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A MAGAZINE FOR LAKE AND RIVER LIVING

The allure of Lake Marion Small lake in McLeod County attracts anglers, campers and visitors seeking a quiet getaway

Volunteers needed for Crow River Cleanup Pollution Control Agency adds McLeod, Meeker county lakes to Impaired Waters List

Buffer law aims to help clean state’s waterways

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Currents: Crow River Organization of Water seeks volunteers to help clean the river, shoreline in September

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FALL 2016 • Vol. 8, No. 3 PUBLISHED BY Litchfield Independent Review P.O. Box 307, Litchfield, MN 55355 320-693-3266

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Hutchinson Leader 170 Shady Ridge Road NW, Suite 100 Hutchinson, MN 55350 320-587-5000 PUBLISHER Brent Schacherer schacherer@hutchinsonleader.com 320-234-4143 EDITOR Juliana Thill thill@independentreview.net 320-593-4808 Litchfield office 320-234-4172 Hutchinson office

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kay Johnson, Jeremy Jones

Association appreciates its resource, seeks new members

story: Lake 16 Cover Marion Improvement

ADVERTISING Kevin True, advertising director true@hutchinsonleader.com 320-234-4141 Sales representatives Paul Becker • 320-234-4147 becker@hutchinsonleader.com Colleen Piechowski • 320-234-4146 piechowski@hutchinsonleader.com Joy Schmitz • 320-234-4140 schmitz@hutchinsonleader.com Greg McManus • 320-593-4802 mcmanus@independentreview.net SUBSCRIPTION OR ADDRESS CHANGE Michelle Magnuson magnuson@hutchinsonleader.com 320-234-4142 PRINTED BY Crow River Press 170 Shady Ridge Road NW Hutchinson, MN 55350 Dockside is published four times a year by the Litchfield Independent Review and Hutchinson Leader newspapers. It is distributed free to lake and river property owners around Litchfield and Hutchinson. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher.

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DNR expects good year for duck 14 Waterways: and goose hunting, reminds hunters to be safe Currents: Organizations that want to recruit and retain hunters and anglers can apply for grant money

20 Waterways: Pollution Control Agency adds McLeod, Meeker County lakes to Impaired Waters List

26 In the galley: Serve Rotini with Shrimp and Olives and make S’mores Brownies for dessert FALL 2016 | DOCKSIDE

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WELCOME ABOARD

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hrough the past several years, I’ve met many people involved with their lake association.

Some lake associations are large, formally organized, with websites, Facebook pages, and a long written history. Other lake associations are smaller, less formal, and less social media savvy, but no less passionate about the lake on which they live.

The latter would describe the Lake Marion Improvement Association. Sitting in on their annual meeting in August, I could see and hear the concern members have for the lake, for fundraising, for making improvements, and for the water quality as people use it for fishing and recreation.

The job of a lake association’s board of directors is never done, and it’s not always glamorous, but nevertheless, it’s important. Read more about Lake Marion south of Hutchinson and the Lake Marion Improvement Association that works to improve the quality of the lake while maintaining and beautifying the areas around the lake.

Also in the magazine, we have updates from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources with its

Infested Waters List, as well the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Impaired Waters List. More local lakes and bodies of water are appearing on these lists.

If you want to see cleaner water, the Crow River Organization of Water would appreciate your help on Sept. 17 when it is coordinating the annual Crow River Cleanup Day. Volunteers spend a few hours picking Juliana Thill up garbage from the water and Editor shoreline. We have details about how to volunteer in the magazine, as well.

Finally, I want to remind you that you will receive one more edition of Dockside this year, coming out in November. We are publishing Dockside four times this year, thanks to the support of our advertisers. I often hear how much you like our magazine; please tell the advertisers in this magazine how much you like it, too. We appreciate our readers, as well as our advertisers.

CURRENTS DNR doesn’t aerate lakes, but can issue permits to others who make request The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources does not aerate lakes, but the agency does issue permits to lake associations, counties and other local partners who wish to aerate shallow lakes that are prone to fish kills due to lack of dissolved oxygen in the winter.

