In This Issue
 Photo credit: Minnesota DNR
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Geological Survey, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and natural resources agencies in four other states, have released a report on the ecological status of the Upper Mississippi River.
This important report analyzes more than 25 years of data and will inform river management and investments in the coming years. The report includes information on water quality and aquatic vegetation, as well as fisheries data from six geographic study areas and select system-wide data.
The report includes information from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. The Status and Trends report is prepared by the Upper Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) program, which is a partnership of federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations and individuals working together to support Upper Mississippi River System ecosystem rehabilitation, research and monitoring. Previous Status and Trends reports were released in 1998 and 2008.
“Upper Mississippi River Restoration program partners that produced this report are taking a proactive approach to changes in this globally significant river system,” DNR Deputy Commissioner Barb Naramore said. “The report provides essential analyses of the effects of changing hydrology, invasive species and many other factors.”
“The Status and Trends Report will inform and influence the work of many government agencies, nonprofits and other partners,” DNR Ecological and Water Resources Division District Manager Megan Moore said. “We are grateful to be a part of this partnership and the important guidance it produces.”
The report is available via the USGS Publications Warehouse at Ecological Status and Trends of the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers (usgs.gov).
Key takeaways from this report that are relevant to Minnesota:
- The river is changing for a variety of reasons, but mostly as a result of changing hydrology and invasive species. The Upper Mississippi River System is a large and diverse ecosystem with many regional differences. Changes in the river are occurring differently and at different rates within the Upper Mississippi River System.
- There is more water in the river more of the time, with high flows lasting longer and occurring more frequently throughout the system. These trends are likely permanent changes to the river’s hydrology driven by land use changes and a shifting climate. Water flow is the primary driver affecting the quality and quantity of habitat.
- Floodplain forest loss has happened in nearly all the study areas, except south of St. Louis, Missouri, where locks are not in place. The forests may be responding to several interacting factors and environmental changes, including increasing flood inundation and invasive species.
- In Pool 4 (between Red Wing and Winona) and Pool 8 (near La Crosse, Wisconsin), water has become clearer and aquatic plants more abundant and diverse, which is improving habitat for fish and wildlife and leading to a decline in invasive fish species.
- Concentrations of nutrients, notably nitrogen and phosphorus, remain high, exceeding U.S. Environmental Protection Agency benchmarks and continuing to threaten aquatic life and water supplies along the Upper Mississippi River System. Total phosphorus concentrations have, however, declined in many of the studied river areas. Improvements to the Cannon River watershed significantly contributed to improved water quality in the Upper Mississippi River along the Minnesota border below the Cannon River confluence.
- The Upper Mississippi River System continues to support diverse and abundant fish populations. Economically and socially important recreational fish populations have increased in the northern portion of the Upper Mississippi River System. There have, however, been substantial declines in forage fish throughout the river network. Forage fish serve as important food for larger fishes and other animals. Invasive carp have thus far been unable to establish self-sustaining populations in Minnesota.
Information about related DNR partnerships is available on the Mississippi River Management page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/Waters/WaterMgmt_Section/River).
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A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife, and habitat management that can be used in full, as separate short stories, or to jump-start a longer article.
Apply through Aug. 19 for special youth deer hunts
Hunters can apply for special youth deer hunt permits through Friday, Aug. 19. These hunts are for youth ages 12-15 at the time of the hunt. Youth archery hunters in Sand Prairie Wildlife Management Area in Sherburne County can be ages 10-17. There is a limited number of permits for each hunt. Individual hunts will be held in several state parks, and in the Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, on various dates in the fall. Adults must accompany youth during these hunts. More information is available in on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/Hunting/Deer/Youth-Deer-Hunts.html). Special youth deer hunts are different from the statewide youth deer season, which takes place Oct. 20-23 and does not require an application.
Hunters may only possess and use nontoxic ammunition when participating in a special hunt or disease management hunt in a Minnesota state park or Scientific and Natural Area. Nontoxic ammunition includes steel, copper-plated, nickel-plated, zinc-plated and other projectiles made from a nontoxic material approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Webinar about Minnesota’s draft wolf management plan update to be held July 13
Anyone interested in learning more about the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ draft wolf management plan update is invited to an informational webinar at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 13. The webinar is free but registration is required. Participants will have an opportunity to pre-register to ask questions and comment during the webinar.
The updated wolf management plan includes summary information about Minnesota’s wolf population and a history of wolves in the state. It details the diverse and changing public attitudes about wolves, the legal status of wolves, tribal perspectives on wolves, and ways to support a healthy and resilient wolf population while minimizing conflicts between humans and wolves. The draft plan also sets out a framework for future decisions about whether to hold a wolf hunting or trapping season, should the wolf be removed from the federal threatened species list in Minnesota.
The DNR welcomes comments on the draft plan through 4:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8. The DNR expects to finalize the wolf plan later this year. To learn more about wolves in Minnesota, review the draft plan and register for the webinar, visit the DNR’s wolf page (mndnr.gov/Wolves).
DNR webinar covers how to harvest wild rice
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites Minnesotans interested in fishing, wildlife and outdoor skills to tune into an upcoming webinar that will discuss how to harvest wild rice. The webinar is at noon Wednesday, July 13. Nicholas Snavely, DNR assistant wildlife manager in Sauk Rapids, will share tips on how to get out and harvest wild rice.
The webinar is part of the DNR’s Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series, which aims to give participants quick, relevant information on upcoming seasons and events, as well as skills to enjoy these opportunities. The webinars are free, but registration is required. More information, including registration information for webinars and recordings of past webinars, is available on the outdoor skills and stewardship page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/Discover).
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