Grand Marais area fisheries announces survey work

Fisheries staff from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Grand Marais area office will conduct surveys and assessments on several area lakes and streams during the next few months.

Waters scheduled for surveys or assessments (by week) include:

• May 2 - Tait and Little Cascade Lakes (northern pike special assessments)
• May 9 - northern pike in Pickerel Lake (northern pike special assessment)
• May 30 - Thrasher Lake (splake special assessment)
• June 6 - Topper Lake
• June 13 - Thrasher Lake
• June 20 - Mit and Sunfish lakes.
• June 27 - Rice and South lakes
• July 4 - Holly, Little Trout, and Wampus lakes
• July 11 - Tait Lake
• July 18 - Clearwater and Trout lakes, special assessment of Devil Track Lake
• July 25 - Long Island Lake
• Aug. 1 - Caribou (near Lutsen) and Cherokee lakes
• Aug. 8 - Saganaga Lake, Cascade and Stump rivers, and Kimball Creek
• Aug. 15 - Devil Track, Flute Reed, and Onion rivers, and Kadunce Creek
• Aug. 22 - Gunflint Lake
• Aug. 29 - Loon Lake
• Sept. 5 - Gust Lake
• Sept. 12 - Daniels and Little Saganaga lakes
• Sept. 19 - Kraut, Peanut, and Mountain lakes
• Sept. 26 - Squash and North Shady lakes
• Oct. 3 - Esther and Surber lakes

Fisheries surveys and assessments are done on a regular basis to monitor changes in fish populations and to determine if management strategies have been effective. The survey frequency varies on each lake and stream based on ongoing management evaluations and angler use.

Data collected is reviewed and incorporated into individual fisheries lake management plans. The plans identify goals for key species in the lake and outlines specific management activities.

As a result of the Clean Water Legacy Act, many lakes being sampled this summer will also include near-shore small fish sampling using seining and backpack electro-fishing techniques. Combined with standard survey assessments, this data will allow the DNR to gauge the overall health of the fish community in these lakes.

Management plans for many of the above lakes and streams will be reviewed and revised during the next year or two. Public comments and suggestions for future management of these waters are welcome at any time. All current lake and stream management plans for the Grand Marais area are available for review at the area office.

Survey plans are tentative. Lakes and streams may be added or dropped and the timing may change. Questions about these surveys can be addressed to the DNR’s Grand Marais Area Fisheries at 1356 Highway 61 East, Grand Marais, MN 55604, or by calling 218-387-3056 or emailing [email protected].

Information collected this year will be available as a lake survey report in the spring of 2012. Lake surveys are available online at www.mndnr.gov/lakefind or from the Grand Marais area fisheries office.