In This Issue
 Photo credit: Minnesota DNR
To celebrate Minnesota?s most colorful season, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is sharing a fall color forecast, typical timing of peak colors, ways for Minnesotans to find where colors are at their peak each week, and suggestions for where to visit to see fall colors.
Fall colors in Minnesota typically peak in mid-to-late-September through mid-October, starting in the northernmost part of the state and working southward. Peak fall color usually lasts two weeks but can vary widely depending on location and weather.
Many factors play into the timing and brilliance of the fall color season in Minnesota, such as day length, temperatures and rainfall. Weather impacts fall colors both before and during the fall season.
?Brilliant fall color occurs when late summer and early fall days are sunny, nights are chilly and there is adequate rainfall throughout the growing season,? said Brian Schwingle, Minnesota DNR forest health specialist.
Leaves change color mainly in response to the decrease of daily sunlight. Photosynthesis, or the production of sugars that depend on sunlight, begins to slow down in response to shortening days. This leads to a reduction of chlorophyll, the pigment that supports photosynthesis and gives leaves their green color. When chlorophyll is reduced, other color pigments in the leaves begin to show, like yellow and red.
Patterns of temperature, precipitation, wind, and the timing of hard freezes can impact when fall colors peak and how long they last. While a light frost might intensify colors, a hard freeze can cause trees to drop leaves early. Rain and wind can shorten the peak color period. These weather phenomena can only be predicted a week or so in advance, making a peak color forecast difficult.
Minnesota is in its third summer with drought conditions in at least part of the state. Though severe summer drought may lessen the intensity of fall colors, there has been no correlation to the timing of peak fall colors and drought.
?Temperatures in September have played a bigger role than drought in determining when peak colors form,? Schwingle said. ?When September minimum temperatures are cooler than average, like we had in 2020, fall colors have been earlier.?
The Minnesota DNR?s Fall Color Finder (mndnr.gov/fallcolors) is a way for the public to follow the annual progression of fall color change throughout the state. Minnesota DNR staff throughout the state share reports from their location each Wednesday, in time for people to make travel plans for the coming weekend. The popular webpage includes a color-coded map that shows the approximate percentage of leaves that have changed color across the state, and a slideshow of recent photos taken by staff and visitors. The public is also welcome to submit their photos from visits to state parks, forests, and trails, which might be included in online galleries, social media or newsletters.
?Fall is the perfect season to spend time outdoors, when nature puts on a beautiful show for all to see,? said Ann Pierce, Minnesota DNR Parks and Trails Division director. ?From the north woods to the prairies to the lakeshores and everything in between, there are so many spots to view the stunning scenery that autumn in Minnesota brings. We invite everyone to follow along with our Fall Color Finder and get out to Minnesota state parks, trails and forests and other public lands this season.?
Next week, the Minnesota DNR launches its weekly fall color update newsletter with trip planning resources. From scenic drives to hiking, biking, paddling, birding, picnicking and more, the Minnesota DNR offers itineraries and tips to encourage Minnesotans to get out and enjoy the changing leaves. In addition, subscribers can learn more about the plants and wildlife they may encounter while chasing fall colors. To subscribe, visit the Fall Color Finder (mndnr.gov/fallcolors) to sign up for weekly email or text updates.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will hold an open house to collect public comments and share information on two proposed fishing regulation changes related to sunfish in Lake Winnibigoshish and connected waters, and northern pike in Balsam, Haskell and Scrapper lakes in Itasca County.
The open house will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the Squaw Lake Community Center located at 60162 County Highway 4, in the town of Squaw Lake in Itasca County. The open house covers two regulation proposals.
On Lake Winnibigoshish and the connected Mississippi River to Cass Lake (Beltrami, Cass, Itasca counties), the daily limit would be reduced to five sunfish. This change would facilitate easier enforcement on these waters and is already in effect for connected Cut Foot Sioux and Little Cut Foot Sioux lakes.
In the connected lakes of Balsam, Haskell and Scrapper (Itasca County), a 24- to 36-inch protected slot limit, with a three-fish possession limit, would be applied to northern pike. Currently, Balsam Lake has this limit, but the other two connected waters do not.
In addition to the Oct. 4 open house, there will be a statewide open house to accept comments on these and other proposed regulations, listed on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/regulations/fishing/fishing-regulations-meetings.html), from 1-4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3, at the DNR Central Office, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul.
