June 2018 Transparency Times Newsletter

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Transparency

Newsletter of the Citizen Lake and Citizen Stream Monitoring Programs

June 2018


2017 Citizen Monitoring Reports Ready

ISR

You can now view your 2017 Citizen Lake and Stream Monitoring Program data! To access your 2017 data, go to the Citizen Monitoring Program Individual Site Report website. From there you can navigate to your data in one of two ways:

  • Use the map tab to navigate to the monitoring site on your lake or stream. Click on the black triangle next to the lake ID or the black circle next to the stream ID. In the box that appears, click on "Citizen Monitoring Report". Your report will open in a new tab.
  • Use the text tab to enter your monitoring site number (i.e. 01-0001-00-101 for lakes or S001-101 for streams) in the very bottom box titled "Citizen Monitoring Site or Lake ID number". A new page will open with the name of your lake or stream and the monitoring site number you entered. Click on the monitoring site number and your report will open in a new tab.

PLEASE NOTE - water clarity trend results are currently NOT included in 2017 individual site reports. We hoped to have trend results available by now, but are still finalizing our analytical procedures and felt we couldn't delay the release of these reports any longer. We plan to have lake trends ready within the coming month and stream trends by the end of summer. We will notify all volunteers once trend results are available. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Individuals who have requested paper communication will receive their reports by the end of June. Back to top


MCPA Begins 2018 Water Quality Monitoring Fieldwork

Monitoring

Monitoring crews from the MPCA are beginning the eleventh year of an effort to assess the condition of rivers, streams, and lakes in Minnesota. Crews conduct intensive water quality monitoring in each of  Minnesota's 80 watersheds every ten years. The MPCA recently wrapped up the first 10-year monitoring cycle and is now embarking upon the second 10-year cycle, returning to measure progress and fill in data gaps that help inform local water quality planning efforts.

Water quality monitoring in each watershed is done over the course of a two year period and focuses on measuring recreational use and biological health. In 2018, MPCA and partners will be monitoring in the following watersheds: Lower Rainy River, Rainy River - Rainy Lake, Rapid River, North Fork Crow River, Blue Earth River, Cottonwood River, Redwood River, Pomme de Terre River, Snake River, Little Fork River, Sauk River, Le Sueur River, Mississippi River - Lake Pepin and the Root River watershed.

Each watershed is comprised of a network of interconnected streams, lakes, and wetlands. The intent of this monitoring effort is to develop a complete picture of conditions of the various water bodies within each watershed. This work is funded by the Clean Water Fund from the constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2008.

In addition to watershed monitoring, the MPCA will continue its large river monitoring program started in 2013. This year monitoring crews will be out on the St. Croix and the Upper Mississippi River.

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Field Sampling Reminders

Now that the monitoring season is in full swing, here are some friendly reminders to ensure that your data is accurate and useful:

1. Please check your datasheets for legibility. If we can’t decipher your data, we can’t use your data!

2. Record Physical Condition (for lakes), Appearance (for streams) and Recreational Suitability (for lakes and streams) each time you sample. Please choose only one number for these ratings (“2-3” or “3+” will not be used).

3. When taking Secchi measurements, remove sunglasses and turn your back to the sun if you are using a Secchi tube or take the measurement on the shaded side of the boat if you are using a Secchi disk.

Streams

1. Don't forget to record Rain Event = Yes/No each time you sample.

2. Note that the “Appearance” scale distinguishes “1A (Clear)” reading from “1B (Tea-colored).”

3. Please estimate the water level at your site each time you sample. The categories to choose from are broad, so don’t agonize too much over which one to choose. For assistance with determining which “Stream Stage Estimate” category to record, please refer to the following descriptions:

Stream stage est graphic

L=low  Water covers 1/3 or less of the distance from the stream bottom to the top of the bank.

N=normal  Water covers 1/3 to 2/3 of the distance from the stream bottom to the top of the bank.

H=high  Water covers 2/3 or more of the distance from the stream bottom to the top of the bank. Water may be over the stream bank – flooding - at some point.

Z=no flow  Disconnected stagnant pools/puddles without observable flow.

D=dry  Stream channel is dry.

Bog stain

Lakes

1. Don't forget to record the water color each time you monitor. Lake color can be quite variable, but to make categorizing responses easier, please only choose from the following colors: clear, green, stained (see image to right) and sediment. You can always provide more detail in the comments section regarding water color if you need to.

2. Round your Secchi readings to the nearest half foot.

Remember, if you ever have any questions about how to take your lake or stream measurements, don't hesitate to contact us at clmp.pca@state.mn.us (lakes) or csmp.pca@state.mn.us (streams).

