The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-05-25
OBJECT TO LOWERING
SWAN LAKE, REASONS
Hunters and Others Will Fight
Plan of the Adjacent
Landowners
From Tuesdays Daily.

TTofn I0SSCdy lazy.
That the lowering of Swan Lake
four feet from the present water level,
as is now being, petitioned by some
land owners, would result in great
damage and loss, is maintained by a
number of people in the vicinity, and
the large number of hunters who have
made the beautiful little lake a mecca
during hunting seasons Tor years past.
1t is claimed that if the lake were thus
lowered it would possibly become II
slough or marsh, and a prolific breed
ing place for blackbirds, and perhaps
have to be drained dry, in which event
it is the opinion of a number who have
studied the conditions that the land
thus obtained would be of no use for
cultivation, being sandy and stony.
Swan Lake is quite large, ccmpris-
ing about 23,040 acres, or about a
township in space. In the deepest
places the lake fs5from fourteen to
sixteen feet Deep and many -bullrushes
grow in different portions, drawing air
into the water, and keepingit in good
condition, also affording good hiding
places for water fowl, and covers for
hunters with whom the lake is fav
orite hunting place. The vegetation
furnishes material for musk rat hous-
es, and the lake holds "a large supply
of vegetation that is excellent food for
the duckS.s paf ai.
Gun clubs, during the past ten or
fifteen years have collected and spent
large sums of money having wild cell
cry planted in the lake, food that is
greatly liked by canvas backs, red
heads and blue bills, the fowls being
in prime condition when they feed up
on it. The lake has more wild celery
at this time than ~1r before, due NJ
doubt to the energy of the gun clubs.
Waterfowl breed there in large num-
bers, especially the red heads, and it
is also very popular breeding place
for teal and mallards. The lake is a
popular place for neighboring fishing
parties.
In many ways Swan lake is con-
sidered invaluable to the public. Song
birds of all varieties who inhabit this
section find a haven of refuge at this
lake. 1t is estimated that the, lake
produces from the; sale of muskrat fur
between $4,000 TO $4,000 annually,
thereby furnishing profitable employ.
ment to many during the duller sea-,
sons. The value of food. considerine
the ducks obtained during hunting
season is estimated by hunters to rur
up into thousands of dollars
According to the. law. it is stated
that no meandered lake she'll
drained that is suitable for hunting,
or for the >good of the public. The
theory of the, law is that lake than
may be used by the pubic for boating,
hunting and fishing, is a public bene-t
fit, and the title of such a lake is in
the state for the benefit of the public
The only other we'll known duck
lake in Southern Minnesota has b.
come infested with carp. which eats
all the wild celery, the fayorite foo1
of the fowl, and consequently this
lake has no attraction for them. The
only first-clas duck lake large enough
for breeding purposes in Southe~=
Minnesota is Swan Lake, People go
there for recreation and hunting from
all over the state.
The interest of the public in this
lake is claimed to he as great as any
land owner who. might get the land
if the lake should be drained 1t is
thought by some that the project of
draining the lake of four feet lof wa
ter is merely a plan whereby the lake
may be made useless, and eventually
permission be obtained to drain it
completely dry
1t is understood that the state game
warden will make objections to the
draining of the lake.