Asian Carp in the St. Marys River Update

Yesterday's post brought up the idea of Asian carp entering the Great Lakes system. I had an interesting post which you might want to read from a follower in France. I used Google Translate and posted the comment in English in case you don't read French. Thanks to Mr. Beamish's French class at Sault High, I could read most of it.

Last night I was watching our local weather and there was a segment on Asian carp. Thanks to my broken ankle, I'm sitting and watching TV news. Our local anchorman was interviewing Dr. Dan O'Keefe from the Michigan Sea Grant organization. I had never heard of this organization but they are involved in 'promoting understanding and intelligent use of the Great Lakes".

I emailed Dr. O'Keefe about the Asian carp problem and the chances of Asian carp reaching the St. Marys River. His response was:

As for the St. Marys, it is probably too cold for successful reproduction of either Asian carp species - but they could still potentially enter the St. Marys from other areas if breeding populations do become established in other rivers.

The words 'could still potentially' strikes fear in me.

The rest of Dr. O'Keefe's explanation follows:

Hi Brenda,

It is hard to say how long it will be before Asian carp are documented in Lake Michigan. The bighead carp has already been documented in Lake Erie, but has not established a reproducing population. Silver carp have not been documented in any of the Great Lakes, but are now (along with bigheads) within 7 miles of Lake Michigan with nothing but a navigational lock between them and the Great Lakes. The sample that verified their presence at that location was taken between Sept. 23 and Oct. 1, so it is possible that they have moved closer already.

Here's an article from the Freep.com site. Varocious carp could quickly take over Great Lakes. It has some good basic info about the carp.

The Wall Street Journal also did an article on the carp today. Asian Carp could hurt boating, fishing industry in Great Lakes.

The New York Times is also featuring an article. Varacious Eater may be nearing Lake Michigan.

Great Lakes in the News or Time to Read the News

My life has taken quite a 'turn' this week. The turn was in my ankle. I was out running very early Monday morning as usual. I've been running several times a week with my sister-in-law for the past 17 years. We run outside year round in the dark. Whenever we're asked how we manage, we just say, "It's never been a problem for us." Well on Monday the dark became a problem. I stepped in a pothole and twisted my ankle.

I went to work Monday although it was sore, the pain wasn't too bad. But on Tuesday as I worked most of the day, the swelling continued and my co-workers encouraged me to get it checked out by the doctor.

I did that and found out my ankle was fractured and now I'm off my feet. I returned to work yesterday but because I work in a school and have to visit many classrooms, by the end of the day I was exhausted and very sore-mostly my arms and shoulders from walking on crutches.

So I'm off my feet today and I'll see an orthopedic doctor and find out how long I have to be on crutches and what my limitations are going to be.

But the good news is that now I have time to read the news.

The fish kill in Chicago is getting lots of attention. It is being done to keep the Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. You can read about it at this link. Corp to Kill Every Fish in Canal. It is to our best interest in the St. Marys River to keep the Asian carp out. We have had so many challenges to the environment here and this would be a serious threat.

I try not to be political in my blog but what are your feeling about the environmental impacts in the Great Lakes. Do you have any favorite blogs that you read?

St. Marys River Rescue

Alonzo Knowles and Maisey

There was a remarkable rescue last Friday from the St. Marys River in Munuscong Bay. Three friends from downstate were duck hunting on the river and ended up fighting for their lives. The Evening News stated it,

"At the beginning of their hunt the weather was warm but very windy — out of the south at 30-plus mph. On their journey from Barbeau to Sand Island, they experienced 2 to 3 foot waves, which Knowles said aren’t uncommon on the bay and their boat handled it well.
“But our trip back was entirely different,” Knowles said.

On the trip back, their boat was swamped and the men were in the water, clinging to their overturned boat. One of the men was able to use his cell phone to call for help but the phone quickly died. They then waited in the 46 degree water as hypothermia began setting in. About an hour into the ordeal, their dog, Maisey, slipped off the bottom of the boat.

The men were rescued by Chippewa County Sheriff and Michigan State Police personnel.

