In this Edition:
Feature Articles: FOPPI Update, Tim Sweet The Friends of Plum USFWS Double-Crested & Cormorant Damage Pilot Islands Forum Management Decision Roof Replacement on Pilot www.plumandpilot.org Summer, 2009 Dock Repair Project
I’m pleased to report the progress made since our spring newsletter. Martin Andersen and his workers completed roofing the Pilot Island Lighthouse Island Inspirations: prior to the return of the migratory birds. What a relief it is to have that Plum Island Birding Workshop building sealed off from the weather. WICKE Event Sandy Petersen’s Door Islands Bird Festival included two trips to Plum Island Plum Island Crew-1915 thanks to Gary and Cindy Wilson and their boat Summer Wind. Birders were appreciative of having the opportunity to be among the first members of the public to visit the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge while having a Light Lessons: chance to search the trees for their fine-feathered friends. The First Plum Island Randy Holm and his volunteer work crew deserve a huge thank you for Lighthouse, continued replacing rotten timbers on the Plum Island dock with new ones on a beautiful Saturday in June. That group of eager Friends can’t wait to take on another project soon. Book Review:
A good turnout of concerned citizens stopped by the Washington Island Lost Lighthouses Community Center gymnasium on June 17th, to express their opinions Stargazing Memories of a regarding the future of the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Members of the US Fish and Wildlife Service were on hand to discuss the Comprehensive Young Lighthouse Keeper Conservation Planning process that will result in a 15-year management Guarding Door County plan for Hog, Plum, and Pilot Islands. In case you were unable to attend this Lighthouses and Life-Saving session, or a similar one in Sturgeon Bay June 18th, written comments will continue to be accepted through August 14, 2009. Here is the contact Stations information needed:
Mail: Email: US Fish and Wildlife Service [email protected] Welcome New Members! Horicon NWR (Please note ‘Green Bay National Attention: Patti Meyers Wildlife Refuge – Plum and Pilot
W4279 Headquarters Road Islands’ and ‘CCP Comment’ in the Mayville, WI 53050 subject line.)
We are currently trying to hire a painting contractor to remove lead paint from the exterior of the Plum Island boathouse and help us get the building repainted this summer. Donations are still needed and will gladly be accepted.
Finally, a group of Girl Scouts is scheduled to volunteer on Plum Island in August. Some volunteer trail work opportunities may be available on Saturday, August 29th. Please contact me if you would like more information on this possibility when it becomes available. -Tim Sweet
Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands Forum Page 1
USFWS Midwest News: Agencies Release Final Decision on Double-Crested Cormorant Damage Management
Federal and State agencies released the final Decision and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for an Environmental Assessment (EA) on double-crested cormorant management in Wisconsin.
The EA considered five alternatives for cormorant damage management in Wisconsin and was developed because of concerns regarding cormorant impacts on vegetation, other colonial waterbirds, commercial aquaculture, private property, recreational fisheries, and risks to human safety. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - Wildlife Services, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources cooperated on the EA.
After considering comments received during the public review process, the agencies’ preferred alternative is to use an Integrated Wildlife Damage Management approach to reduce cormorant damage and risks to public safety. Cormorant damage management could be conducted anywhere in Wisconsin, but the plan emphasizes the Green Bay and Lake Winnebago areas where concerns about cormorant impacts on natural resources are greatest. Exclusion, habitat modification or harassment could be used when appropriate. In other situations, local cormorant populations may be managed by shooting, egg oiling, egg and nest destruction, or euthanasia following live capture.
Cormorant colonies will be reduced at Hat, Jack, and Cat Islands in Green Bay for the protection of natural resources, including fish. Cormorant colonies will be reduced to 1,000 breeding pairs at Cat Island, and 500 breeding pairs each at Hat and Jack Islands. The agencies also plan to prevent cormorants from establishing new colonies in the Green Bay/Door County Area, with special emphasis on sites with sensitive plant species or tree-nesting herons and egrets, including Hog, Plum and Lone Tree Islands.