If adopted, the proposed sunfish regulations would be effective beginning March 1, 2024, and the northern pike regulations would be effective May 11, 2024.
Comments about proposed regulation changes can also be made online by visiting the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/fishregs) and taking the online survey. In addition, comments about these proposals can be directed to the Grand Rapids area fisheries office by calling 218-328-8836, emailing [email protected], or mailing to Grand Rapids Area Fisheries, 1201 East Highway 2, Grand Rapids, MN 55744. Comments will be accepted through Friday, Oct. 20.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will hold an open house to collect public comments and share information on a proposal to review the existing experimental fishing regulation for northern pike on Pearl Lake in Stearns County.
The open house will be 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, at the Holy Cross Catholic School, 10672 County Road 8, Kimball.
Under the experimental regulation, all northern pike from 24 inches to 36 inches must be immediately released and the possession limit is three, only one of which may be over 36 inches.
Since 2009, when the regulation began, the average size of northern pike has remained fairly small at 20 inches however the percentage of preferred sized northern pike (larger than 24 inches) has increased. In 2018, statewide zone-based regulations for northern pike began and without the experimental regulation Pearl Lake would fall into the North-Central Zone which is a 22 to 26-inch protected slot with a possession limit of 10 ? of which only two can be greater than 26 inches. The zone regulation appears to be a good fit for Pearl Lake and may increase the average size of northern pike and still provide some protection for preferred sized fish.
Options under consideration include making the regulation permanent, modifying the existing regulation, or repealing the existing regulation and reverting to the North-Central Zone northern pike regulation.
In addition to the Sept. 27 open house, there will be a statewide open house to accept comments on this and other proposed regulations, listed on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/regulations/fishing/fishing-regulations-meetings.html), from 1-4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3, at the DNR Central Office, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul.
If adopted, the proposed regulation would go into effect with the May 11, 2024, fishing opener.
Comments about regulation changes being proposed can also be made online by visiting the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/fishregs) and taking the online survey. In addition, comments about the proposal can be directed to the DNR Sauk Rapids fisheries office at 320-223-7867, emailing [email protected], or by filling out the online survey. Written comments can be sent to DNR Sauk Rapids area fisheries, 1035 South Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379. Comments will be accepted through Friday, Oct. 13.
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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will hold an open house to collect public comments and share information on a proposal to improve angling opportunities on several waters in Wright and Stearns counties, by reducing daily limits for sunfish.
The open house will be 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the Clearwater Township Hall, 15015 State Highway 24 NW, Clearwater.
On Clearwater Lake and connected Augusta, Caroline, Grass and Otter lakes, the daily limit for crappie would be lowered from 10 fish to five and the sunfish daily limit would be lowered from 20 fish to 10. The reduced daily limit would help maintain and protect the current size structures of the crappie and sunfish populations in these lakes. It would also have the potential to increase the average size of sunfish.
In addition to the Sept. 27 open house, there will be a statewide open house to accept comments on these and other proposed regulations, listed on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/regulations/fishing/fishing-regulations-meetings.html), from 1-4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3, at the DNR Central Office, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul.
If adopted, the proposed regulations will go into effect March 1, 2024.
Comments about regulation changes being proposed can also be made online by visiting the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/fishregs) and taking the online survey. In addition, comments about the proposal can be directed to the DNR Sauk Rapids fisheries office at 320-223-7867, emailing [email protected], or by filling out the online survey. Written comments can be sent to DNR Sauk Rapids area fisheries, 1035 South Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379. Comments will be accepted through Friday, Oct. 13.
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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will hold an open house to collect public comments and share information on a proposal to improve angling on Maple Lake in Wright County by reducing daily limits on crappie and sunfish.
The open house will be 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at the American Legion Post 131, 220 1st St. W., Maple Lake.
On Maple Lake, the daily limit for crappie would be lowered from 10 fish to five and the sunfish daily limit would be lowered from 20 fish to 10. The reduced daily limit would help maintain and protect the size structures of the crappie and sunfish populations in this lake. It would also have the potential to increase the average size of sunfish.
If adopted, the proposed regulations will go into effect March 1, 2024.
Comments about regulation changes being proposed can also be made online by visiting the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/fishregs) and taking the online survey. In addition, comments about the proposal can be directed to the DNR Sauk Rapids fisheries office at 320-223-7867, emailing [email protected], or by filling out the online survey. Written comments can be sent to DNR Sauk Rapids area fisheries, 1035 South Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379. Comments will be accepted through Friday, Oct. 13.
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