WATSON - People with ice fishing houses on Lac qui Parle Lake are being advised to check on them. Water has seeped on top of the ice around some houses on the lake.
It's not known how extensive the problem might be, but a word of caution would be to the wise, according to Walt Gessler, wildlife manager with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at Lac qui Parle. He noted that there have been reports of both slush and water around some houses.
Minnesota DNR Conservation Officer Ed Picht estimates that there are currently a couple of hundred ice fishing houses on the lake. He said he has seen issues with water around ice fishing houses on other lakes in the area as well.
In most cases, the problem can be attributed to the recent high winds and snowfalls. The winds have caused snowdrifts to form around houses and add to their weight.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is planning to increase the outflow from the lake beginning either today or Saturday, according to George Stringham with the St. Paul District office. That will lower the level of the lake.
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He said the water level on the lake has fluctuated in the past week, but the Corps has managed to keep it within the normal operating range for this time of year.
Picht said those with fish houses on the lake should consider not leaving them overnight. If left on the lake, he suggested placing them on blocks in case water does seep up around them.
Fish house owners are reminded that fish houses cannot be left at public access sites.
