In This Issue
A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife, and habitat management.
Reminder for anglers on winter walleye fishing regulations for Upper Red, Mille Lacs lakes
Anglers are reminded that the walleye limit for Upper Red Lake decreased from the five allowed during open water season to four this winter while the Mille Lacs Lake walleye limit will remain at one.
The Upper Red Lake regulation became effective Nov. 1. Anglers fishing on the state waters of Upper Red Lake can keep up to four walleye with one longer than 17 inches. Beginning Friday, Dec. 1, Mille Lacs Lake anglers can keep one walleye 21-23 inches long or one longer than 28 inches.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources sets winter regulations for these lakes after completion of annual fall population assessments. Results from Upper Red Lake showed a very strong level of walleye spawning stock and a high overall net catch rate, especially of nearly mature walleye. Mille Lacs? results found slightly lower walleye numbers than in 2022. But the continued strong presence of walleye born in 2013 and 2017 and acceptable numbers of walleye born in 2021 and 2022 suggest there are adequate numbers of younger fish to keep the population sustainable as they mature and reproduce to replace fish caught by anglers.
Complete winter fishing regulations are available on the Upper Red Lake regulations webpage (mndnr.gov/fishing/upper-red-lake-regulations.html) and the Mille Lacs Lake regulations webpage (mndnr.gov/fishing/millelacs.html).
Hunters can find CWD test results online
Hunters can check the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website (mndnr.gov/cwdcheck) for chronic wasting disease test results on the deer they?ve harvested. The site also shows statewide CWD test results, summary statistics and mapped locations of deer that tested positive. Any additional deer harvested during Minnesota deer seasons that test positive for CWD will be reported on the CWD results page. The DNR also will directly notify any hunter who harvests a deer that tests positive. The DNR relies on hunters? participation in providing samples to help with disease surveillance and appreciates all those who submitted samples.
Minnesota DNR webinars focus on interesting plant diseases, emerald ash borer
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites people interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to check out the fall program schedule for the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 22, plant expert Sam Guida will discuss galls, burls, brooms and other interesting plant diseases. One example of these, galls, are hidden insect homes inside plants, such as the ping-pong ball sized lumps commonly seen on goldenrod. Learn how to spot these and find an awe-inspiring world.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 29, Rachael Dube, one of the Minnesota DNR?s forest health specialists, will share information on emerald ash borer and its impacts on our communities and forests. Dube also will cover how property owners can prepare for and control emerald ash borer and how to manage a healthy forest in the face of this pest.
The Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series webinars are free and offered year-round, though registration is required. Visit the Outdoor Skills and Stewardship webpage of the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/discover) for the registration portal, more information about upcoming webinars and recordings of past webinars.
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Unseasonably warm weather during the first half of November means many lakes and ponds remain free of ice, but the water is dangerously cold. With children home for Thanksgiving break, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources urges parents and guardians to talk with kids about the risks of cold water.
Falls into open water this time of year can turn tragic quickly, and the effects of cold water mean even strong swimmers likely will find it difficult to save themselves from an unexpected fall. Parents and guardians need to be especially vigilant about watching kids and ensuring their innate curiosity about the water doesn?t put them at risk.
Capt. Adam Block, boating law administrator with the DNR Enforcement Division, says kids ? or people new to Minnesota ? might not understand the difference in how their bodies react to cold water vs. warm water. He urges parents and guardians to talk with their children and neighbors about staying away from lakes, ponds and rivers this time of year unless there?s an adult supervising.
The best way to stay safe around cold water is to wear a life jacket (foam is better than an inflatable in cold water). Block also recommends people carry a phone or other communications device to call for help, to let others know where they?re going and when they plan to return, and to be prepared to deal with an unforeseen incident.
For more information about surviving a fall into cold water, see the cold water dangers webpage (mndnr.gov/safety/boatwater/cold-water.html).
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Drawdown will facilitate repairs while improving habitat and water quality
Repair work and upgrades are underway on the dam at the outlet of Heron Lake. As part of that work, a lake drawdown is being performed to facilitate access to equipment and infrastructure. Contractors are replacing the hydraulic and electrical systems that control the gate on the dam.
Following completion of this work, wildlife managers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources plan to keep Heron Lake water levels low through summer 2024 to improve water quality and reestablish aquatic vegetation on this very important waterfowl resting area.
?The management plan for Heron Lake was completed at the end of 2021, and it includes several triggers for management actions,? said Brian Nyborg, Windom area wildlife manager. ?The current habitat conditions in Heron Lake call for implementing a drawdown on the basin this winter.?
Those conditions include water clarity of less than a foot, poor diversity of plant species and abundant populations of common carp.
A lake drawdown mimics a drought, which can reset an ecosystem by removing carp populations, consolidating sediment suspended in the lake water, and allowing the reestablishment of aquatic vegetation. In spite of two years of drought conditions, the lake?s sizeable watershed prevented a full drawdown of the lake. Utilizing the dam to achieve a full drawdown in future years will help improve habitat. Its benefits include establishing lakeshore vegetation, which will also help mitigate erosion since Heron Lake is susceptible to wind and wave action.
Heron Lake is nearly 8,000 acres in size and was designated as a wildlife lake in 1973. This designation allows Minnesota DNR wildlife managers to take action to mitigate factors that affect water and habitat quality and quantity. Temporary drawdowns are a common management tool to improve lake habitat conditions for wildlife. Information on designating wildlife lakes is available on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/wildlife/shallowlakes/designation.html).
The project is funded by the DNR?s waterfowl stamp fund, the Outdoor Heritage Fund and the natural resources asset preservation bonding fund.
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