Public safety is the primary concern, so these permits require aerated parts of the lake to be clearly marked with thin-ice signs and located away from high-traffic areas such as boat launches and snowmobile trails.

DNR fisheries and wildlife managers often provide guidance on whether aeration is desirable for a given lake.

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DNR to collect groundwater in Meeker County The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will collect and analyze water samples from about 90 wells in Meeker County this fall.

The data are being collected for the county’s geologic atlas, an effort involving the Minnesota Geological Survey and the DNR’s Ecological and Water Resources Division.

DNR staff has sent postcards to county residents requesting permission for well sampling, which involves collecting a water sample and measuring the depth to water in each well. Tests will profile the general chemical characteristics of area groundwater and will also show approximately how long the water has been underground.

Geology, location, well depth and well construction will determine the selection of wells for sampling. Owners of sampled wells will receive a report of the laboratory results for their well.

Preserving the long-term quality of the region’s surface water and groundwater requires that policy makers have access to accurate information based on

sound scientific principles. A county geologic atlas is a valuable tool for county planners, resource managers and other local government staff when making general planning, land use management and water resource protection decisions.

The Minnesota Geological Survey has published Part A of the atlas, which illustrates details of each county’s geology.

In 2018, the DNR will publish the groundwater portion of the atlas (Part B). The Part B reports will include maps and descriptions of the distribution and movement of groundwater, cross sections illustrating groundwater conditions, and the pollution sensitivity of groundwater in the county.

The DNR County Geologic Atlas program is funded in part by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Funding also comes from the Clean Water Fund, which receives a portion of the sales tax revenue from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment approved by voters in November 2008.

CURRENTS

Grants aim to increase number of hunters, anglers Organizations have until Oct. 13 to apply for second round of funds

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dozen organizations are receiving funding to help increase how many people hunt or fish — or support those who already do — through a new Minnesota Department of Natural Resources grant program.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources created the Angler and Hunter Recruitment and Retention Grants Program in 2015 to help local groups support Minnesota’s angling and hunting heritage.

Grant awards range from $5,000 to $50,000, and require a dollar-for-dollar match of the state grant award amount, or else a match of the value of

labor, materials or services of the state award.

Through these grants, the department is addressing growing concerns over declines in hunting and angling participation.

The first round of the program was competitive with 35 applicants.

The DNR expects to have more than $100,000 to distribute in round two.

The application for round two of the grant program can be found online at www.dnr.state.mn.us/angler_hunter_ grants.html. Organizations interested in applying for the grant program must apply by 2 p.m. Oct. 13.

Eligible projects have a purpose that supports angler or hunter recruitment and retention. Types of activities could include fishing and hunting educational programs, clinics, workshops and camps, and funding for fishing and hunting equipment and transportation.

“Recruitment” means bringing a person into hunting and/or fishing through their participation in, and commitment to, an activity. A minimum outcome is that the person leaves holding a positive experience and opinion toward hunting and fishing. Recruitment can include invoking a positive change in personal attitude toward outdoor recreation regardless of ongoing physical participation in the activity.

“Retention” means maintaining positive, economic, social and/or political involvement in hunting and fishing through a person’s continuing participation in, and/or support of these activities.

Second-round projects must be completed in Minnesota and be finished by June 30, 2018.

For more information about eligible applicants, eligible projects and the program can be found online.

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Buffer law Minnesota’s buffer law establishes new perennial vegetation buffers of up to 50 feet along rivers, streams and ditches that will help filter out phosphorus, nitrogen and sediment.The law provides flexibility and financial support for landowners to install and maintain buffers.

Buffers are designed to help protect waterways by filtering out phosphorus, nitrogen and sediment. The DNR's role in Minnesota's buffer law is to produce and maintain a map of public waters and public ditch systems that require permanent vegetation buffers. The DNR released a buffer protection map in July. The map will help guide the implementation of Minnesota's buffer law by landowners with the help of the Board of Water and Soil Resources, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, drainage authorities and other local governments.

Buffer law aims to help clean state’s waterways DNR plans to update buffer map in October and January. Landowners must have appropriate buffers in place by scheduled deadlines.

