184 
Table 2. -- Effects of High Water Levels on Censuses 
(Lakes Affected Directly or Indirectly by Winnibigoshish and Leech Lake Dams. ) 
Area 1939 & 1940 1950 Difference 
Kitchi Lake 241 69 a 172 
Mud Lake 181 81 — 100 
Raven Lake 198 25 — 173 
Third River 650 301 — 349 
Lake Winnibigoshish 568 157 — 411 
a SE NI EE SE I SB gE FE he 
eee 
Total 1838 633 —1205 
— 66% 
Gauge Readings at 
Winnibigoshish 9.64 13. 80 
_ (Lakes not affected or affected only slightly. ) 


Area 1939 & 1940 1950 Difference 
Bowstring Lake 519 521 ~- 2 
Burns Lake 215 108 — 107 
Rabideau Lake 94 64 — 30 
Round Lake 580 382 -— 198 
Lower Pigeon Lake 28 57 ~ 29 
Total 1436 1132 — 304 
— 21% 
From a trend standpoint it is believed that the actual waterfowl population on 
the Chippewa National Forest is actually about that represented by the census data 
from areas unaffected by the dam levels. Thus the total duck population may be only 
about 20 percent under the "par" of 1939-40 rather than 46 percent less as indicated 
by the data from all census areas (Table 1). 
Total population estimates for the Chippewa area are as follows:- 
1937 - 29,600 1947 - 28,500 
1938 - 46, 650 1948 - 37,700 
1939 - 40, 300 1949 - 25, 400 * 
1940 - 46, 400 1950 - 22, 630 * 
1941 - 26,150 * 1950 - 34, 200 ** 
* Census inaccurate and population considered too low due to high water 
levels at dams. 
** Population calculated from census areas unaffected by high water. 
Species Composition 
The six main species of breeding ducks on the Chippewa have been the 
mallard, baldpate, blue-winged teal, ring-necked duck, and golden-eye, Table 3 
illustrates the variation in species composition encountered, since the inception of 
the census. 
