In This Issue
Construction begins winter 2025; closure planned for summer 2026
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is launching a major redevelopment of the Moccasin Point Public Water Access on Lake Vermilion to improve safety and accessibility, protect water quality, and enhance infrastructure. Funded through the Get Out MORE (Modernize Outdoor Recreation Experiences) initiative (mndnr.gov/get-out-more), this project represents a significant investment in the long-term sustainability of one of Lake Vermilion’s most important access points.
The redesigned Moccasin Point site will feature:
- 81 vehicle/trailer and 18 single vehicle parking spaces, including accessible stalls
- New boat ramps, boarding docks, and short-term mooring docks
- Aquatic Invasive Species inspection and cleaning stations
- Stormwater management and shoreline stabilization features
- A heavy-duty barge loading ramp for equipment and materials needing transport to islands in the lake that provide both recreational and residential use
Once completed, the upgraded site will improve safety and accessibility for all users, enhance water quality protections through stormwater and AIS management, support local tourism and recreation, and ensure long-term durability of infrastructure that provides access to Lake Vermilion.
To minimize disruption, the DNR has adopted a phased construction schedule. Rock excavation will begin in December 2025, which will allow the Moccasin Point PWA to be open for public use from late December 2025 through May 2026. A closure of the site will occur starting in June 2026, with a reopening anticipated in late summer or fall of 2026.
During the closure period, general public access and parking at Moccasin Point will not be available due to safety and space constraints. However, limited launch access will be maintained for barge operations and Moccasin Point Marine when feasible.
To support continued lake access during the summer 2026 closure, the DNR encourages boaters to plan ahead and consider alternatives. There are 17 PWAs available across Lake Vermilion, and overnight parking is allowed at the 11 DNR-managed sites on the lake. Blackduck Bay PWA, located 1.4 miles west, offers the nearest alternative to the Moccasin Point PWA. The DNR is coordinating with the U.S. Forest Service to ensure continued access to the Trout Lake Portage via Blackduck Bay and Rice Bay PWA sites. Private marinas and resorts might offer additional options; it’s recommended that boaters call ahead for information about private access sites.
Project status information will be posted on the project page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/state_parks/moccasin-point-pwa-construction-updates.html).
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People can comment through Nov. 18
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input on a request from the Wheatland Twin Lakes Sportsmen Club to install and operate an aeration system on Cody Lake in Rice County, west of Lonsdale and east of Montgomery.
The DNR would like to hear from lake users and stakeholders and will consider those perspectives in its decision-making.
“Lake aeration in the state’s southern region is used on several shallow lakes to prevent a winterkill of fish,” said Craig Soupir, DNR southern region fisheries manager. “Aeration systems agitate and oxygenate water, helping to limit the number of fish that die due to a lack of oxygen in the water.”
Winterkill is a natural process and not all results are detrimental to a lake’s ecosystem. In lakes with high numbers of carp, periodic winterkill can thin out their numbers. In lakes that support native fish, the fish population can rebound quite dramatically in years following winterkill.
Cody Lake has not been aerated since 2014. At that time, the DNR worked with the club to cease aeration, because the practice was leading to less winterkill and providing refuge to common carp. A goal of the lake management plan since 2014 has been to rely on periodic winterkill to reset the fish population, allowing more successful northern pike or walleye stocking and suppressing common carp.
The sportsmen club proposes aeration at Cody Lake as a possible solution to prevent winterkill. The club proposes that preventing winterkill in the lake could increase game fish population stability.
Comments will be accepted through Tuesday, Nov. 18. Interested parties may forward their comments to: Regional Fisheries Manager Craig Soupir by email at [email protected], by mail at 21371 MN Hwy 15, New Ulm, MN 56073, or by phone at 507-461-9377.
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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Big Sand Lake, near Dorset in Hubbard County.
A Big Sand Lake property owner contacted the DNR after finding an adult zebra mussel on a personal watercraft lift being removed from the lake for the season. A DNR invasive species specialist found another zebra mussel attached to a dock about three-quarters of a mile from the initial report location.
Several new zebra mussel populations in Minnesota lakes in recent years were first reported by property owners and lake service providers removing docks, boats and boat lifts at the end of the season. It is a good reminder to carefully check boats and trailers, docks and lifts, and all other water-related equipment for invasive species when removing equipment for seasonal storage.
Remember to also keep docks and boat lifts out of the water for at least 21 days before putting them into another body of water. This is required by state law to prevent the spread of invasive species.
Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to:
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Clean watercraft, trailers and equipment to remove aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.
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Drain all water and leave drain plugs out during transport.
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Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.
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Never release bait, plants or aquarium pets into Minnesota waters.
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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:
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Decontaminate watercraft and equipment – find free stations on the courtesy decontamination page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/decon).
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Spray watercraft and equipment with high-pressure water or rinse with water if high-pressure water is not available.
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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 (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 DNR website (mndnr.gov/ais).
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