As shorelines become increasingly more developed, we start to see shoreline erosion, fewer fish and wildlife, more algae in the water, and diminished water clarity.
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All articles filed in Aquatic Biology
Mysterious creatures of the St. Croix River
Bryozoans are just one of the many strange and unique animals that call the St. Croix River home.
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Volunteer to protect Minnesota lakes from aquatic invasive species
During Starry Trek, scheduled this year for Aug. 20, volunteers gather at training sites to learn how to identify starry stonewort and then head out to local water accesses to search for signs of the invasive species.
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Lily Lake alum treatment scheduled for May 19
The alum will draw phosphorus out of the water column and also seal sediment on the lake bottom so that the nutrient can no longer feed algae.
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Is it safe to eat the fish?
The short answer is, it depends.
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Salt continues to pollute Minnesota lakes and streams
Once concentrations are high enough, the chloride becomes toxic to fish and invertebrates and can even prevent lakes from turning over the in spring and fall.
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The secret life of the St. Croix’s freshwater mussels
“The St. Croix River is a rare example of a complete and intact river ecosystem,” explains Marian Shaffer, an Aquatic Biologist with the National Park Service. “In fact, all of the freshwater mussel species that existed in the St. Croix Riverway before European settlement are still here today.”
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Salt a growing problem for Minnesota’s water
Overall, the MPCA has determined that road salt is responsible for 42% of the chloride in groundwater, lakes and streams. Two other major sources of chloride that are less well-known include agricultural fertilizers (23% of the total chloride) and water softeners, which account for up to 65% of the chloride discharged from municipal wastewater treatment plants.
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Protecting Mill Stream and the St. Croix River
(IBI) scores that function much like grades on a report card. According to Mike Isensee, Administrator for the Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District, Mill Stream will likely get an IBI score of “B” in 2022.
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Heat Wave Spurs Harmful Algal Blooms in Some Minnesota Lakes
Usually, algae and aquatic plants are merely a nuisance, but sometimes a form of cyanobacteria known as blue-green algae can bloom and release toxins that make humans and animals sick.
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East Metro Water 