners, et al)
combination determine its appearance. lake itself. Everyone can easily contribute to the this is so vague. There is no real speed limit on lake 1. All persons riding a PWC must wear a PFD (life
These components may be algae and silt, with water quality with this one small step. Remember, Beulah. If the speed of your boat is placing you or vest).
the algae population usually being the largest and we’re all in this together! 8<>1<F1*1A81*4F*3/F:16;*N/813*<F*=C/B*BC1*<EGH16* 2. It is illegal to operate a PWC while facing
sees, you may be cited. Therefore, open water with no backwards.
varied component. A lake’s clarity indicates its
(continued on page 4)
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LakeViews Spring 2009
Additional Contacts
Purple Martins
(continued from page 3)
3. If a PWC is within 100’ of any other craft,
including other PWC’s, the PWC must not exceed a
For Lake Residents
speed of slownowake. Town Chief of Police:
Jim Surges
5. Remember that PWC’s are motorboats. All It’s Purple Martin Time! Ph# (262)6423700,
additional boating laws apply to them as well, such as By Ray Fisher N9220 Stewart School Road,
registration, etc. East Troy, WI 53120
6. If you use your PWC to tow a skier, you must Purple Martins are the largest member of the Town Hall:
use a PWC designed for at least three people. You swallow family. These birds arrive around April 15 (262)6425386,
must have a competent observer aboard as well. One and depart midJuly. They are the only bird species N9220 Stewart School Road,
place on the PWC must remain vacant in case your East Troy, WI 53120
in the world that are almost totally dependant on man (Sandy – receptionist)
skier needs transport. One major difference between clams and for nesting sites so let’s erect more Martin houses.
mussels is that most mussels require a host fish Lake Management
There are two colonies on the upper lake and one on District Attorney:
Miscellaneous for reproduction. The male mussel releases sperm the lower lake that I am aware of. Once a colony is Dean P. Laing
1. You must have one PFD for each person on into the water that the female mussel takes in via established, the birds will return every year. Purple O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong S.C.
board. her incurrent siphon. The embryos grow within Martins earn their keep by eating mosquitoes. 111 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1400
2. You must have your front and rear light the mother and are released as larvae when a host From East Troy, Martins will migrate to Sao
Milwaukee, WI 53202
species of fish comes near. The fish injests these Telephone: 4142765000
operating if you are out after sunset. Check these Paulo, Brazil. Recently, ornithologists placed tiny Facsimile: 4142756581
lights before you leave your residence if you know larvae which then “sting” the fish’s stomach, geolocators on Purple Martins and Wood Thrushes. Email: dean.laing@wilaw.com
you are going to stay out late. causing the fish to try to back wash out them out. The data revealed these birds traveled over 300 Chairman, Lake Beulah Management District:
(?*QJ16/B4F:*/*N</B*=C4A1*DF316*BC1*4F9D1FH1*<E* The larvae then attach to the fish’s gills where they miles a day during the spring migration. That is Dave Skotarzak,
alcohol or other drugs is illegal. Any accident on the grow until they are old enough to make it on their truly remarkable for birds that weigh just under two Ph# (262)3637603,
water is considered serious due to the environment own. These larvae don’t seem to harm the host fish ounces. Visit www.naturehouseinc.com for housing Fax# (262)3639303
where it occurs. Therefore, please be sensible about and once they have grown sufficiently, they release N9554 Millsite Road,
options and www.naturesociety.org for Purple Martin Mukwonago, WI 53149
alcohol consumption while you are around the water. from the fish and settle to the bottom to restart information. Email: mmsko@elknet.net
4. Sailboats 12 feet and larger must be registered the life cycle. Zebra mussels are an exception to
Chairman, Town Board:
and display their registration numbers. the rule because they don’t need a host fish for
Robert Mueller,
reproduction. N9124 Humphrey La.,
East Troy, WI 53120
Critter Corner
(262) 6427172
County Supervisor,
(Dist. 1 – Town of East Troy), Walworth County:
Rick Stacey (262) 6429689
By Scott Miller
LBPIA Attorney:
Dennis L. Fisher,
William Stuart
Freshwater Mussels and Meissner Tierney Fisher
& Nichols S.C.,
The Milwaukee Center,
Clams 111 East Kilbourn Ave.,
Milwaukee, WI 532026622
Lake Beulah is home to several native species Phone (414)2731300;
Bob Burmeister has been scuba diving on the Fax (414)2735840;
of freshwater mussels and clams. These clams lake for years and he tells me that the population email DLF@MTFN.Com
and mussels are “bivalves” which means that they of freshwater clams and mussels declined greatly LBPIA Web Site:
have two shells. They are filter feeders and take in with the emergence of the Zebra Mussels. Many www.lakebeulah.org.
nutrients by sucking water through their incurrent of the clams that I have come across in the lake Effective as of March 1, 2009
siphons, filtering out food stuffs and then releasing are encrusted with Zebra mussels. Hopefully these
the water back to the lake via their excurrent bivalves will make a come back as the populations
siphons. of invasive species fall off.
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