By Jeremy Jones CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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elle Lake, north of Hutchinson on the MeekerMcLeod county line, was noticeably missing from an earlier draft of the Department of Natural Resources’ buffer strip map.

But an official version released for use in July includes the lake, and calls for a 50-foot buffer with a solid blue line.

The buffer map shows landowners and local governments where protective vegetative buffer strips are

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required along 90,000 miles of lakes, rivers, streams and ditches. The map is available online at www.mndnr.gov/buffers.

“Vegetative buffers help filter pollutants and sediment out of our waterways,” said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr. “Completing this map is a critical step toward the ultimate goal of protecting one of our most valuable natural resources — clean water.”

The map is part of a law passed during the 2015 legislative session. The law establishes new perennial vegetation buffers along rivers, streams, lakes, public ditches and some wetlands The map helps landowners determine where buffers or alternative water quality practices are required and what buffer widths are required: ◆ The map labels public ditches as requiring a 16.5-foot buffer (local ordinances may require wider buffers). ◆ The map labels public waters as requiring a 50-foot average buffer (local ordinances may require wider buffers). ◆ The map also labels a few sites as

“needing field review.” The DNR will organize on-site verification of these public water features and will change this temporary label within six months.

Two deadlines have been scheduled for landowners: ◆ By Nov. 1, 2017, buffers must be in place on lands adjacent to public waters as identified and mapped. A 50foot average width with a 30-foot minimum is required. ◆ By Nov. 1, 2018, 16.5-foot minimum width buffers must be in place on lands adjacent to public ditches as identified and mapped.

More work to be done In addition to the missing Belle Lake on the preliminary map, county officials said they noticed incorrect measurements. The DNR implemented about half of the changes recommended by county staff.

The buffer map is a work in progress.

“The DNR has noticed there is going to need to be some tweaking,” said

CURRENTS Paul Wright, chair of the McLeod County Board. “It sounds like they have realized this is going to need a little more time to get right.”

Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts are working with landowners to create the right size buffer or select an alternative water quality practice.

If the SWCDs, drainage authorities or other local governments identify errors in the map during landowner conversations, they will notify the DNR. The DNR will make corrections where appropriate. The DNR will release updated maps in October and January.

Other options The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources said the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program is an alternative to buffer strips.

Through MAWQCP, farmers and landowners can implement and maintain approved farm management practices to protect water quality.

Ryan Freitag, program administrator for the McLeod County Soil and Water Conservation District, said the U.S. Department of Agriculture costshare Conservation Reserve Program, a previous vegetative cover program meant to stop erosion, provides one exception to the new buffer law. He said similar programs also qualify.

While enforcement will fall to the Board of Water and Soil Resources, counties and watershed districts, water conservation districts such as the one he works for will help on the technical end.

“We want to get information out, help landowners, and help with alternative practices,” he said.

Landowners should be on the lookout for any bodies of water added or removed from DNR protection, Freitag said.

Wright encourages landowners to look at the maps and check for errors.

“The county can check lakes and measurements, but we really need property owners to come forward,” he said.

Suggest corrections To suggest a correction to the buffer map, contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District. SWCDs are able to work directly with landowners on these issues.

McLeod Soil and Water Conservation District 1103 Gruenhagen Drive, Glencoe 320-864-5176

Meeker Soil & Water Conservation District 916 E St. Paul St., Litchfield 320-693-7287

Wright Soil & Water Conservation District 311 Brighton Ave. S., Suite C, Buffalo 763-682-1970 For more information, go online to www.dnr.state.mn.us/buffers/index.html

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CURRENTS

DNR offers reminders for catch-and-release fishing

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PHOTO COURTESY OF MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY

There are many causes of fish kill, natural and human.

Report fish kills to state duty officer

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he University of Minnesota estimates that about 500 fish kills occur in the state every year but few are reported. Anglers and others who see multiple dead fish in one location should report it to the Minnesota State Duty Officer at 800-422-0798.