Egg-oiling will be the primary method used to reduce cormorant colonies at locations such as Hat, Jack and Cat Island where most vegetation has already been lost and a gradual reduction in colony size is acceptable. Shooting will be among the methods that may be used at sites where a more rapid reduction in nesting cormorants is needed to protect existing vegetation.
Damage management activities will not be conducted at Spider and Pilot Islands in Green Bay and Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuges at this time. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the current information on cormorant impacts on local fish populations does not warrant cormorant damage management at refuges established for the protection of migratory birds, including cormorants. Instead, the islands will serve as sites where no cormorant damage management is conducted. This will this allow scientists to continue cormorant population research on the islands and also provide a comparison to colonies with cormorant damage management.
Cormorants at inland sites will be managed on a case-by-case basis. Historically, several inland sites supported cormorant colonies without reports of adverse impacts. However, the agencies will manage cormorants at other sites, such as Miller’s Bay and Long Point Islands in Lake Winnebago, where there is evidence of cormorant damage to vegetation used by black-crowned night-herons and state-threatened great egrets. The number of cormorants on the islands increased from approximately 358 breeding birds in 2000 to 4,818 breeding birds in 2008. This year, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has asked Wildlife Services to lethally remove up to 2,400 cormorants from the site to reduce damage problems.
The state cormorant population was estimated at 14,882 breeding pairs in 2005. More than 80 percent of the nesting pairs in Wisconsin are in the Lower Green Bay and Door County areas. Substantial numbers of cormorants also migrate through Wisconsin in spring and fall. In 2003, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established a Public Resource Depredation Order allowing more
Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands Forum Page 2 flexibility in the management of double-crested cormorants where they are causing damage to public resources such as fisheries, vegetation and other birds. Without the depredation order, agencies and individuals would not be able to use lethal methods to manage cormorant damage without a federal permit.
Agencies acting under the order must have landowner permission, may not adversely affect other migratory birds or threatened or endangered species, and must satisfy annual reporting and evaluation requirements. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will ensure the long-term sustainability of cormorant populations through oversight of agency activities and population monitoring.
Copies of the final EA, Decisions and Findings of No Significant Impact may be downloaded from the Fish and Wildlife Service’s web site at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/MidwestBird/cormorants.htm and the Wildlife Services web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nepa.shtml.
Hard copies may be obtained by contacting USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services, 732 Lois Dr., Sun Prairie, WI 53590, (608) 837-2727, FAX (608) 837-6754.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov.
Pilot Island Roof Replacement
Martin Andersen, a Washington Island contractor, and his crew from Washington Island were able to finish roofing the south side of the Pilot Island Lighthouse in April.
That proved to be a difficult task due to a long winter and a cold, windy spring. Andersen reported a narrow window of favorable weather occurred between April 8 - 13, which allowed the completion of work that began last November. The workmen were just able to beat the return of migratory water birds that usually arrive back to this part of the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge by mid-April.
A barge was used to haul off scaffolding and other equipment on a particularly calm day. Landing conditions on this remote Lake Michigan island, located in the treacherous Death’s Door Passage, make construction projects extremely difficult and dangerous.
The project is the first phase of a building stabilization plan the Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, hope to complete on these two historic Door County islands.
Photo by Martin Andersen
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Dock Repair Project, by Randy Holm
On Saturday June 13, 2009 a work party of volunteers traveled to Plum Island to replace badly deteriorated dock timbers. Included in the group were Bill Kreiger and his grandson Brennan Kreiger, Allen Roberts, Chris Anderson, Howard Schmidt, Wendy Beilfus, Gary Luedke and Randy Holm-team leader and organizer of this crew. Sandy Peterson took the traveled along to the island to do preliminary bird survey work.
