Five Island Lake in Springtime

Five Island Lake has come alive. During winter when the lake is frozen the only activity seen comes from humans with their snowmobiles, ice houses, ice fishing and even driving on the ice.

Since the ice melt this spring, the lake has been host to migratory birds of all breeds. The trumpeter swans came first in their swing down from Canada. Most likely their migration continued to the interior states. There are five mud ducks that can be seen in the south bay. They tend to stay near the t-dock. Last Thursday when the wind was gusting at 50 miles per hour, these small ducks had to work hard to keep afloat. Since their feet are not webbed, they have to use more energy to maneuver in the water. High winds are not helpful.

Then the pelicans came. At first, they stayed close to first island. The numbers have increased and you can watch them swarm across the south bay and at the north part of the lake. On the cold days they now huddle on the second island’s shoreline on whichever side is out of the wind. Once the winds are not so brutal these birds will continue north to their breeding grounds. This can be in isolated areas in Manitoba, Canada, Minnesota and northern California.

The lake has also gone through its mixing. The ice that forms in the winter doesn’t allow much oxygen to get to the water. Once a lake melts, the turnover begins to replenish the oxygen supply. Oxygen is vital for lake quality. It is the gas that drives the life cycles of aquatic plants and animals.

In the spring the water surface warms. This causes the temperature of the top and bottom layers to equalize. Strong winds then break the thermal stratification and the lake is able to mix. At the magic temperature of 39.2 degrees the water can mix. With the help of wind and currents the valuable bottom nutrients are recycled to nourish living things near the surface. All living organisms that have been dormant during the cold come to life. Even the fish begin to move.

Take a look at Five Island Lake. It is spring and the lake is alive again.

Written by Diane Weiland