This phone number for environmental and other emergencies is staffed 24 hours 7 days week. (Call 911 for immediate threats to life and property.)

Natural causes of fish kills include: ◆ Low oxygen levels due to natural stream conditions and other intrinsic factors ◆ High water temperature ◆ Disease ◆ Winter kill Human causes of fish kills include: ◆ Low oxygen caused by human impacts. ◆ Toxic spills. ◆ Manure runoff. ◆ Pesticides and fertilizers. ◆ Wastewater or stormwater discharges high in temperature.

According to a University of Minnesota study: ◆ Runoff, disease, and low oxygen are most common causes. ◆ Fish kills often occur when multiple factors happen at same time. ◆ Low oxygen will affect large bodied fish before small bodied fish. ◆ Fish kills involving few species are often caused by disease. ◆ Toxic pollution or discharges can cause death among multiple species and sizes. ◆ Few fish kills result in total loss of fish community.

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atch-and-release only for smallmouth bass begins Sept. 12, except in northeast Minnesota.

This is a good time, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, to remind anglers that the key to releasing fish without injuring them is to be prepared.

Anglers should have the necessary equipment readily available: needle-nose pliers, forceps, line clipper, a soft mesh or coated landing net, and a camera. It is important to minimize the time the fish is out of the water. If possible, unhook the fish while it is in the water. If taking a picture, hold larger fish horizontally with the head and body supported. Do not hold large fish vertically or by the gills or eyes.

Play and land the fish as quickly as possible and moisten your hands with water to protect the fish’s slime layer and prevent post-release infections. If the fish is deeply hooked, cut the line inside the fish’s mouth. If it is deeply hooked and bleeding, consider keeping the fish to eat as long as it is of legal size in the open angling season for that species.

With the state record fish program now accepting applications for catch-and-release muskie, flathead catfish and lake sturgeon, anglers with a potentially record-setting catch are encouraged to quickly measure and take a picture of the fish before releasing it.

Allowing state records to be set via catch-and-release presents an opportunity to recognize Minnesota’s fishing opportunities for these species, while also formally honoring the skill of anglers who catch and release a trophy muskie, flathead or sturgeon.

With the increased popularity of catch and release fishing and higher minimum lengths, many anglers are reluctant to harvest record-weight fish. To address this concern, DNR has created a record program for catch-and-release length for three species: muskellunge, lake sturgeon and flathead catfish.

Certified weight In addition to state records for the catch-and-release species, there are state records for catching and keeping the biggest fish in each species based on certified weight.

If you catch a fish that you think could be a record, follow these steps: ◆ Weigh the fish on a state-certified scale (found at most bait shops and butcher shops), witnessed by two observers. ◆ Take the fish to a DNR fisheries office for positive identification and a state record fish application. ◆ Complete the State Record Fish submission form that can be downloaded as a pdf from the DNR’s website and send it along with a clear, full-length photo of your fish to the address listed on the form.

CURRENTS

CROW seeks volunteers to help clean up river Volunteers pull garbage from the Crow River and its shoreline during a Crow River Cleanup event.

Annual cleanup day will be Sept. 17, with numerous communities participating

By Juliana Thill EDITOR

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FILE PHOTO

efore Old Man Winter blows in, volunteers will head outdoors to clean up the Crow

River.

The Crow River Organization of Water and numerous volunteers will participate in the 13th annual Crow River Cleanup from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 17.

This watershedwide community event is a volunteer opportunity that has resulted in more than 64 tons of garbage being removed from about 424 miles of shoreline on the Crow River and its tributaries since it began, according to Diane Sander, CROW watershed coordinator.

In 2014 alone, for example: ◆ Nine volunteers in Brownton/ Stewart collected 450 pounds from a one-mile stretch of Buffalo Creek, which is a major tributary to the South Fork Crow River. ◆ Eight volunteers in Biscay collected 200 pounds of garbage from two miles of shoreline along the South Fork Crow River. ◆ Twenty-seven volunteers in

Cokato found 300 pounds of recyclables and garbage in a half-mile area. ◆ Twenty-one volunteers in Forest City collected 450 pounds of litter in two miles. ◆ Twenty-two volunteers in Hutchinson collected 600 pounds of rubbish from two miles of the South Fork Crow River. ◆ Three people collected 500 pounds of junk from a 13-mile stretch of the Middle Fork Crow River near Manannah.

