THE RED SEA

LOWER CHEQUAMAGON BAY AFTER A NOR'EASTER

Wednesday, 7:30 AM.  38 degrees F at the ferry dock, 35 on the back porch.  Wind ENE, calm with light to moderate gusts.  The sky is mostly cloudy but is starting to clear,  the humidity is 73%.  The barometer is more or less steady, currently at 30.17".  Seasonal temperatures and no rain are predicted for the next week.

   Lower Chequamegon Bay at Ashland was nearly blood red with suspended sand and fine clay silt yesterday, after days of high north and northeast winds.  This is a startling sight when seen for the first time, but is a rather common experience.

   Our soils are very fine clay and sand based, the lake bluffs basically ancient lake sand beaches, and heavy rains and winds erode them, and even the most stable and forested watersheds constantly erode.  The lake here at the end of the bay is comparalively shallow and sandy bottomed as well, and days of strong winds roil the lake bed.  Our rivers are mostly high runoff, steep gradient streams, and erode and gully easily

   It is probably true that logging, fire and farming in the region have had a role in creating this "red sea" condition but it is also a natural occurrence that has been going on for the last ten thousand years.

   The soil erosion probably can't be stopped entirely, but soil conservation, fire suppression, forest health and reforestation efforts can go a long way to maintain stability.
   But for now, Chequamagon Bay is the "red sea."