fish – East Metro Water

Finding frozen frogs

By: angiehongmn December 19, 2025December 16, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Wildlifefeatured, fish, frogs, lakes, Minnesota, salt, turtles, winter1 Comment

When the snow falls and lakes freeze over, Minnesota’s wildlife employ a variety of adaptations to stay alive.

a boat on the Mississippi River near Lake City

Fish, with a side of anti-depressant?

By: angiehongmn November 18, 2025November 4, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water clean, Wildlifefeatured, fish, fishing, medications, pharmaceuticals, Septic Systems, wastewater, water pollutionLeave a Comment

How and why are chemicals like estrone, DEET, cocaine, antidepressants, oxycodone, and veterinary antibiotics ending up in our lakes and rivers?

Meet our 2025 Natural Shoreline Award winners!

We are excited to announce the winners of our inaugural Natural Shoreline Awards, sponsored by the East Metro Water Resource Education Program and Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership. These awards recognize Minnesotans who are protecting lake, stream, and wetland habitat in Chisago, Isanti, Ramsey and Washington Counties.

One fish, two fish, plant for more fish?

By: angiehongmn July 25, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Partners and Updates, WildlifeCarnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District, featured, fish, fishing, lakes, natural shorelines, shorelines, Valley Branch Watershed DistrictLeave a Comment

Seine netting is one technique that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) uses to collect fish when developing an “index of biological integrity” for a lake, known as an IBI score. The number and variety of fish caught helps the DNR to determine whether a lake fully supports aquatic life.

An end to fish favoritism?

By: angiehongmn March 2, 2023March 2, 2023

Aquatic Biology, Wildlifeecology, featured, fish, fishing, rough fish1 Comment

This spring, Minnesota lawmakers consider new legislation, known as the “No Junk Fish” bill, which would provide funding for the DNR to study native fish species that are currently classified as rough fish and propose updated regulations to better manage and protect their populations.

Mysterious creatures of the St. Croix River

By: angiehongmn August 4, 2022

Aquatic Biology, Outdoor Adventuresbryozoans, featured, fish, freshwater mussels, St Croix River1 Comment

Bryozoans are just one of the many strange and unique animals that call the St. Croix River home.

Is it safe to eat the fish?

By: angiehongmn February 10, 2022February 4, 2022

Aquatic Biology, Wildlifefeatured, fish, fishing, Lake Elmo, mercury, Mississippi River, PFAS, St Croix RiverLeave a Comment

The short answer is, it depends.

Aquatic life in Forest Lake – The good, the bad, and the ugly

By: angiehongmn July 3, 2018July 3, 2018

Aquatic BiologyAIS, Aquatic Invasive Species, aquatic invertebrates, boating, featured, fish, Forest Lake, lake ecologyLeave a Comment

It was a beautiful night for Arts in the Park; the air was cool, the storm clouds had passed, and a Beatles tribute band was rocking the pavilion. My Forest Lake friends – a damselfly larva and a crawling water beetle – were swimming to the beat of the music in a container full of…

Getting to know your neighborhood uncommon fish

By: angiehongmn September 18, 2014

Aquatic Biology, Wildlifeendangered species, fish, Mississippi River, St. Croix River, Washington CountyLeave a Comment

There are eight species of fish in Washington County that are considered threatened or special concern species by the State of Minnesota.