DNR calls fur volunteers

[Lee Borgersen]

  Latest aquatic invasive species prompts call for volunteers......

Jul 28th 2019

  ....
One of Minnesota’s newest aquatic invasive species is the target of a statewide search requiring volunteers who will be trained and educated about starry stonewart.

  ....
Volunteers are needed from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Aug. 17, to look for the species. Those who wish to participate in the free event must register online at www.StarryTrek.org.

The Crow Wing County rendezvous location is at Mission Park, 13871 Mission Park Drive, Merrifield. Children under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

  ...
“This event is a terrific way for people to get outdoors, get educated about aquatic invasive species and help protect their area lakes,” said Megan Weber, Extension Educator with the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center, in a news release.

  ...
Starry stonewort is an invasive algae that was first found in Minnesota at Lake Koronis in 2015 and has since spread to 14 Minnesota lakes. At this time, there are no water bodies in Crow Wing County infested with starry stonewort. Early detection of this species is critical for control.

The 2017 discovery of starry stonewort in Grand Lake led to mobilizing hand-pulling the infestation.  This early intervention has widely been considered a success, with starry stonewort continuing to be limited to the small area near the public access where it was first discovered.

“Protecting our lakes for future generations is really important to us all, and we want to make sure we’re doing the best we can to prevent the introduction and spread of AIS,” County Environmental Services Specialist Nicole Erickson said in a news release.

Although this is the first time the county is hosting a Starry Trek event, hundreds of volunteers will gather at local training sites statewide to learn how to identify starry stonewort and other aquatic invasive species, and search for them in area lakes.

“The information we gain at this event helps researchers and managers understand its current distribution and potentially take action if new infestations are found,” Weber said in a news release.

 
Starry Trek volunteers have found starry stonewort in two lakes -- Grand Lake in Stearns County and Wolf Lake at the Hubbard/Beltrami County border -- as well as other aquatic invasive species like Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels during this event.

  .....
No experience or equipment is necessary to participate in Starry Trek. Training on monitoring protocols and starry stonewort identification will be provided on-site. A map of the route and supplies will be provided to volunteers as they travel to different lake landings in the county.


Just a few more updated tidbits.....
                                       

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources confirmed on July 23 reports of zebra mussels in Lake Oscar in Douglas County.

A lakeshore property owner contacted the lake association after finding a three-quarter-inch adult zebra mussel. The lake association reported it to Douglas County aquatic invasive species staff who, in turn, contacted the DNR. Divers from the DNR found a total of 78 adult zebra mussels in four locations on the lake.

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

The DNR had earlier confirmed small patches of flowering rush, an invasive aquatic plant, in Grants Lake in Douglas County. According to a July 18 release, it’s the first time the species has been found in the county.

The DNR staff has begun removing the plants by hand, which has proven effective for small populations. They will monitor the site for any regrowth and take additional control measures if required.



Flowering rush is a weed-like plant with pink flowers that can overtake habitat, crowd out native vegetation and make it difficult for boats to access open water. It’s a perennial that grows 1 to 4 feet high in shallow water. It flowers in early summer through mid-fall.

In deeper water, it can grow in a submerged form that does not produce flowers. Flowering rush can be difficult to identify when not in bloom, as it closely resembles many beneficial native plants such as the common bulrush.

People can spread flowering rush primarily by moving watercraft or illegally releasing aquatic garden plants into public waters. It reproduces by spreading small onion-like buds, which can be hidden in mud and debris and can stick to boots, waders and other fishing and hunting gear.

Flowering rush is a prohibited invasive species in Minnesota, which means it is illegal to possess, import, purchase, transport or introduce this species except under a permit for disposal, control, research or education.

Lake Alexander in Morrison County
The DNR also confirmed zebra mussels in Lake Alexander in Morrison County on July 18 in another news release.

DNR divers found two adult zebra mussels, about one-half inch in length, near Soldiers Island on the west side of the lake. Two more invasive mussels of the same size were found at the boat access on the east side of the lake.

Reports of zebra mussels in 2018 in another part of the lake could not be substantiated, despite numerous searches in 2018 and 2019.

[Lee Borgersen]

Starry stonewort confirmed in Lake Beltrami

  .... 8/8/18

  ....
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a small population of the invasive algae starry stonewort in Lake Beltrami, near Bemidji in Beltrami County.
  ....
Last August, a volunteer found a strand of starry stonewort near the public access in Lake Beltrami during the University of Minnesota Extensions annual Starry Trek event. Subsequent searches and ongoing monitoring did not reveal any additional starry stonewort in the lake until last weekend.

DNR divers confirmed starry stonewort in a three-foot area, two smaller areas, and separate strands tightly intermingled with a high diversity and abundance of native chara and aquatic plants. Starry stonewort is similar to chara in appearance, but starry stonewort has telltale star-shaped bulbils that typically aren't visible until August.

  ....
DNR divers will be hand-pulling starry stonewort at intervals through the rest of the summer as a way to manage the biomass. Boat inspections have been expanded and follow-up surveys will be conducted to watch for the invasive algae in other parts of the lake.

Starry stonewort has never been eradicated from any U.S. lake, but treatment or careful removal can help reduce the risk of spread and reduce the algae�s adverse impact on water-related recreation.

Starry stonewort was first confirmed in Minnesota in 2015. It has now been confirmed in 15 of Minnesota's 11,842 lakes.

Now is the best time of year to look for this invasive. Information on how to identify starry stonewort can be found on the DNR's website. If people think they�ve found starry stonewort, they should report it to the DNR.

  ....
Starry stonewort is an alga that looks similar to other native plants and can form dense mats, which can interfere with use of a lake and compete with native plants. It is most likely spread when fragments have not been properly cleaned from trailered boats, personal watercraft, docks, boat lifts, anchors or other water-related equipment.

The DNR reminds boaters and anglers to follow Minnesota laws to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species:

Clean aquatic plants and animals from watercraft.
Drain all water by removing drain plugs and keep drain plugs out while transporting watercraft.
Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.
Some invasive species are small and difficult to see at the access. To remove or kill them, take one or more of the following precautions before moving to another waterbody, especially after leaving infested waters:     

Spray with high-pressure water.
Rinse with very hot water (120 degrees for at least two minutes or 140 degrees for at least 10 seconds).
Dry for at least five days.
Details about starry stonewort and other aquatic invasive species are available at mndnr.gov/ais.