More surprising than Minnesota's weird weather this winter has been an absence of fatalities, despite many reports of anglers and their machines crashing through thin ice.
"There's been rescues and near misses, but -- knock on wood -- no fatalities so far," said Tim Smalley, DNR water safety specialist.
Over the weekend, a fish house, two ATVs and a trailer plunged into Lake Traverse in western Minnesota. No serious injuries were reported. And at Rainy Lake, a snowmobile crashed through the ice. Anglers have pulled their ice fishing houses from lakes in some areas. Officials warn that ice conditions vary greatly.
Even the colder temperatures predicted for later this week might not help much, because the state's recent freeze-thaw cycle has deteriorated lake and river ice.
"It's only about half as strong as new, clear ice," Smalley said. Normally, the DNR says 4 inches of good ice will support a person. "Now I'd say you'd want 6 to 8 inches just to walk around," he said.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin recently had three ice-related drownings in as many days.
Invasive species summit Invasive species and their effects on Minnesota lakes is the topic of a legislative summit Saturday in Detroit Lakes. The theme of the summit -- free and open to the public -- is "Bold Action Now," which sponsors say reflects the urgency of the situation. The Becker County Coalition of Lake Associations, Pelican River Watershed District and the Lake Detroiters Association are co-sponsors. Topics include impacts of invasive species on property values of resorts and businesses, fishing tournament protocols, and local prevention efforts. The summit will be held 8 a.m.-noon at the Minnesota State Conference Center in Detroit Lakes. For more information, e-mail aissummit@gmail.com.
DOUG SMITH