Armed with crow bars, hammers, saws, a generator (provided for FOPPI by the USFWS) and a collection of hand tools rotting planks were pried up, the 6-inch spikes removed and then piled on shore near the dock until another work party could transport them off. New timbers were then fitted into the gaps. The completed project provides a much safer platform for future work parties and contractors who will continue the renovations of the boathouse, lifesaving station and other buildings. Allen Roberts, Howard Schmidt & Bill Krieger Photos by Randy Holm Weather for the event was perfect. The volunteers enjoyed the sunny warm day with light breezes. Tug O War, Randy's old 21 foot Cruisers was taken out of retirement to transport equipment and people back and forth between the island and Kaps Marina where Will Kruger graciously provided free dock space. Everybody in the work party had a great time both working and exploring the two buildings determining what other projects volunteers could complete. The biggest job for everyone will be fund raising to hire lead paint abatement contractors, and replacing the multiple layers of asphalt shingles that are at the end of their useful life on the harsh environment.
Clearing the historic watch road that circles the perimeter of the island would be a good project. In its day a surfman was required to walk around the island during each shift watch. Reopening this road would provide a great bird and wildlife viewing venue with minimal impact to the habitat on this island.
Removing and restoring the porches on the lifesaving station are another project volunteers could accomplish with skilled help to guide it. Someone in the organization needs to serve as a liaison with the State Historical Society which is responsible for the oversight to the changes and repairs to all the historical buildings 50 years and older. Many funding sources are tied to having that input and doing historically correct.
The enthusiasm of this work party made the day fun and rewarding to the group. The dock looks great and will function until a major overhaul or rebuild is planned to replace the timber stringers that support the deck and are starting to deteriorate as well.
Total volunteer hours on this project totaled about 68 including planning, transportation to the island and the actual work. Considering that more than half of the crew traveled from parts "off island" the total hours to get to the job site and complete the work would be closer to 75.
As a point of information the hand tools and cleaning supplies were locked in a closest in the boat house. All power tools and the generator are being stored in my garage until a more suitable site can be located. I improved security of the boat house by pinning the windows, and bolting the chain openers on the overhead doors. Wendy Beilfus Note: If you plan on volunteering on projects with the USFWS Refuge lands be sure to fill out a Volunteer Service Agreement and timesheet; each can be found on our website (www.plumandpilot.org)
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Island Inspirations
Birders Visit Plum Island, by Dan Nilsson
A significant part of the Door Islands Bird Festival was the trip to Plum Island to identify birds on May 30. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Sadie O’Dell), Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands (Tim Sweet), and the Bird Festival (Sandy Petersen) made the trip totally successful with their coordinated effort, and the birders were extremely grateful for all they did for them.
The birders enjoyed their trip and were extremely thankful to those who made their expedition to Plum Island so comfortable. In particular, Cindy and Gary Wilson provided their boat and safely transported 25 people each on two separate trips from Washington Island to Plum Island, and Dick Purinton and the Washington Island Ferry Line allowed the boat to dock on one of the ferry docks. Photo by Tim Sweet
On Plum Island, John Below, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Officer, Eric Greenfeldt and Tim Sweet, FOPPI Board Members, and Sandy Petersen, the Bird Festival leader, briefed each group on what to do and not to do while on the island. Field guides, Roma Lenehan, Charles Naeseth, and Pat Ready, provided small, personalized field tours on Plum Island and helped the birders locate more birds. The most amazing part of their guiding was that all three of them could identify the birds by their songs making them easier to locate.
While on Plum Island, the birders identified a Bald Eagle, Sora Rail, Chimney Swifts, Chestnut-sided and other types of Warblers, two species of Mergansers and many other birds. In addition to birds they found a large bird’s egg in a cup nest along the shore. That was an unexpected, but welcomed bonus to the trip.
