• Tuesday-What'sUP August 3 - 07:55 am

If you've ever traveled US-41 between L'Anse and the Covington junction, I'm sure you've notice the beautiful lake, with a small picnic area, across from the MTU Ford Forestry Center in Alberta. Imagine our surprise when Jim and I passed that way on our recent travels and saw this scene instead of water! We had to stop and investigate and were pleased to find a sign there explaining what was going on. Upon further reading we discovered that it's only a temporary drainage and will be refilled in October. MDOT, the DNR and Michigan Tech University are working together to replace the Alberta Pond/Ford Dam outlet and they claim once it's done the fishing will be better than ever! The bottom picture is compliments of Brian Thomas, showing us all how pretty the spot will look when it's once again filled with water. Sure goes to show you how deceiving things can be under the surface... who'd have guessed that this attractive spot had a bunch of stumps hiding beneath it's surface?

As you may know, Mary prepared today's pictures and notes ahead of time, as she was scheduled for surgery last night in Green Bay for a facial injury she received recently, jumping from her boat to the dock, as I understand.

While I continue to publish these pages each morning, as we have for the past 7.5+ years, since October 2003 Mary has done the lion's share of the weekday moderating of the Pasty Cam. (She is also a Lion, by the way.) Best wishes for a quick recovery, Mary Drew. Very enlightening shots today :o)

I sure am glad you picked this topic for the daily pic, Mary.

I just returned from my vacation up in the UP. I travelled this very route between Crystal Falls and the Keweenaw. I kept asking friends and relatives what was going on here but nobody seemed to know.

I guess I should have just stopped and read the sign :-)

i like the filled pond picture best. did they find any artifacts on bottom?

Down here by us, people drain their farm ponds and bulldoze out the mud fairly often to keep them clean. The older ponds are often a good place to find antique bottles.

I had heard that Alberta Pond was to be drained for dam repairs. I'll have to take a ride to Alberta and have a look this weekend.

Wishing you the best in your recovery from surgery Mary!

What a coincidence!!My family and I drove right past this back on the 23rd of July while on our way to Copper Harbor and we wondered what was up, but never having seen it before, we just assumed it always looked like that. It sounds like its going to be an awesome place to do some fishing. I'm sure I'll have to take my son there, as he loves to fish!

Nothing like having a question answered before I even ask it! For that matter, before I even knew I was going to ask it! I'll be on my way to God's Country for a few days this Thursday. Can't wait!

Shelley,
Speaking of coincidences, I was driving by here on the same day (23rd) on my way to Copper Harbor.

What happened to the fish that were in the lake? I'd love to go poking around in that mud with a metal detector.

If you look closely to the right of the Ford sign you will see some of the leftovers from the original sign which was somewhat larger. I recall seeing that original one back in 1950. Anyone know when the sign was put there? Oh yes, I stopped by the drained lake and took photos of it and the DNR/MTU sign last Friday.

Lot of folks do not realize what a huge impact FORD had on the area. He bought the land to build spokes for his Model A and T. Little did he realize........until he tried to join the Huron Mountain Club and had to wait a couple years until the moneyed EAST decided Henry was viable.........ya gotta love it..........

There ought be a lot of Sandpipers & Shorebirds stopping in those mud flats about now. They are already migrating south for the season!

If anyone should happen to find a rusty mini Dare Devil on one of those stumps let me know. I lost it during 1993 Fall Camp in Alberta.