Winter's Here

What a difference a couple of weeks makes up here! Needless to say, people weren't too cheerful yesterday.

 Here's a picture from October 7 and below is a picture from this morning -- the 22nd.

Vilas County Lakes and Rivers

Thought I should highlight the link to the Vilas County Lakes and Rivers site. There's an important hearing this Wednesday on SB302 regarding high capacity well legislation. After going to the site, you'll see a link to their information page on the legislation. Links are included to let your legislator know your feeling about the bill. The bill can be read at http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2013/proposals/sb302

September Meeting - Winchester Town Lakes Committee

This month's meeting of the Winchester Town Lakes Committee will be held on September 26 at 9AM at the Winchester Town Hall. There will be further discussion regarding lake plans and grants with additional information available. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Birch Lake Picnic

Just a quick reminder to RSVP for the picnic if you haven't already responded. Those who signed up for newsletters by email should have a picnic reminder in their "in" box. Those who asked for print copies of the newsletter should have received a postcard last week. If you phone your response, just leave a message on the answering machine if we're not at home.

If you need to check the times, etc., there is a picnic post on this page below the "Vilas & Winchester Lakes" post.

Vilas & Winchester Lake Groups

Today at the Board meeting we had a lengthy discussion about lake surveys and invasives. Two of the groups,  the Vilas County Lakes and Rivers Association and the Winchester Town Lakes Committee, have a lot of information online. You can find the Vilas County site at http://www.vclra.us/ and the Town Lakes Committee site can be found by clicking their header on the Town of Winchester website at
http://www.winchesterwi.com/

It was pointed out that Birch Lake has been very fortunate as far as invasives. A few years ago rusty crayfish were identified in the lake but it actually seems as if the numbers are going down. Looks like the bass are doing their job.

If you notice anything that you think may be an invasive species or that you need help with identification, you can take the sample to the Discovery Center for identification.

2013 Birch Lake Picnic

Birch Lake Association Picnic

Sunday, September 1st, 2013

12-3 pm  Winchester Town Park

(eating around 12:30)

Please call or email by Monday, August 19th,

if you are planning to attend and how many adults and children

will be in your group.  Guests are welcome.

RSVP: 

Email:  dittz.geo(at)gmail.com

or by phone

Meat (hamburgers and hot dogs) will be provided.  Bring a

dish to pass, table service and whatever you like to drink.

We hope you can make it.

Fourth of July Weekend Up North

Just a quick note to those who may not be aware of the Winchester celebrations over the weekend of the 4th. The Chamber of Commerce for Winchester closed down this year and various town volunteer groups have taken over the annual events.

On Saturday evening, July 6, there is the Winchester Town Boat Parade held at the North/South Turtle Lake divide from 6 to 8 pm. There will be food, beverages and music.

On Sunday, July 7, the Winchester Town Picnic in the Park will be held from 12-5pm. There's food, music, raffles and games.

Every year the Friends of the Library sponsor a Cake Walk for those at the Picnic. It's basically a game of musical chairs with a donated baked good as a prize for each round. Below is a picture of a group of people enjoying the game. You'll see two Birch Lakers there this year so stop by and say "Hi".

2013 Birch Lake Directory

Just a quick reminder . . . We'll be doing a new Birch Lake directory this summer. If you'd like to be included in the directory, please remember to renew your membership if you haven't already done so.

Annual Meeting

Just a quick reminder -- The Birch Lake Annual Meeting is this Saturday, May 25, at the Winchester Town Hall. We'll have coffee and sign in starting at 9:30 am. Hope to see you there.

Melting Ice!

What a difference warm days and nights make. There is a large area of the lake that has open water. Should only be only a couple of days before it's gone completely.

May 16, 1997

That's the latest "ice out" date since Jan has been keeping track. The west side of the lake is really dark today but it still looks like it's ice.

Spring pictures???

Here are a couple of pictures of the ice that's still on the lake. Hopefully the next week of warmer weather will start clearing it out.

Birch Lake Association Annual Meeting

Birch Lake Association 2013 Annual Meeting

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Winchester Town Hall

Coffee and Treats at 9:30

Program and Meeting at 10:00

Speaker: Carolyn Scholl, Vilas County Conservationist,
presentation on shoreline preservation.

"How YOU can be a lake steward."

Welcome 2013!

Fall has come and gone. Now that we've hit the quiet season, I'll be posting some pictures that people on the lake have sent. I've been trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to reformat the blog. Maybe it's just easier to stick with the familiar.