A Walk On The Beach with Katherine Benusa

Spring Time Treasures
Seen Walking The Beach!

These interesting little clams were found exactly as shown in this photo by Lake Chelan resident Katherine Benusa back on March 8th, as she walked the north shore uplake from Spader Bay.

Clams? - Fresh Water Clams! - What are they doing all grouped together? (Practicing to march in the upcoming Manson Apple Blossom Parade in May? … or maybe they’re just hovered together to stay warm?)

Are they edible? - Are they tasty?

It’s not that we haven’t seen a clam or two in Lake Chelan before, but we’ve always seen a longer, more narrow ‘black object’ that we called mussles; and they were tough, and not very tastey, as we recall.

Katherine’s photo of the clams comes with her own questions - which we pass along to our readers to respond.

She asks:
Does lowering the lake have an impact on the ecosystem when all of the fresh water clams are left high and dry? The eight clams in the photo were in shallow water and in line as they appear in the photo. I was taken with them.”

Katherine has more photots and more questions to go with these:

She asks…
These photos are from a walk along the lake, Saturday March 8, 2008. It was a gloriously warm day and a privilege to be surrounded by the ever-changing beauty of the lake and hills.A couple of questions…where can I find out the history of the home I photographed?

Second, does lowering the lake have an impact on the ecosystem when all of the fresh water clams (I think that’s what they are) are left high and dry?

The eight clams in the photo were in shallow water and in line as they appear in the photo. I was taken with them.

In the second photo,the reflection of the hills in the lake made me feel as though I was let in on the secret of the majesty of Mother Nature.

The home, of course, made me think about how lovely it had been when it was loved and cared for and I wondered about the history.

The views from every angle were carefully thought out. I could tell it was someone’s “chosen” spot.

To view these photos up close and enlarge - CLICK HERE

Don Morse Beach Restoration A Major Concern

A letter from Chelan City Council Mike Conney arrived in time for us to post here on GoLakeChelan and our ‘WaterBlog’ in order to encourage citizen participation in a walking tour of the beach this coming Monday, March 23rd. Interested parties will be meeting at Lakeview Drive In at 11:00 AM Monday.

Councilman Cooney writes: I thought I would give you a heads up about an upcoming “beach tour” scheduled for this coming Monday, March 24th.

The purpose is to have those that are not familiar with the beach/sand erosion and hopefully the cure (Don Morse beach restoration) to walk the beach and learn firsthand the ongoing problem and solutions that are being discussed.

As you know the Don Morse Park Enhancement Initiative will begin to take place and in many circles the beach restoration is priority #1.
Our tour will start at 11 AM next Monday at the Lakeview Drive-In site. The public is invited and encouraged to join us.

A big kudo should be given to Art Campbell Sr. for pursuing this for over 20 years and finally it looks as if something will get done to make Don Morse beach a long beautiful sandy beach with no cement bulkhead. What makes this even more admiable in my estimation is that once this is completed…Campbell’s will no longer benefit from the natural drift.

Regards,
Mike Cooney

Here at GoLakeChelan we encourage citizen participation in the tour and in a discussion of the issues including the use of our blog. We make the best decisions when we are fully informed.  Jump in a share your views ~