The birders also attempted to be good stewards of the environment. Some of the group members picked up trash along the beach and gave it to the Fish and Wildlife representative who disposed of it. In addition, the field guides and participants were able to see the federally protected beautiful blue and yellow dwarf lake iris and took care not to harm any of them. Photo by Dan Nilsson
Hiking around Plum Island was especially meaningful to some of the birders because some of their friends or relatives had once served in the U.S. Life Saving Service or Coast Guard on Plum. Dan Nilsson was excited to walk where his grandfather, Dan Magnusson, had made his rounds looking for shipwrecks while he was in charge of the Life Saving Station. One thing that was certain was that everyone who went wanted others to be able to experience the same thrill.
Everyone who attended enjoyed the birding festival, and those who went to Plum Island agreed that the trip was one of the highlights of the weekend. They want to extend their heartfelt thanks to Sadie O’Dell, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tim Sweet and Eric Greenfeldt, FOPPI, and Sandy Petersen, the Door Islands Bird Festival, for working together to make the Plum Island adventure possible. The birders hope it will be possible to have more trips like this for the public in the future. Photo by Tim Sweet
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Washington Island Canoe and Kayak Expedition (WICKE)
An armada of 20 kayakers and 11 re-enactors in a voyageur canoe were accompanied by a Washington Island ferry across the infamous Death’s Door Passage on June 21st.
Weather conditions featuring sunny skies and calm winds made it ideal for the group of both experienced and novice paddlers to make the crossing.
This was the climax of the Washington Island Canoe and Kayak Expedition led by world class paddler Valerie Fons who hopes to make the event an annual happening. Fons, is a paddler of thousands of miles of ocean shoreline and an island business owner, a minister and mother, and one enthusiastic and energetic personality. She is filled with ideas like WICKE, and infuses these ideas with her energy. Without Valerie's knowledge of the sport and its participants, and what it means to make paddling a life choice, this event would most certainly never have occurred. Photo by Dick Purinton Billy Daniels, Jr., 76, Spiritual Elder for the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe, visiting Washington Island with his family, invoked a Blessing for those paddling across the Door. He sprinkled tobacco upon the water, then recited in Native tongue the words of respect for the world around us, the wish for safe crossing, safe life, restored health, and the passing down of these blessings to our grandchildren and children.
At the conclusion of the Blessing, the 20-ft. Project Lakewell Expedition canoe Gabagouache was launched, and seats were filled with paddlers to lead the procession across the Door.
Project Lakewell, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the history of the time period of French and Native fur trading (1650s and 1700s), came dressed in appropriate costume of the day, as Native and French traders; theirs is a simple message to conserve, show respect for the Earth Mother, for elders, and for the knowledge of the past. A goal is to live in harmony with the land, and leave minimal impact on the land and water.
Photos by Tim Sweet The Washington Island Ferry Line (and the Badger carferry) was pleased to sponsor the transportation for this group and their equipment from lower Michigan to Washington Island.
Source: Tim Sweet and (with permission from) Dick Purinton’s Ferry Cabin News Blog
Recollections of Plum Island will return in the Fall Newsletter.
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Plum Island Crew – 1915
‘Guarding Door County Lighthouses and Life-Saving Stations’ (by Stacy and Virginia Thomas) included the same picture as I posted in the Spring FOPPI Forum and identified the men as:
Seated from left to right are George H. Moe (#1), Captain John Christianson (keeper), and Daniel Magnussen (#2). Standing from left to right are Wellington G. Lockhart (#3), Adolph Tostenson (Sub), Richard Johnson (#6), Melvin Peterson (#7) and Mathew Jacobson (#5). Robert Gunnerson (#4) is missing from the photograph. The numbers designate which surfman position they held.