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Using Lake Sediment Cores to Restore Lakes in the Cannon River Watershed

Coring 1

A long time ago, the Cannon River Watershed was once covered in prairie and deciduous forest. Today, this watershed, located in southeastern Minnesota, has more than 70% of its land in cultivation and has a healthy population spanning the counties of Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, Steele, Rice and Waseca. The watershed is home to the Cannon and Straight Rivers (amongst others), 35 lakes and 107 wetlands.  It is a beautiful watershed, but also one facing challenges.  

In 2011, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency monitored the Cannon River Watershed and identified 30 lakes as impaired from excessive phosphorus levels. To meet state water quality standards, these 30 lakes require reductions in phosphorus– a task sometimes easier said than done. There are uncertainties in predicting phosphorus load reduction numbers and on top of that, there’s variability in lake characteristics that affect how each lake responds to restoration efforts. For example, some lakes may be naturally more productive than others, and some may be less sensitive to external phosphorus due to differences in morphometry and hydrology.

Coring 2

Essentially, the million-dollar question for each impaired lake is – what is the best implementation effort with the highest likelihood of success? In some cases, small reductions in phosphorus flowing into a lake can lead to rapid water quality improvements, while in others, legacy phosphorus residing in lake bottom sediments may overwhelm watershed restoration efforts for years. To better target lake restoration efforts in the Cannon River Watershed, the MPCA asked the St. Croix Watershed Research Station (Science Museum of Minnesota) to complete a paleolimnological study (i.e. intense analysis of lake sediment cores to gather historical conditions of a lake) on a small subset of the impaired lakes. The goal was to use the additional data gathered to aid the MPCA in better targeting restoration activities toward more “recoverable” lakes, thereby maximizing implementation resources and success.

Since October 2017, The St. Croix Watershed Research Station has taken sediment core samples from 16 lakes in the Cannon River Watershed. Analysis is currently underway and focused mainly on total phosphorus levels, which combined with sediment dating, will allow the MPCA to determine rates of phosphorus burial over the years. Fossil diatoms will also be analyzed to determine historical changes in algal composition.

Much can be learned from lake sediment cores, however, they are expensive to obtain and analyze, making it cost prohibitive to do on a large, statewide scale. Sediment core analysis is just one tool available in the lake restoration toolbox. It is possible that results from one sediment core study could be extrapolated to other regions in the state that are comprised of similar lakes, watersheds and land-based pressures. So, hopefully the results from the Cannon River Watershed study will not only improve the accuracy and predictive power of lake phosphorus budgeting for impaired lakes in the Cannon River Watershed, but for other impaired lakes across the state. Back to top


Share Your Shoreline Success!

Shoreline

One person can make a difference, especially when it comes to shoreline restoration. One of the biggest impacts shoreline property owners have on water quality is through their approach to shoreline maintenance. Mowing to the water's edge, building artificial beaches and planting exotic invaders all contribute to poor water quality and unsuitable habitat for wildlife. On the flip side, thick buffers of native plants improve water quality by slowing and filtering runoff, in addition to supporting a diverse community of fish and wildlife.  

With waterfront property continuing to be developed at a rapid pace, normalizing the use of buffers will be vital to maintaining water quality throughout the state. One of the best ways to do this is through peer to peer encouragement. Neighbors talking to neighbors, lake associations funding local projects and citizens actively engaging with their local government.

The CMP wants to participate in this peer to peer networking through social media! Tag us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with photos of your shoreline successes and we'll share them with all of our followers. We can't wait to share your beautiful images with others and spread the word about the wonders of native shorelines! Back to top


CMP Lawn Signs Available!

Lawn Sign

Citizen Monitoring Program lawn signs are here and ready for the taking! A lawn sign is a great way to show your citizen water monitoring pride and recruit new volunteers to the program!

The sign is roughly 18” W x 12” H and sits just over two feet tall when coupled with the stake and stuck in the ground. If you would like to receive a lawn sign to post in your yard, please call or email us and we will get one out to you. 

Finally, we want to give a big shout out to CLMP volunteer Jim Ploof for coming up with the lawn sign idea and for drafting initial design concepts. It was fun to work with him and we are so appreciative of the time he dedicated to the project. If you have recruitment ideas you’d like to share with us, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time! We’d love to put your ideas into action! Back to top


CMP at the 2018 State Fair

State Fair

The Citizen Science exhibit will be at the MPCA’s State Fair Eco Experience building again this year. Exhibits at the Eco Experience are updated regularly and this will likely be the last year for the Citizen Science exhibit so room can be made for new exhibits and themes. So, with this in mind, let's go out with a bang this year (and hopefully a new citizen science-themed exhibit will reappear in the coming years!).

