Publisher’s Perspective

By Tim Douglass, Publisher of the Pope County Tribune

Spring is not in any hurry this year.  The calendar will hit April this week, but it sure doesn’t feel much like April.

The snowfall we’ve received over the past few months piled up and isn’t fading as fast as we’d like.

Usually at this by the first week in April, I’m starting to get the boat ready for some spring “crappie fishing.”  This year it feels like such activity is months away.

Mid April is a typical ice-off date for Lake Minnewaska and other area lakes.  The earliest ice-free date on Lake Minnewaska was March 21 in 2012.  We’ve already missed that date.  We could vie for a record for the latest ice-free date.  That was May 11, the very next year, in 2013.  I believe, if I remember correctly, that was just the day before the opening of the 2013 walleye fishing season in Minnesota.

We’re hopeful that doesn’t happen this year.

As spring goes, it came come upon us very quickly, but sudden high temperatures this year probably would mean flooding in some areas of the state.  Nobody wants that either.

Typically, Lake Minnewaska sheds its ice sometime in the first three weeks of April.  It’s taken until May just a few times in the past 116 years of record keeping.

At this point, I’m hoping the lakes will be ice free by the end of April.  It’s been a long winter and we don’t need it hanging around into May.

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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced recently it is waiving vehicle permit fees at all 75 state parks and recreation areas on three remaining dates in 2023. The Free Park Days will be Saturday, June 10; Saturday, Sept. 9 and Friday, Nov. 24.

With the support of the state legislature, the DNR offers Free Park Days to encourage Minnesotans to get outdoors and enjoy the health and wellness benefits of spending time in nature, according to a news release from the DNR.

“Minnesota state parks and recreation areas are open year-round, and there’s plenty of fun to be had in the outdoors in every season,” said Ann Pierce, director of the DNR Parks and Trails Division. “We hope offering a series of free entrance days will encourage Minnesotans to visit these special places to spend time enjoying the outstanding natural resources our state has to offer and recharge from the stresses of everyday life.”

Getting outdoors makes exercise more fun and can boost mood and immunity. According to the American Psychological Association, exposure to nature is linked to benefits like improved attention and lower stress.

There’s a state park or recreation area within 30 miles of most Minnesotans. In this area we have a gen in Glacial Lakes State Park just south of Starbuck.  In addition to offering popular activities such as hiking, biking, camping, swimming, and birding, a variety of state park programs are open to all visitors.

Programs at most state parks are free, but some require pre-registration. Find state park programs online at the state parks and trails events calendar (mndnr.gov/ptcalendar).