George Moe served on all three Door County stations: Plum Island, Bailey’s Harbor, and Sturgeon Bay. He served as the Captain at Bailey’s Harbor. FOPPI member, Karen Tews’ mother (Henrietta Lenz) was a good friend of Moe’s in the mid 1920’s. On the back of a picture of him (and another coastie named ‘Trip’) she wrote: ‘Captain Moe was one of the most wonderful friends I ever had.’ He even signed her autograph book, which was quite the rage back then. Every year he sent her a Christmas tree from Bailey’s Harbor, and she wrote ‘who said there is no Santa Claus.’ She also talked of fond memories of him presenting his card tricks to the children at the harbor.
Technically Moe was the "Keeper" . . . "Captain" was an honorary title given to the keepers by the locals. The keeper was in charge of the station with the Number 1 surfman next in rank on down to the Number 8 (the newest and least experienced man). The keeper ran the station in strict accordance with the directions published by the USLSS (Regulations for the Government of the Life-Saving Service of the United States, 1899, Washington , DC : Government Printing Office, 1899).
In an email I received from Frederick Stonehouse, he described the keeper as ‘. . . a superb coxswain and leader of men . . . and judge of character . . . if he didn't judge you fit, you weren't a member of his crew . . . when a Life-Saving crew was 10 miles offshore in a screaming gale fighting their way back with the rescued victims of a shipwreck, the keeper (and the other men in the boat) had to have supreme confidence in the man pulling next to them . . . not to quit, or tire, or lose heart . . . a surfboat was no place for "equal opportunity" or quotas or social experimentation . . . or the Civil Service Regs either. . .’
Moe joined the Life-Saving service on April 1st, 1898. He ended his career as a Boatswain in Kewaunee where he was the Officer in Charge of the station. After nearly 37 years of government service, Moe retired in 1935 at the age of 64.
Please let the editor (MaryBeth Volmer) know if you have any memories to share of the others noted in the picture above.
‘Trip’, Captain Moe, and Henrietta Lenz Photo courtesy of Karen Tews
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Light Lessons
In the Spring FOPPI Forum edition I worked with Dick Purinton to piece together some clues to indicate where the original Plum Island light may have stood. We have continued our research and were able to locate some historic photographs that tend to agree with our assumptions. The mystery intensified when I located a postcard through the Wisconsin Historical Society Image holdings (Image ID WHi-38356). Purinton’s son, Hoyt, pointed out that there appears to be a long, rough stone lintel over the door, and with the primarily stone walls there should be more rubble within the foundation. Perhaps they used this stone for other purposes. There also appears to be a shipwreck in the water and Dick noted there was also one shown on a postcard submitted by Connie Sena, showing a couple in a similar location standing either on the wreckage or on the beach, looking toward the remains of a schooner (see below). The Resumption was one vessel that ran hard aground there and was not removed (other than by natural means). When you look on the horizon to the left in the photo you can make out Pilot Island – about the right distance and placement if viewing from that spot on the Plum Island Beach.
Eric Bonow sent Purinton the photo below; he recalled copying it from the Island Archives. It’s not a positive identification, but seems to be a possibility this may be another photo of the same ruins.
So considering what we now know, I’m thinking we’re getting closer to solving this mystery but need to actually step foot on the island to verify our findings.
In the next edition I’ll be including an article written by Robert Noble about his adventures that frigid night of December 30, 1863 which appeared in the February 28, 1903 Door County Advocate.
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Book Review
LOST LIGHTHOUSES by Timothy Harrison ISBN 0-7627-0443-8
There is so much of our history that is lost to weather and much more that it lost to man. I feel fortunate to be one of the few that are working to preserve and restore the historic lighthouses on Plum and Pilot Islands in Door County; unfortunately those that fell before us didn't have the dedication of the Friends of Plum and Pilot Island behind them. Why are the best lessons learned by the greatest loss? These structures held many stories within their walls that now can only be heard by books and old faded postcards and photographs. Jones and Harrison did a wonderful job of bringing these beloved structures back to life through photographs and memories of those still left to recite the stories. May they live on.