Cleanup activities are planned in several communities. People who want to volunteer should dress appropriately since it is a dirty job. After the cleanup, volunteers meet at a designated location for a free lunch and to assemble for group photo. Each volunteer receives a T-shirt commemorating

the event and as a thank you for their hard work. People planning to volunteer also should call their local contact person so the correct shirt size can be ordered and to make sure enough food is available.

Contacts include: Biscay: Patty Dahlke, 320-864-5537 Brooten: Chris Lundeen, 320-3462869 Brownton/Stewart: Gerri & Mike Fitzloff, 320-562-2369 Forest City: Chuck Schoolmeesters, 320-693-2972 Hutchinson: Roger Hartsuiker, 320234-1327 Manannah: Deb McCann, 320-4442291 For more information, call Sander at 763-682-1933 x112 or email her at diane.sander@mn.nacdnet.net.

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We are working with bait shops in the county to offer branded bait bags where they got a bobber and a booklet that helps identify aquatic invasive species.

— EMILY GABLE, environmental technician for McLeod County

McLeod County’s aquatic invasive species program focuses on education County surveys residents about their knowledge of AIS

By Jeremy Jones CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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wo years ago, when the state provided money to Minnesota counties to fund the creation of programs meant to battle the spread of aquatic invasive species, McLeod County put its share toward education.

“When the dollars became available to the county, we did not want to get too involved in putting an inspector at the boat landings, or investing in a boat wash,” said Paul Wright, chair of the McLeod County Board.

At the time the decision was discussed, in November 2014, Board Member Jon Christensen said there were a lot of details boaters may not know about. While on the county’s AIS Task Force, he learned duck lures could contribute to the spread of unwanted species from one body of water to another.

AIS are plants and animals that are not native to local lakes. By attaching to boats, they can potentially spread from lake to lake, and drastically change the ecosystem, or create a recreational nuisance.

Emily Gable Boaters are advised to check and Environmental clean their boats of mud, plants and technician for animals, and drain them of water.

McLeod County Bait and bait water should not be transferred from lake to lake.

“Other counties did focus on enforcement,” said Emily Gable, an environmental technician for the county. “We wanted a more positive approach.”

The county has tried a variety of methods to educate residents, starting in the schools.

“We worked with a theater group called CLIMB,” Gable said. “We went to schools in the county and targeted fifthgraders. The performance involved a game they played.

One guy in the middle of the classroom was an infected

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lake, and as students walked by, they got tagged, and they were infected. It was just a model to show, it only takes one person to spread it.

“We had a presence at the County Fair. We are working with bait shops in the county to offer branded bait bags where they got a bobber and a booklet that helps identify aquatic invasive species.”

Educational signs were placed above gas station pumps around the county, along with tags on the hose.

“That repetition will help; that’s what we’re hoping,” Gable said.

In June, McLeod County Signs like this are installed at workers checked to be sure lakes where the Minnesota every lake access point had Department of Natural signage discussing AIS, Resources maintains public and how to prevent spreadaccesses. McLeod County has ing them. taken a similar approach to To get a better idea of preventing the spread of which programs are working, a survey was sent to aquatic invasive species by county residents, with 147 focusing on education. people responding.

About 71 percent of respondents said their knowledge of AIS had increased in 2015. About 49 percent of respondents categorized their increase in knowledge as “slightly.”

“People are thinking more about AIS when they are using the lakes,” Gable said.

The survey showed about 62 percent of respondents were moderately or very knowledgeable about AIS. Another 13 percent were “neutral.” According to the survey, boat launch signs and newspaper postings were the most helpful sources of information. Educational displays and promotions at bait shops were of middling success, and open house events and gas station signs were least noticed.

Respondents called for higher visibility for education benefits. Others asked for stiffer penalties for those who are not careful to prevent the spread of AIS while boating and fishing.

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