fishing – East Metro Water

Preserving Minnesota fishing tales for generations to come

By: angiehongmn May 15, 2026May 11, 2026

Aquatic Biology, Outdoor Adventures, UncategorizedAIS, featured, fishing, lakes, Minnesota, spiny waterflea, zebra musselsLeave a Comment

I don’t think it’s much of an exaggeration to say that fishing saved my family during the summer of 2021 when we navigated yet another summer of COVID with no day care and only a few weeks of camp. That summer was Minnesota at its quintessential, and in spite of chaos in the world, life was pretty good.

May 9, 2026 marks the beginning of another year’s fishing season, and with luck, many children just like Charlie will be making lifelong memories. As Minnesotans hit the water with fishing poles and boats, a well-trained team of watercraft inspectors, conservation officers, and even K9 officers will also be rolling out to lakes and rivers to help keep them safe from aquatic invasive species (AIS).

How long is forever? Understanding PFAS (aka. Forever Chemicals) and their local impacts

By: angiehongmn April 3, 2026March 31, 2026

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water clean, Partners and Updatesfeatured, fishing, forever chemicals, PFAS, water pollutionLeave a Comment

This March, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) issued updated fish consumption advisories for several lakes and rivers statewide that are impacted by mercury and PFAS.

Would you like to learn more about PFAS and its local impacts? Freshwater and the East Metro Water Education Program will co-host an info session for volunteers and local residents on Wednesday, April 8 (6-8pm) at the Oakdale Discovery Center. Dr. Ali Ling of the University of St. Thomas will speak and there will also be time for questions and conversation. Register at minnesotawaterstewards.org/pfas.

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?

Living dinosaurs roam the rivers

By: angiehongmn August 22, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Wildlifefeatured, fishing, Namekagon River, St Croix River, sturgeonLeave a Comment

Lake sturgeon were nearly hunted to extinction in the late 1800s and early 1900s but can now be found throughout the St. Croix River, as well as in tributaries including the Namekagon and Kettle Rivers.

Brown’s Creek winds its way toward cleaner water

By: angiehongmn August 4, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Buckthorn, Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, Partners and UpdatesBrown's Creek State Trail, Brown's Creek Watershed District, featured, fishing, stream restoration, troutLeave a Comment

This summer, the Brown’s Creek Watershed District completes a large-scale stream restoration project, designed to reduce bank erosion, manage floodwaters during large rain events, and improve habitat for fish along a half-mile stretch of Brown’s Creek that flows between McKusick Ave. and the Brown’s Creek State Trail.

Members of the community are invited to view and learn about the Brown’s Creek stream restoration during a tour on Aug. 12 (6:30pm) and a community festival on Sept. 20 (10am-1pm).

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.

Rivers re-wilded, fish return

By: angiehongmn February 18, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Partners and Updates, Wildlifedam removal, featured, fishing, Minnesota, remeander, rivers, streams, sturgeon, trout, WisconsinLeave a Comment

From dam removals to re-meander projects, many rivers and streams in Minnesota are regaining their wildness and seeing fish and other wildlife return.

Heritage Brook Trout Return to Afton

By: angiehongmn October 4, 2024October 2, 2024

Aquatic Biology, Partners and Updates, Uncategorized, WildlifeAfton State Park, featured, fishing, Minnesota DNR, south washington watershed district, stream restoration, troutLeave a Comment

Next week, Trout Brook in Afton will welcome its very own community of heritage brookies, thanks to a multi-year effort to improve water quality and restore aquatic habitat.

Restoration work underway along Brown’s Creek in Stillwater

By: angiehongmn August 30, 2024

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water clean, Partners and Updates, WildlifeBrown's Creek Watershed District, featured, fishing, streams, troutLeave a Comment

Trail users and local residents can expect to see buckthorn and tree removal continuing into the fall. The watershed district will also work with Trout Unlimited and volunteers to plant native shrubs and trees in key locations along the stream next spring.

Brown’s Creek takes a few twists and turns for the better

By: angiehongmn May 13, 2024

Aquatic Biology, Buckthorn, Partners and Updates, WildlifeBrown's Creek, featured, fishing, Stillwater, stream restoration, troutLeave a Comment

This week, Brown’s Creek Watershed District begins work on a stream restoration project designed to reduce bank erosion and improve habitat for fish along a half-mile stretch of water that flows between McKusick Ave. and the Brown’s Creek State Trail.