One of the men described the event, “Shaking uncontrollably from the onset of hypothermia on the bottom of our boat, much of the ride back to shore was a blur to me. We were greeted by an ambulance with warm blankets open arms and smiling faces."

The focus then came on Maisey, the 18 month old lab. "On Sunday morning, after 36 hours in the marsh, Maisey and Knowles were reunited. They found her after driving down several miles of flooded two tracks off of 18 Mile Road.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!,” Knowles said. “Never could I have imagined an outcome like this. I can’t begin to express how thankful we all are for your combined efforts."

I am reminded of a trip Tom and I had from St. Joseph Island back to the cabin on our waverunners. Our trip over had been fine but the return trip was very scary as the wind had picked up and it was all I could do to hold on to the handlebars while being whipped around by waves that were crashing over my head. The St. Marys River is a large body of water with potential for quickly forming storms.

Read about it in the Soo Evening News.
Munuscong Bay Rescue

This comment was left on the news story in the Evening News by one of those involved.

A heartfelt Thank-you to all involved. From all the first responders, the 911 dispatcher for hanging in their with us, the Ambulance personel, The fine folks of Barbeau and the surrounding area.......... You All Rock !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I speak for my friends that were with me as well as myself , when I say Thank-you for all that you did for us over the weekend and on that illfated night. Best Regards to you all, Alonzo Knowles Traverse City

You Know You're a Boatnerd When

You know you're a boatnerd when your friends take pictures of boats just for you. My friend Bonnie was calling on clients in northern Michigan this weekend and send me these photos with this message:

Took this just for you! Off the harbor just north of Rogers City.

Can’t see the name of her though…

OK, readers, now I'm challenging you to identify this freighter for me. I know you can do it.

Pictures from Bill K.

Boatwatcher Bill Keetley sent me this message and pictures this week. I'll post a few of the pictures now and more to come. Thanks Bill for the beautiful pictures. I'll post the rest later this week.


I took these down at the river last week. The Frontenac was headed down the river past Mission Point and the Drummond Islander III was behind her. The Robert Pierson was up bound and the 3 met just before the rock cut.
My favorite Picture is the one of the guy fishing on the riverbank with the boats in the background. The salty is the Jumbo Vision.

October 13 at the Locks

My sister-in-law Linda just sent me these pictures that she took this morning at the Locks. For those of us not at the Soo, they are a treat to see. This is the American Century locking through this morning. Thanks Linda!

Cabin Close-up

Our plans for the fall were to return to our home near Grand Rapids to finish a contact I had which finished Sept. 30. We were then going to return to the cabin in October and have a leisurely fall. But things didn't work out that way. Our home sold after having been for sale for months and our move-out date is Oct. 23. So our month has been full of downsizing after 20 years in this house and raising 4 children here. But each step of the way has gone well.

This past weekend, we headed north to bring a load of furniture from our house to the cabin and then to close up for the season. But even those plans got changed. We brought our 7 year old grandson who is really a great worker and he wanted to come and help. I joked that we are training him for close-up in 20 years when we don't feel like doing it.

Friday night we went to bed and at 1 AM, Jack woke me up to tell me there was a boat passing in the river. What a treat! Yes, he is a boatnerd in training. It got me thinking about how we can provide activities for children to develop a love for the boats in them. That is a subject I'd like to spend more time thinking about. Do you readers have any ideas?

Unfortunately, that wasn't the only time Jack woke me up Friday night. He came down with a flu and spent the rest of the weekend on the couch. We cut our trip short and returned home yesterday so that Jack could be with his mom and dad.

Here are some pictures from the weekend. The first two pictures were taken by Bill Keetley. You see the Drummond Islander III which is doing the Sugar Island run while the Sugar Islander is in dry dock for some repairs.

The colors were fantastic around the Gaylord area and on Scenic Drive near the Soo. Sugar Island was in full glory.

Saturday & Sunday we were treated to snow flurries. Yes, there was snow.

We saw several ships Sat. and Sun. Sun we saw the Edwin H. Gott, Algosoo and our last ship of the season was the Paul R. Trugurtha. Those memories have to keep us until next spring.

We will be returning early next year because I know our life will have settled down by then-at least I hope so.