Floating Bogs

Bogs!

The problem with bogs

Floating bogs have been a problem on Clearwater Lake for decades. Wind and waves rattle the bogs and eventually pieces break off and float away. The floaters land on resident shores and then a game of “bog bingo” begins where residents push the bog onto the next-door shore and hands their neighbor an unwanted prize… and the game continues. Ambitious and civilly conscious residents tend to push their newly acquired treasure over to a stand of bogs and anchor it through a variety of means. But without a permit they had to do so under the threat of getting caught in the act. Doing something civilly proper was riskier than simply playing bog bingo, so guess what usually happens? Sometimes football field-size bogs break off and visit several shores at the same time. A fleet of pontoons then might gather after midnight to move the new football field back to where it came from.

The CLPO decided there must be a better way to manage floating bogs.

What you can do?

Bogs are part of the environment and considerations must be made to both protect the environment and protect residents’ properties. The CLPO worked with the Minnesota DNR to determine what can be legally done in different situations.

We have two permits in place:

• Permit 2022-3444 (North Bay Emergency Bog Permit) which covers moving and removing bogs from the north bay only (immediately upstream from the Grass Lake bridge). This permit was sought to address bogs that could block the Grass Lake bridge or pass through and get caught at the dam. In either case water flow will be blocked and the lake level will quickly rise creating problems for many residents including upstream lakes. This permit is in place to address a lake-wide issue.
• Permit 2022-0875 (Lakewide Migrating Cattail Bog Permit) is lake-wide permit and will allow shoreowners who are CLPO members to document, report, and then personally remove bogs up to 15’ x 15’ (maximum of 225 sq. ft.) directly from their property without the use of heavy equipment and then dispose of them per DNR regulations. This is essentially a small nuisance bog permit that was secured on behalf of CLPO members around the lake. Each member is required to follow all the steps in the process identified in the permit.

Outside of these permits and their parameters and throughout the rest of the lake the CLPO has no permitted ability to assist in bog management. That has been and continues to be managed directly by the Minnesota DNR.

If a bog floats to your shore...

If you have a bog that has migrated to your shoreline you must contact Audrey Posterick at the DNR directly and apply for a permit to move the bog (links below). The permit will provide you with what can and cannot be done to address the bog issue. You may need to identify the extraction and hauling companies and the disposal site on your permit application. Once a permit is in place the CLPO can assist through the organization of volunteers around the lake (your neighbors) to come with boats to help maneuver the bog to your extraction point.

Bog Captains

To organize the effort and spread the tasks among many we developed a team of Bog Captains who are the communications focal points for their specific areas of the lake. The Bog Captains are there to help you organize an effort whenever a floating bog becomes a problem. The Bog Captains are not there to go out and collect your bog. We and the Bog Captains have lists of volunteers who have pledged to help you address your bog when needed. As noted above the CLPO secured two lake-wide permits for special cases. The CLPO will provide assistance once you have a permit, and we can aid in your permit application if needed, but going forward the CLPO does not apply for permits on a regular basis.

• If a bog floats to your shore call your Bog Captain and discuss the situation. 
• If you decide to pursue removal call Audrey Posterick to inform her and then apply for a permit through the DNR’s MNDNR Permitting and Reporting System (MPARS) (links below).

Bog Management by the Clearwater River Watershed District

There is another solution for floating bogs under specific circustances.

The Clearwater River Watershed District will remove bogs if they are impeding water flow and will threaten flooding of properties. All other situations are the responsibility of shore owners. 

With respect to Clearwater Lake flow blockage includes the stream between Lake Augusta and Clearwater Lake, and it includes blockage at the Grass Lake bridge. 

If flow blockage occurs contact the CRWD as soon as possible, and then contact your Bog Captain to let them know of the impending problem.

Please click here to view the CRWD policy on bog removal.