Extremely dry conditions and very high wildfire danger has prompted state forestry officials to impose Emergency Forest Fire Regulations across portions of northern and west central Wisconsin effective Friday, July 21. Under the emergency regulations, burning of any combustible material outdoors is prohibited until further notice. This applies to: any burning in burn piles or barrels; building, maintaining, attending, or using a campfire unless in s developed camping area; smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes except within an enclosed vehicle or building; disposing of matches, ashes, charcoal briquettes or any burning material into the outdoors; and use of all fireworks, including those considered legal in Wisconsin.
Charcoal grills may be used only in the immediate vicinity of a residential dwelling on a non-combustible surface. The restrictions are expected to remain in effect until there is a significant long-term change in fire danger. The emergency regulations are in place in the following counties outside of incorporated cities and villages: Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Washburn, and in portions of Barron, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire, and Polk. Check the DNR Web site for areas affected by these regulations. DNR forest fire crews have responded to 177 statewide so far in July.
The warm and dry conditions are also taking a toll on waterways and has kept fishing success at mid-summer lows. Water temperatures on northern lakes has been very warm with surface temperatures over 80 degrees on some lakes. Combined with low lake levels, this has pushed many of the bigger fish to deeper water and has made for some tough fishing conditions. Anglers continued to focus efforts in early morning and evening hours and fishing success is better during these times. Bass continue to provide the most consistent action with early morning and late evening hours producing the best catches. Walleye fishing has been slow but better success has come on leeches suspended just off the bottom in deeper water. Musky fishing has slowed but some fish are being caught, nut some musky anglers have been staying off the water for fear of stressing or killing fish with the warm water temperatures.
In the south, surface waters were well into the 80s on some lakes, but bass and panfish action remained good despite the high temperatures. Panfish were hanging out a bit deeper, and predators seem to have followed them down. Walleye action has still been good on Lake Winnebago. Perch were being caught on Winnebago and Winneconne. Fishing action on Madison area lakes has been good all week with anglers getting limits of bluegills and perch off deep weed lines.
Perch action continued to be good on Green Bay. Smallmouth bass fishing has been fair to good all over Door County. Anglers trolling Lake Michigan had a great week and weekend for very large catches of chinook salmon and rainbow trout. The 24th annual Kewaunee/Door County Salmon Tournament begins on July 22 and lasts until the 30.
Water levels are very low and temperatures are also on the rise in river systems, with even some northern rivers reporting surface waters near 80 degrees. Smallmouth bass fishing continued to be excellent on many rivers. The Mississippi River stage was 6.3 feet at Prairie du Chien as of Thursday. Boat operators must use caution when traveling outside the Main Channel of the Mississippi River. Water levels on Black River and St. Croix were also low and the flow levels are low as well. Anglers were catching some panfish and a few walleyes on wing dams where there is some current.
The young of other birds are taking flight. Hawks, falcons and eagles have started fledging. They can be very clumsy with their new flight skills and may end up on the ground not able to fly just yet. These birds need to be left alone. They are being taken care of by their parents. Great blue herons and great egrets are showing up on many wetlands, lakes and marshes now that the adults are no longer tied to the nest sites. Despite the heat and humidity of the past weekend, wildlife area already showing signs of beginning to fuel up for their fall migration. Large flocks of tree swallows and blackbirds have been observed.
The blueberry picking season is winding down in some northern areas, partially because of the dry conditions. Berries in some areas were reported as only being about the size of BBs.
More here...
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/news/or/
