July 29, 2021 at 11:53 a.m.
Clean Boats Clean Waters volunteer Mike Rynski works hard to keep Lake Tomahawk healthy
Clean Boats Clean Waters volunteer Mike Rynski works hard to keep Lake Tomahawk healthy
"You get to see a lot of boaters," he said. "With weekends being busy, you see an average of 100 boats per day every weekend. You run through a lot of boaters and a lot of different experiences, too."
Most boaters understand why he is at the landing and are used to seeing him and answering the questions the Clean Boats Clean Waters volunteers ask at all of the ramps they cover. He said people who come from areas with more lakes are more familiar with milfoil and the issues the invasive variety can cause for lakes. Those boaters, he said, will most often ask about the milfoil in the lake and how it is doing this year. People who come from farther away, such as Missouri, Texas and even Illinois, also have questions. He uses the maps from the Tomahawk Lake Association to show boaters where problem areas might be.
For the most part, he said, boaters who come to Lake Tomahawk have only put their boats into Lake Tomahawk in the last five days, which is a question asked of all boaters who agree to answer the survey questions. Rynski has gotten to know many people over the years, as they come to the landing often, which makes his job that much simpler.
"Fishermen move around sometimes," he said. "Like they might go try Sweeney Lake in the morning and then come here, or Big Saint, or Trout Lake." But overall, he said, he does not see a lot of boats that have been somewhere else in the last five days.
Because Rynski talks to each boater that leaves the lake via the Lake Tomahawk landing, he hears firsthand reports of milfoil sightings. When he hears the same information from several different boaters, he said, he feels confident these sightings are likely correct. He also loves hearing stories from boaters. He gave an example of some people who owned a cabin on Lake Tomahawk for 40 years. He enjoyed listening to their stories about how the lake has changed over that time.
Rynski not only completes watercraft inspections, but he goes above and beyond to ensure the traffic at the landing flows smoothly.
"You always have your few that come up once to twice per year and they work in an office," he said. "They don't really know how to back up a trailer. So I'll hop in their truck and back it in for them. That helps keep the traffic flowing at the landing, too."
Rynski also keeps a dip net handy. As weeds drift into the landing, he said, he uses his dip net to remove the weeds that might otherwise get stuck to their trailers or boats. By removing the weeds that float in, this makes weed removal easier, meaning traffic at the landing can keep moving smoothly.
Rynski is a fisheries technician at the Woodruff Hatchery. Having worked with the DNR for over 30 years, volunteering as a Clean Boats Clean Waters watercraft inspector was right up his alley. Being outside and working on the lake was a perfect fit for him.
Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].
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