"Waterfront owners, cranberry growers
come to agreement on bog problems"

Under terms of MOU, concerns about lake threats can be resolved.

After two years in the making, a Memorandum of Understanding recently was signed by the two groups. According to WCLRA Vice President Fred Blake, the vocal and emotional issue of pollution of lakes and streams by cranberry growing operations seems best served by the agreement. Although legislation regarding cranberry bog management has been offered at the state level, the best means to cooperative problem solutions seemed met through the WCLRA, said Blake.

"Cooperation is the goal here," he said. "It seemed unlikely that good solutions to the problems would be found without a thorough understanding of both sides of the issues involved."

In order to better understand the issues involved, they first met with Tom Lochner, executive director of WSCGA. To educate themselves, Blake and other members of the organization visited area cranberry growing operations to learn about problems faced by cranberry growers.

The MOU has developed from those meetings which took place over the course of the past year. It describes specific procedures which will be used in jointly examining and attempting to solve problems which appear to be related to cranberry growing operations.

Under the terms of the MOU, any person in Washburn County or the surrounding area who observes what may be a problem related to a cranberry growing operation may contact the WCLRA and describe that problem. The WCLRA will then contact the WSCGA, and the two organizations will work jointly to confirm the source of the problem and to identify what Blake calls, "workable solutions."

"The WSCGA Executive Director will promptly discuss the concern with the cranberry grower to evaluate the situation, identify the problem if one exists, define the probable cause of the problem if possible, and specify any proposed corrective action." If necessary, according to the MOU, "a site visit will be arranged including the WSCGA Executive Director, the cranberry grower, the WCLRA Representative, and the concerned person. If sampling or testing is anticipated, scientists agreed upon by both parties may also be included," says the MOU.

Blake, a retired research chemist, formerly employed by 3M, said that occasionally waterfront owners incorrectly assume that problems they may suspect exist in their lakes are related to neighboring cranberry bog operations. Furthermore, he said, problems that exist because of bogs may often be easily remedied.

"If a bog is treated with pesticides," he explained, "the water that has been affected may be held in the bog or in a retaining pond for a few days until the pesticides break down. The water can then safely be returned to the lake." Pesticides are designed to be active for only three to five days, said Blake.

Blake feels hopeful that the MOU will provide an effective means to mitigating tension between growers and waterfront owners that, he says, has not been accomplished at the state level.

"Working with the WSCGA, we have seen a sincere desire to cooperate, and we have offered them the same. What we have done here in Washburn County is not earth shaking in itself, but a first step toward the constructive types of solutions we will need to address future problems."

Blake hopes that the MOU will come to serve as a model for the state.

"The WSCGA has indicated that it may use our agreement as a format for their work with other lake organizations across the state, but our primary goal is simply to make the WCLRA part of the solution."

While the MOU gives growers and waterfront owners a process through which to resolve concerns, Blake realizes it is not ideal.

"It will continue to be the basis for our approach to future problems," he said. "Does this assure success? No, of course not. There is no magic, but we believe this cooperative approach provides the best chance for achieving good solutions to difficult future problems."