If you are unfamiliar with the exhibit, it is a collaboration between The Citizen Lake & Stream Monitoring Programs, the University of Minnesota’s Monarch Lab , the DNR’s Frog& Toad Calling Survey  and Hawk Ridge’s Western Great Lakes Owl Monitoring Program. The exhibit is hands-on and self-guided, but greatly benefits from the presence of actual citizen scientists interested in sharing their stories and knowledge.

We are looking for Citizen Lake and Stream volunteers to help staff the exhibit again this year. The time commitment is flexible. You could spend as little as an hour at the exhibit or up to 3 or 4 if you would like. You don’t need to be an expert in the field of citizen science or in any of the exhibit’s activities. We are just looking for YOU - your experiences, knowledge and history with collecting water clarity data on your favorite lake or stream. As always, a free entrance ticket to the fair will be provided for the day of your shift.

The fair starts August 23rd and runs through September 3rd. Please add these dates to your calendar if you are interested in volunteering at the exhibit. We will send out more detailed information later this summer on how to sign up for shifts. Back to top.

lake news

Report Blue Green Algae Blooms Using BloomWatch App

Bloomwatch App

BloomWatch is an app that uses the reports of citizen scientists to better track and understand harmful algal blooms. If you report a blue green algae bloom on a Minnesota lake using the BloomWatch app, the MPCA receives notification of your report so we can track it locally. Download the BloomWatch App today and get ready to report!

The MPCA is always here to answer any questions you may have regarding blue-green algae blooms.  Please don't hesitate to contact us directly and always remember - when in doubt, stay out - if you suspect a blue green algae bloom.

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Simple, No-cost Tests for Blue-Green Algae

Jar Test

Thanks to the ingenuity of staff at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, there's now new methods residents can use to identify blue-green algae blooms on their lake or pond. Referred to as the Jar and Stick tests - all you need is....you got it... a jar or stick to complete the test!

The jar test is based on the idea that most blue-green algae communities are free floating and buoyant. So, if a water sample left in a jar develops a green ring of algae at the top over time, it likely consists of blue-green algae. However, if the algae settles to the bottom of the jar, it is likely your lake does not have a lot of blue green algae.

The stick test is really as sophisticated as it sounds and consists of poking that mat of scum floating on the lake surface with a big ole stick! If the stick comes out looking like it has been dipped into a can of paint, the material is likely blue-green algae. If the stick comes out with green strands like hair or threads, the material is probably filamentous green algae, which may be a nuisance but is not a health hazard.

These tests are not fool proof and in certain situations could result in false negatives, but for the most part can be considered reliable and cheap methods for helping Minnesota residents identify potentially harmful algal blooms. Back to top


Lake Monitoring Highlight: Canada's LakeSmart Program

Lake Smart

LakeSmart is an environmental outreach program run by the Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Association (LOWDPOA), based out of Kenora, Ontario (Canada).  Each summer, LOWDPOA hires three students as environmental stewardship technicians. These technicians serve as lake ambassadors, traveling by boat to waterfront residents to share information about sustainable waterfront living. They focus specifically on things like shoreline buffer zones, reducing run-off, using eco-friendly cleaning products, safe boating, preventing the spread of invasive species in addition to septic and waste disposal systems.

LakeSmart is offered on Lake of the Woods and other small lakes in northwestern Ontario. Delivery of the program is made possible by the support and sponsorship of area businesses and organizations. 2018 will be Lake Smart's 8th year in operation and it's a great example of one way lake associations can get the word out about protecting lake health and engage members and the community in the process. Back to top

stream news

Watershed Pollutant Load Monitoring Network

WPLMN image

The MPCA conducts a variety of different types of stream and river monitoring: Citizen Stream Monitoring of water clarity, biological monitoring of fish and benthic macroinvertebrate species, and intensive water chemistry monitoring of things like suspended solids, nutrients, and dissolved oxygen levels. Lesser known, but powerful in the information it provides, the Watershed Pollutant Load Monitoring Network (WPLMN) measures and compares pollutant load data from Minnesota’s rivers and streams.

A “pollutant load” is the amount, or mass, of a pollutant passing a stream location over a unit of time. Pollutant loads for the WPLMN are calculated by coupling water quality and discharge (volumetric flow) data from U.S. Geological Survey and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources flow gaging stations to create mathematical relationships that estimate pollutant concentrations on days when samples are not collected.

Pollutant loads are calculated for total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), dissolved orthophosphate phosphorus (DOP), nitrate plus nitrite nitrogen (NO3+NO2-N) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN). The WPLMN produces a number of very interesting products. Annual and average pollutant load data, water quality maps, trend information, and are available at: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/wplmn/products

Check out the WPLMN data viewer for interactive access to maps and graphs of daily, annual and period average water quality data. Back to top


Minnesota state record fish programs

record lake sturgeon

It is always a thrill when you catch a big fish, and it usually requires exceptional fishing skill. The Minnesota DNR honors any angler who breaks a state record. There are two kinds of Minnesota state records: one for catching and keeping the biggest fish in each species based on certified weight; and the other for the length of a caught-and-released muskellunge, lake sturgeon or flathead catfish. Minnesota is up to THREE state record fish certified in the spring of 2018!