STARGAZING MEMORIES OF A YOUNG LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER By Peter Hill ISBN 1-84195-546-9
Scotland automated their lights long after the United States did; before that the men still kept nightly four-hour vigils over the light, making sure that the mechanism was wound and that the air pressure to the paraffin was at the right level to prevent the light from going out. Hill tells of his adventures on three of Scotland’s historic lights: Pladda, Ailsa Craig, and Hyskeir (Craig and Hyskeir were built by the Stevensons) during the summer of 1973 between college semesters. He does a fine job of helping you visualize a day in the life of a keeper, get a feel for the unique personalities that he met along the way, and learn the legends of the last keeper.
GUARDING DOOR COUNTY LIGHTHOUSES AND LIFE-SAVING STATIONS By Stacy and Virginia Thomas ISBN 0-7385-3423-4
If you’re a visual learner like me, purchase this book! It’s everything you ever wanted to know about the Door County lighthouses in photographs. The Thomas’ eloquently sprinkled some historical facts in to help you understand the significance of these lights and get a feel for the time in history that the picture was taken.
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Welcome New Members!
Wayne and Eleanor Boyer, Evanston IL Karen Huff, Washington Island WI Jeffrey L. Clemens, Huron MI Doug and Jo Kibbee, Urbana IL Tom and Wendy Cook, Washington Island WI Harold and Bessie Kinas, Milwaukee WI Susan and Graham Danne, Madison WI Ted and Martha Lofstrom, St. Louis Park MO John and Anne Delwiche, Washington Island WI Gary and Tiena Lohaus, Venice FL Paul Delwich, Green Bay WI Ian Martin, Milwaukee WI Debra Deppler and Lynne Hess, Madison WI Eileen Nordby, Portage WI Rhonda Dix and Bill Norris, Washington Island WI Randy Spevacek, Green Bay WI Joel Ellefon, Manhattan MT Ginny Widrick, Portage WI Matt Foss, Washington Island WI Fred and Karen Wollenberg, Dalton WI
An additional thanks to all who renewed their membership and encouraged their friends and family members to help preserve and protect these slices of history.
The Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands, Inc. is a Wisconsin non-stock corporation organized exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501c (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including for the purposes of restoring, maintaining and facilitating the use of the historic buildings and structures on Plum and Pilot Islands and promoting the ecological and historic resources of the islands through interpretive, scientific, educational and other activities, including visitors’ services, all in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Friends of Plum and Pilot islands Board of Directors:
President: Tim Sweet ([email protected]) Vice President: Butch Jess ([email protected]) Treasurer: Eric Greenfeldt ([email protected]) Secretary: Sandy Petersen ([email protected]) Director: Wayne Boskka ([email protected]) Director: Frank Forkert ([email protected] Director: Dan Nilsson ([email protected]) Director: Allen Roberts ([email protected]) Director: Dan Olson ([email protected]) Board Member: Randy Holm ([email protected]) Board Member: Howard Schmidt ([email protected]) Board Member: Gary Wilson ([email protected])
Affiliations: The Wisconsin Historical Society (http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/) The Washington Island Chamber of Commerce (www.washingtonislandchamber.com) Non-profit partner with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (www.fws.gov)
Send questions and comments to: MaryBeth Volmer ([email protected]) W169 N8470 Sheridan Drive Menomonee Falls WI 53051 FOPPI logo designed by Karen Ellery.
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Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands Class of Membership
Name ______Regular $10 Address ______Family - $20 City______State _____ Zip _____ Lifetime - $500 Phone ______Email ______Corporate - $200
Renewal New Your membership expiration date appears on your mailing label. Membership is for one year from the date of joining. Your may join or renew your membership via: Friends of Plum & Pilot Islands C/O Eric Greenfeldt 1540 Detroit Harbor Road Washington Island WI 54246
Information about Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands can be found at www.plumandpilot.org
MaryBeth Volmer W169 N8470 Sheridan Drive Menomonee Falls WI 53051
Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands Forum