July 11, 2022



header


*Minnesota DNR News
*




*For Immediate Release:
*

July 11, 2022




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





In This Issue

* Fish and Wildlife Almanac [ #link_1491411839600 ]
* Assistance available for managing storm-damaged woods [ #link_1491411977526 ]
* Zebra mussels confirmed in Clear Lake in Crow Wing County [ #link_1 ]
* Habitat restoration work begins in St. Louis River?s connected Perch Lake [ #link_2 ]
________________________________________________________________________

Fish and Wildlife Almanac

A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife, and habitat management.

Catch-and-release walleye fishing resumes July 16
on Mille Lacs Lake

Two people fishing out of a boat on Mille Lacs Lake

Following a walleye fishing closure in place through Friday, July 15, Mille Lacs Lake anglers can catch and release walleye starting Saturday, July 16, through Wednesday, Aug. 31.

After the catch-and-release season, a one-fish walleye limit is scheduled to resume Thursday, Sept. 1, and continue through Wednesday, Nov. 30.

Fishing hours on Mille Lacs Lake are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. for all species. However, beginning with the opening of muskellunge season on June 4, anglers can target muskie and northern pike and are not subject to the night fishing closure if they are using artificial lures or sucker minnows longer than 8 inches. During the late walleye harvest season beginning Thursday, Sept. 1, all anglers can fish from 6 a.m. to midnight, and anglers targeting muskie and pike are not subject to the night fishing closure if they are using artificial lures or sucker minnows longer than 8 inches.

Complete Mille Lacs Lake fishing regulations are available on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/MilleLacsLake).



DNR webinars cover how to harvest wild rice, paddling basics

Two people paddleboarding

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites Minnesotans interested in fishing, wildlife and outdoor skills to tune into upcoming webinars that will discuss how to harvest wild rice and the basics of paddling a watercraft.

The first webinar on wild rice harvesting is at noon Wednesday, July 13. Nicholas Snavely, assistant wildlife manager in Sauk Rapids, and Matt Frazer, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe member and GIS manager for the Leech Lake Division of Resource Management, will share information on wild rice, its importance to Minnesota?s tribal nations and what you need to know to get out and harvest your own wild rice.

The second webinar on paddling basics is at noon Wednesday, July 20. An expert with Three Rivers Park District will give an introduction to canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding. The webinar will also cover available classes, places to paddle, and where to rent canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.

The webinars are 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 [ [link removed] ]?(mndnr.gov/Discover).



###

________________________________________________________________________

Assistance available for managing storm-damaged woods

Storm damaged tree

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has resources and foresters available to help landowners manage woodlands damaged by recent tornadoes and storms.

?Seeing trees down in your woods and coming up with a plan for cleanup can be overwhelming,? said Jennifer Teegarden, cooperative forest management outreach specialist. ?Be sure to take advantage of the help the DNR can provide to you.?

The DNR has cost-share funds to help affected woodland owners remove downed and damaged trees and to reforest their woods.

A DNR forester can assess the damage and help develop a project plan to manage woodlands. The forester may also be able to assist a woodland owner enroll in the DNR?s cost-share program designed to help woodland owners improve their woods. Additionally, foresters can discuss the benefits of getting a Woodland Stewardship Plan as a way to meet woodland goals, improve the health of the woods, and enroll in tax incentive programs.

Storms are one way nature helps rejuvenate the landscape. Often, strong winds blow down unhealthy or decayed trees in a forest, creating openings for younger, healthier trees that can benefit wildlife. Leaving some downed trees in woods can create wildlife habitat.

A timber harvest to remove downed and damaged trees can make woods safer and more accessible for future recreation and management activities. A timber harvest also is a way to keep woods healthy, meet woodland ownership goals, and make woods more resilient to future storms.

A professional forester can appraise timber, help find the right logger, and monitor harvest. A DNR forester can either help with a timber sale or connect woodland owners with a professional forester who can provide assistance.

Visit the DNR?s Forest Stewardship [ [link removed] ] page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/ForestStewardship) to learn how the DNR works with private woodland owners, get information about cost-share, and to find an area forester.



###

________________________________________________________________________

Zebra mussels confirmed in Clear Lake in Crow Wing County

Zebra mussels found in Clear Lake

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a report of zebra mussels in Clear Lake, near Jenkins in Crow Wing County.

DNR fisheries staff found an adult zebra mussel on survey equipment while working in Clear Lake. DNR invasive species staff found adult zebra mussels in several areas of the 225-acre lake during a response survey.

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 page of the 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.

Zebra mussels can compete with native species for food and habitat, cut the feet of swimmers, reduce the performance of boat motors, and cause expensive damage to water intake pipes.

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.

More information is available on the Aquatic Invasive Species page of the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/AIS).



###

________________________________________________________________________

Habitat restoration work begins in St. Louis River?s connected Perch Lake

Aerial view of Perch Lake, credit Sam Geer

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Land Trust are working to restore fish and wildlife habitat at Perch Lake, which was once a bay of the St. Louis River. West Duluth residents in the New Duluth neighborhood will begin seeing more construction equipment moving into the area as the project begins later in July.

Highway 23 and the Marten Trail will remain open during the project, but users should be aware of the additional traffic in the area and give construction vehicles room to operate safely. Construction of the railroad and Highway 23 embankment greatly reduced the lake?s connection to the river and resulted in low oxygen levels and shallow water depths from accumulated sediments, hindering movement for fish and wildlife.

The restoration plan includes dredging approximately 77,000 cubic yards of sediment to restore areas of deeper water and marsh and fish spawning areas. Dredging and material placement work is planned for July to October and January to February. Final site restoration and demobilization should be complete by the end of March 2023.

In collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Transportation?s Highway 23 repaving project in the summer of 2023, a new 16-feet wide culvert will be installed under the highway to improve water flow and fish passage between Perch Lake and the river.

Funding for the $7 million project comes from The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative with oversight by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Fund.



###





________________________________________________________________________

minnesota department of natural resources [ [link removed] ]

*Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ?|? mndnr.gov [ [link removed] ] *

Email us: [email protected] ?|? Call 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367

Follow us on Facebook [ [link removed] ] ? Follow us on Twitter [ [link removed] ] ? Follow us on Instagram [ [link removed] ] ? Find us on LinkedIn [ [link removed] ] ? Follow us on YouTube [ [link removed] ]

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:

Manage Preferences [ [link removed] ] ?|? Unsubscribe [ [link removed] ] ?|? Help [ [link removed] ] ?|? Sign-up for other Minnesota DNR notifications [ [link removed] ]


________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]