LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Poor timing for draining water from Lake Bemidji

I was so surprised to see the front page article “A little less Lake Bemidji” (Aug. 16). With wild ricing just opened in the state on Saturday, the Mississippi River downstream of Lake Bemidji will be raised immensely, causing severe damage to the crop between there and Wolf Lake, Wolf to Andrusia, and beyond. I am no mathematician, but we’re talking millions of gallons from Bemidji/Stump lakes drained in about a week, the story reads. As it may help the contractor doing the new beach area, has anyone in the “know” thought about the timing of this action?
Years ago when I was a citizen advisor on the Mississippi Headwaters Board, I remember many meetings, and the creation of a group of dam managers, DNR, tribal governments and others discussing this issue, and assuring they were all to be aware of the natural, economic and recreational needs that are affected by such actions such as major dam releases. I live by Wolf Lake (for nearly 40 years), and the draw down will raise the lake by a foot or more, almost immediately. Has someone dropped the ball here? Waiting till after the summer tourist season and ricing season, seems to make a lot of sense. We’ re talking just a couple of weeks here.
Terry Larson
Cass Lake