July 31, 2023



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*Minnesota DNR News
*




*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*

July 31, 2023




*For more information:*
Contact the DNR Information Center
by?email <[email protected]>?or call 888-646-6367.





In This Issue

* Zebra mussels confirmed in Lake Ann in Chanhassen [ #link_1491411977526 ]
* Help document wild species at Cottonwood River Prairie SNA event [ #link_1491412003165 ]
* Informational meeting scheduled to discuss Silver Lake management options [ #link_1491412051810 ]

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Zebra mussels confirmed in Lake Ann in Chanhassen

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of additional zebra mussels in Lake Ann, in the city of Chanhassen in Carver County.

The Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District has conducted annual zebra mussel searches on Lake Ann since a single adult zebra mussel was found on a swimming buoy in September 2020.

On July 12, RPBCWD staff found four adult zebra mussels on a tree branch in shallow water near the swimming beach on the southern edge of the lake. Five additional zebra mussels were found in the same location during a follow-up search.?

No zebra mussels were found during a broader search of other areas of the lake. Because zebra mussels were found only in one specific location, potential treatment options are being considered. The Minnesota DNR permits zebra mussel management projects on a limited basis. Zebra mussels have never been eradicated from any lake or river in the U.S., but treatment options might reduce the risk of further spread. Early detection is key to effective management.

Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to:


* *Clean* watercraft, trailers and equipment to remove aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.
* *Drain* all water and leave drain plugs out during transport.
* *Dispose* of unwanted bait in the trash.
* *Never release* bait, plants or aquarium pets into Minnesota waters.
* *Dry docks, lifts and rafts for 21 days *before moving them from one water body to another.

These additional steps reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species:


* *Decontaminate *watercraft and equipment ? find free stations on the courtesy decontamination webpage of the Minnesota DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Decon).
* *Spray* with high-pressure water or *rinse* with very hot water (120 degrees for at least two minutes or 140 degrees for at least 10 seconds).
* *Dry* watercraft and equipment for at least five days before using in another water body.

People should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/invasives/ais/contacts.html) if they think they have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species that was not already known to be in the water body.

More information is available on the aquatic invasive species page of the Minnesota DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/ais).

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Help document wild species at Cottonwood River Prairie SNA event

BioBlitz scheduled for Aug. 19

Minnesotans can learn from biologists and naturalists, while helping scientists document species diversity, at an upcoming BioBlitz event in Brown County. The event will take place at Cottonwood River Prairie Scientific and Natural Area on Saturday, Aug. 19.

The BioBlitz is a chance to shadow or assist naturalists and other scientists as they inventory the living organisms inhabiting Cottonwood River Prairie SNA in a one-day field study. It is an opportunity to learn from some of the top experts in Minnesota.

?The event serves three primary functions: to provide a learning experience for members of the public, to gather information about this particular prairie, and to gain insights about particular species researchers study,? SNA Specialist Brad Bolduan said. ?Past SNA events studied organisms like plants, dragonflies, spiders, fungus and butterflies. Every year, the pool of experts present varies.?

While the rain-or-shine event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., surveys might happen throughout the day, and visitors are free to come and go as they wish. Activities vary in length.

?People of all experience levels are welcome,? Bolduan said. ?We only require curiosity and enthusiasm.?

Long pants, appropriate footwear, tick protection and sunscreen are encouraged. Participants are also encouraged to plan ahead since there is no shelter, drinking water or restroom at the SNA.

Located just east of Sanborn in Brown County, Cottonwood River Prairie SNA [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/snas/detail.html?id=sna01054) has steep prairie hills hosting native plants and insects that at one time were much more common on the southern Minnesota landscape. Much of the 347-acre site has dry prairie. Two areas within this SNA were burned this spring, which might result in a good showing of wildflowers.

Additional events are scheduled throughout the summer. A full schedule is available on the Minnesota DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/events).

Funding for this event was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). The trust fund is a permanent fund constitutionally established by Minnesotans to assist in the protection, conservation, preservation and enhancement of the state?s air, water, land, fish, wildlife and other natural resources.

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Informational meeting scheduled to discuss Silver Lake management options

Meeting planned for Aug. 17 in Waldorf

An informational meeting is scheduled to discuss management options and gather public input for the development of a habitat enhancement plan for Silver Lake, located near the town of Waldorf in Waseca County.?

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources plans to replace a failed dam at the outlet of Silver Lake. A new dam will restore Silver Lake to water levels previously maintained in the lake. It will also provide the ability for temporary water level management. Modifying water levels through drawdown and reflooding can be used to reduce populations of undesirable fish and reestablish desired aquatic vegetation, which will improve the lake?s water quality.??

Stop logs in the existing dam had been used to maintain the lake 1 to 2 feet deeper than it is currently. In recent decades, the failed dam resulted in substantially lower water levels in Silver Lake, harming aquatic wildlife and the lake plant community.

Habitat conditions for furbearers and other aquatic wildlife have been affected by lower water levels. The depths are insufficient for muskrats and several nongame wildlife species to avoid freeze-out over winter. Over time, continuously lower water levels can also encourage cattails to expand at the expense of sedges, rushes and submerged vegetation. A marshy fringe heavily dominated by cattails lacks important diversity that helps define good wildlife habitat.???

Water quality has been hampered by high populations of common carp that access the lake seasonally. Carp damage important aquatic wildlife habitats by uprooting food and cover plants. They also resuspend fine bottom sediments, causing the water to become more turbid. A fish barrier for the Silver Lake outlet has been recommended to protect the lake from these infestations.

To help ensure Silver Lake remains a productive environment for wildlife, the Minnesota DNR plans to pursue lake management authority that will allow Silver Lake to be managed for water and habitat quality as outlined in a comprehensive management plan. The Aug. 17 public meeting will be followed by a formal public hearing this fall.?

People can ask questions and provide input at a public meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 17 at the Waldorf Community Center, 109 South Main St., Waldorf, MN 56091. Interested parties can also contact Steve Kittelson, Minnesota DNR shallow lakes specialist at 507-578-8891 or [email protected], or contact Jeanine Vorland, area wildlife supervisor at 507-414-6200 or [email protected].

Mail correspondence can be sent to Steve Kittelson, Shallow Lakes Program, 35365 800th Avenue, Madelia, MN 56062.

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