Minnesota lakes – East Metro Water

Mercury levels going down in Minnesota lakes

By: angiehongmn October 24, 2022

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanfeatured, impaired waters, mercury, Minnesota lakes, MPCA, water pollutionLeave a Comment

In 2020, the MPCA removed Forest Lake, Tanners Lake (Oakdale), Owasso (Roseville/Shoreview), Johanna (Arden Hills) and eight lakes in northern Minnesota from the state’s impaired waters list. This was the first time in Minnesota history that any lake or river recovered from a mercury impairment.

Local lakes at risk of too much love

By: angiehongmn August 25, 2022November 30, 2022

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanfeatured, fishing, Lake Elmo, Minnesota lakes, Scandia, shoreline habitat, StillwaterLeave a Comment

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.

Volunteer to protect Minnesota lakes from aquatic invasive species

By: angiehongmn July 20, 2022

Aquatic BiologyAIS, Aquatic Invasive Species, featured, lakes, Minnesota lakes, starry stonewort, zebra musselsLeave a Comment

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.

Tracking the health of Forest Lake area lakes and streams

By: angiehongmn March 21, 2022

Keeping water cleancomfort lake - forest lake watershed district, featured, Forest Lake, Minnesota lakes, rice creek watershed district, water monitoringLeave a Comment

Who tracks water quality in the Forest Lake area, and how do we nurse impaired lakes and streams back to good health?

A Martha Stewart Guide to Lake Water Quality

By: angiehongmn July 1, 2021

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water clean, Partners and Updatesalgae, Chisago County, Chisago Lake Improvement District, featured, Minnesota lakes, water monitoringLeave a Comment

Three variables – water clarity, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll – are combined to create a metric known as a trophic state index.

A few years back, Jerry Spetzman began noticing that the color of the algae samples on a white filter corresponded almost perfectly with the lakes’ overall water quality.

Breaking Eurasian watermilfoil’s stranglehold on Minnesota Lakes

By: angiehongmn March 4, 2021March 4, 2021

Aquatic BiologyAIS, Aquatic Invasive Species, Big Marine Lake, comfort lake - forest lake watershed district, Eurasian watermilfoil, featured, Forest Lake, lakes, Minnesota lakes, Valley Branch Watershed District, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Researchers and lake associations search for new ways to control this aggressive invasive species. Meanwhile, watercraft inspections remain the first line of defense in preventing the spread of AIS.

Tracking the health of lakes in Washington County

By: angiehongmn February 4, 2021February 2, 2021

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanBig Carnelian Lake, Big Marine Lake, featured, Lake McKusick, lakes, Long Lake, Minnesota lakes, Square Lake, water monitoring, water qualityLeave a Comment

During 2020, Washington Conservation District monitored water quality on 71 lakes in Washington County. Here’s what recent data tell us about five local lakes.

Frozen fish and salty toes

By: angiehongmn January 7, 2021February 4, 2021

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water clean, Outdoor Adventureschloride pollution, featured, fishing, ice fishing, Minnesota lakes, road salt, saltLeave a Comment

One growing concern for urban lakes and streams is pollution from winter road salt. Currently, there are 50 lakes and streams in Minnesota that are listed as impaired due to elevated chlorides and another 75 that are “nearly” impaired.

Rumor has it there’s a rumor in town

By: angiehongmn June 25, 2020June 23, 2020

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water clean, Outdoor Adventuresclean water, featured, fishing, Minnesota lakes, Oakdale, ramsey washington metro watershed district, swimming1 Comment

Tanners Lake is part of the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD), and the district has worked hard to improve and protect water quality in the lake over the past 20 years. In fact, Tanners was one of the first lakes in Minnesota to be removed from the state’s impaired waters list (in 2004) after phosphorus levels went down and algae stopped being a problem.

Help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species while fishing and boating this season

By: angiehongmn May 14, 2020May 13, 2020

Aquatic BiologyAIS, Aquatic Invasive Species, boating, featured, fishing, Minnesota lakesLeave a Comment

Last weekend, Minnesota’s 2020 fishing season opened with a bang. There was snow up north, only a few fish caught in the St. Croix River, and no cameo appearances from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. None-the-less, record numbers of Minnesotans purchased fishing licenses last week and set sail in search of walleye, pike, and lake trout…