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The upside of our chronic drought-like conditions that have had the net effect of creating ever-receding water levels on Center Lakes, Lindstrom Lakes, Big and Little Green and Chisago Lake some people have taken advantage of the opportunity to tackle shoreline projects they couldn't have accessed otherwise.

Still, most people are keeping their fingers crossed that rain will fall and "their" lake will rise enough to float boats off the lift, or make it possible to once again fish from their docks.

If you've lived in the Chisago Lakes area for less than 35 years, you have not seen water levels on the Chisago Chain as low as they are currently.

Old timers who've been around much longer, take the current conditions in stride. Lake levels in their lifetimes have been six feet below current levels.

Mike Mueller, Regional Hydrologist with the Dept. of Natural Resources, says the feet above sea level reading for Chisago Lake, in the middle of the chain of lakes, is where it was in 1974. In fact most of the lakes hovered around 894 feet (where it is now) in 1974.

The upside of having historical data available is that it puts things in perspective. In reviewing lake levels over the decades, the Chisago Chain has experienced much lower levels than existing conditions. And, it hasn't taken a very long time to rebound.

Mueller said by 1976 lake levels were back up to 899 and greater, which means in two summers the chain depth increased five feet.

It works both ways, though, with Mueller adding "just six short years ago," Chisago Lake was at 900.19 feet, or it's seen the equivalent of the loss of one foot in depth annually.

Low water depths have provided property owners, near where Chisago Lake-Lindstrom Lake join together, the chance to cleanup debris exposed by receding waters off Tipi-Tonka point.

The debris field was actually noticeable last year when a toilet became visible off-shore, and the remains of what appeared to be a small house could be seen. Citizens pulled some junk out before it got too cold last fall to spend time in the water. They were back at it this spring.

It's believed the debris pulled out of the shoreline was once a house. There's a structure, identified on county tax rolls in 1975 but by 1978 the tax ID number has been deleted.

Lakeshore owner Ron Keller was able to get out with a skid steer recently and removed a concrete stoop, timbers, corrugated metal and other unsightly items that could pose a hazard to boaters.

The DNR's Mueller said, "On behalf of the people of Minnesota kudos to people like that, who clean up trash." He added that non-organic materials (junk) becoming visible during low lake levels, can be abated and you'll be doing everyone who uses the lakes a favor.

However, projects that involve removal of organic "natural" material like rushes, cattails, fallen trees, floating weed beds, etc. require DNR authorization or you could be cited. Any application of chemicals needs a permit.

The DNR website has information about who permits what in Chisago County, complete with phone numbers. See www.dnr.state.mn.us and go to the box that says water permits. Click on Chisago County when the map comes up. The department also has a toll free number 1-888-MINNDNR if you prefer.

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