In the catch-and-release category: Jack Burke of Stillwater caught and released a 73-inch lake sturgeon May 4 on the Rainy River in Koochiching County, http://bit.ly/LakeSturgeonRecord18.

In the certified weight category (catch and keep): Dustin Stone of Montevideo caught a 10-pound, 6-ounce silver redhorse April 28 on the Rainy River in Koochiching County, http://bit.ly/SilverRedhorseRecord18. Finally, Ethan Rasset of Barnesville caught a 4-pound, 8-ounce golden redhorse April 7 on the Otter Tail River, http://bit.ly/GoldenRedhorseRecord18.

Visit the Minnesota state record fish programs webpage to find our more about the record fish and angler who caught it for various species.

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Volunteer Reflections

Paddle Martin County

By CLMP Volunteer Mary Maiers

Paddle Martin County #1

South Central Minnesota might not be the area that most people think of when they think of Minnesota waters and nature.  Here’s a glimpse into the beauty of Martin County and the unique ways people in this area enjoy the waterways and nature together.

In 2007, Ann and Dan Terfer started a canoe group that gathered on Tuesday evenings during the spring, summer and fall months.  In 2009, Char Kahler, took over the planning and record keeping.  To date, the group has paddled 34 lakes and three rivers with over 130 outings.  The canoe group is now known as “Paddle Martin County” because people kayak, canoe and paddleboard.  The largest numbers of vessels that have attended one night of paddling was 27.  It’s a beautiful sight to see a large array of multicolored vessels on the lakes.

In 2015 the group established a Facebook page entitled “Paddle Martin County, Minnesota”.  Facebook allowed the group to post paddle event locations, share pictures from paddling events and share recipes from those delicious after paddling parties!  Articles of interest to the group are posted, including articles on water quality and safety and news from the MPCA and DNR.  Currently there are 96 members in the Facebook group.

Paddle Martin County #2

The group does explore outside of Martin County as well and some of their favorite locations are river runs, including the Blue Earth River and the Minnesota River.  River runs take longer and are typically scheduled on the weekends.

The group gathers afterwards at public landings, parks or homes of the paddlers for campfires, snacks and fellowship.  The group then decides on the paddling location for the next week.  It is the goal of the group to paddle all 55 lakes in Martin County (per DNR website) or according to lakeplace.com, Martin County has 74 bodies of water to explore, not all the bodies of water have names.  The group loves exploring primitive lakes that have very few, if any, homes on them.  Those are the lakes where the most wildlife can be found.

Char and Wayne Kahler, members of the paddling group, own a small airplane.  Wayne will take pictures of the lakes the group plans to paddle.  It’s interesting to see the aerial view and launches prior to paddling and again, after paddling the lake.

The group helps with the annual Fairmont Triathlon and volunteers to paddle alongside swimmers during the triathlon to keep the swimmers safe.

Yes, South Central Minnesota is a beautiful area abundant in nature adventures.   On our paddling adventures we have seen trumpeter swans, painted turtles, a variety of ducks, geese, kingfishers, pelicans, deer, osprey, blue herons, bald and golden eagles (and nests) just to name a few.  If you ever have a chance to explore southern Minnesota, consider a trip to Martin County. Back to top


DIY Secchi Tube Stabilizer Disk

By CSMP volunteer Janene Roessler

Stube in stabilizer

One of the challenges I encountered when I took my first water sample from Watson Creek back in 2006 was how to keep the Secchi tube upright while I emptied my bucket into it. Being a pretty clever guy, my husband quickly designed what I will call a "Secchi Tube Stabilizer Disk" for me. I have now been using it successfully for ten years.

You will need some ¾” plywood. Since it will get wet, it’s best to use treated plywood. First, cut a 7 and ¾” diameter circle, using a bandsaw. Then, using a hole-cutter, make a hole in the center of the circle (disk) that measures 1 and ⅞” in diameter, the same size as the end of the Secchi tube, or slightly larger. You want it to fit tight. Now squeeze the rubber stopper end of your Secchi tube into the hole. Set your tube on the ground or deck, and it will stand up for you while you pour your sample in!

Tube stabilizer 3

Notes: I suppose the disk could be larger in diameter. The larger it is, the more stable it would be. Once I insert the tube into center hole of the the disk for the season, I don’t take it out, as repeated removals and insertions would erode the rubber on the end of the tube.

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