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May 4, 2007
Van Vliet Lake Association
C/o Jeff Burke
12099 Streator Rd.
Presque Isle, WI 54557
Gentlemen;
The Van Vliet Lake Association in Vilas County is grateful for the Lake
Planning Grant that DNR funded to help in the development of a Plan for
our lake to help in the preservation of its quality, recreational use,
and quality improvement. The next step is the development of an
implementation plan and a model to guide that effort in the future,
building on the information gathered during the Lake Planning grant. We
are indeed happy to have partnered with DNR in our mutual interest of
preserving and improving the beauty, quality of water and fishing, and
recreational use of our chain of three lakes in one of the few remaining
Wisconsin “wilderness areas”.
We have developed another problem in our chain of lakes, which threatens
the quality of the lakes and the beauty and recreational use. Van Vliet
Lake is a relatively shallow lake that is subject to extensive plant
growth, especially in times of low lake water levels. The water levels
in our three lakes have been maintained by three beaver dams on the
Presque Isle River that carries the drainage waters from the Presque
Isle chain from Wisconsin, through Michigan and to Lake Superior.
Members of our Association have owned property on Van Vliet Lake for
over forty years and report that, while there have been variations of
lake levels over these forty years due to weather variations, last year
the water level was substantially below the lowest level observed over
these forty years.
Members of our Association have gone down the Presque Isle River and
viewed the beaver dams, all three of which were blown up last winter
(early 2006) to result in the lowering of the water levels in Presque
Isle, Averill, and Van Vliet lakes by approximately 14”. We understand
that there was one party on Presque Isle Lake that complained that her
stationary pier was too low in the water and she wanted the water level
lowered in the lake to benefit her situation. We cannot say that this
individual’s problem resulted in the damage to the beaver dams, but the
destruction to those dams was man made and not of natural causes. This
act of destruction has altered, substantially, lake levels that existed
for at least forty years. Our lake is experiencing heavy plant growth,
hurting recreational use of our lake, aesthetic beauty, and essentially
denying access to our lake and the chain by numerous property owners who
are located on relatively shallow bays. The excessive plant growth will
adversely affect the water quality and with yearly die off of the
summer’s growth will substantially build up the bottom deposits and
hasten the aging of this pristine lake, adversely affecting its
excellent fishing, recreational use and degrading property values and
aesthetics. The good of the majority is being held hostage by the
selfish acts of someone who took it upon themselves to destroy those
beaver dams.
We note that, according to DNR Rules, it is illegal to damage a beaver
dam unless it can be shown that it has resulted in significant damage to
the adjoining property owner(s). Since these dams have existed for many
years it is doubtful that any one can make a case that the dams suddenly
caused significant damage to existing property unless the property was
altered, not taking into account the previous water levels that have
existed over these many years. We understand that no permits have been
sought or granted to destroy the dams and thus the act would be
considered in violation of DNR Rules ands thus illegal and our
Association requests written clarification and interpretation of any
statutes or rules pertaining to ongoing dam tampering, destruction and
removal by citizens.
Our Lake Association and its many members are asking for action from the
State of Wisconsin to investigate and correct this problem before the
damage is irreversible. DNR has been a partner with Associations such as
ours in the preservation and improvement of Wisconsin’s great lakes and
we desperately call upon the State of Wisconsin to partner with us now
to solve this problem, a problem that adversely affects three great
Wisconsin lakes
We call upon you to research this problem and implement a solution in
the interest of preserving our lakes and the interests of affected
lakeshore property owners, and indeed the good of the citizens of the
State as well as the many tourists and visitors that enjoy these
valuable State resources. We are copying this letter to many parties
whom we feel have or should have an active interest in helping to
resolve this flagrant, illegal act and its resulting damage to three
significant lakes in this State.
We thank you in advance for your anticipated help and cooperation in
this matter and we ask that you notify us of your actions in helping to
resolve this matter. We also request that those to whom this letter has
been copied and who agree with the need to protect our valuable lake
resources and are willing to lend their support and influence toward
resolving this problem contact us to indicate their interest,
willingness to use their influence and authority in the resolve of this
matter. We hope that others are as concerned as we are that acts of a
few not be allowed to hurt the overriding interests of the multitude and
the State as a whole.
With sincerity and determination,
President-Jeff Burke-for the Board
Van Vliet Lake Association
Copies to: DNR Secretary Scott Hassett, DNR Board, Town of Presque Isle
Board, Vilas County Board, Senator Breski and Rep. Dan Meyer, Governor
Jim Doyle, WI. Assoc. of Lakes, Vilas County Lakes Assoc., FYI, Presque
Isle Lake Association
Author’s note:
The original text of this letter (modified for current time) was drafted
by Van Vliet Lake Association member and lakeshore property owner George
Kupfer last summer (July 2006). The Lake Association Board has directed
current president Jeff Burke to disseminate this information as widely
as possible. Burke has since discovered that the partially rebuilt
beaver dam (as of late fall 2006) which was still intact the last week
in April of this year, has since been destroyed again.
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