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2008 Fond du Lac
On-Reservation Wild Rice Conditions
August 12, 2008
Scale: less than fair, fair, good
Deadfish Lake- fair overall,
the west and south portions of the lake look the best.
Mud Lake- less than fair, the
east and south portions of the lake have dense stands, but there is
a large portion of the lake that is open water or very thin stands
of rice.
Jaskari Lake- fair to less
than fair, the inlet of the lake has nice stands, but much of the
lake is patchy stands so far.
Perch Lake- less than fair,
the pickerelweed (moose ear) is widespread, the rice that is present
is patchy, the best areas appear to be to the south and southwest,
and toward the narrows.
Rice Portage Lake- less than
fair, the center of the main lake is very thin, the shoreline fringe
areas and the back half of the main lake toward the outlet are fair,
as well as the side bays near the landing area.
Weather conditions this spring were
less than favorable for germination. Precipitation in May was well
above average causing high water levels, and temperatures were below
average. These factors combined with the below average seeds/plant
produced in 2007 have resulted in below average conditions this
year. Wild rice conditions in Northwest Wisconsin as reported by
Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission staff as “lousy”
overall. Reports from the 1854 Ceded Territory indicate sparse to
moderate conditions. For updates and photos of wild rice conditions
in the 1854 Ceded Territory please visit
http://www.1854treatyauthority.org/page12.html
Overall, expectations are that the
wild rice harvest on Fond du Lac Reservation Lakes will be below
average. The Natural Resources Program will be posting harvest times
and dates at the lakes and at tribal facilities in the upcoming
weeks.
For further information contact:
Thomas Howes
FDL Natural Resources
Program Manager
1720 Big Lake Road
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 878-8088 Office
(218) 879-4854 FAX
tomhowes@fdlrez.com
or
FDL Resource Management Front Desk
(218) 878-8001
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