Eyes on the Lake

This feature will help us all with learning what plants are native and healthy for our lakes vs. the invasive plants. We hope you find this information helpful. Thanks for helping to keep our waters clean. 

AIS Explorer

How 10,000+ Lakes Are Protected with Limited Resources

After five years of development, researchers at the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) released an online dashboard in 2021 that predicts the introduction risk of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and identifies the optimal placement of watercraft inspection locations for waterbodies across Minnesota – AIS Explorer. Based out of the University of Minnesota, an extensive network was created that explains how Minnesota boaters travel between waterbodies. This tool helps Minnesota’s resource managers prioritize their AIS prevention efforts, and maximize efforts with limited resources.

The prioritization for watercraft inspections is run at the county-level and considers the movement of boats into, within, and out of an individual county paired with “risky” boats—the predicted number of boats moving from an infested waterbody to an uninfected waterbody.

AIS Explorer is utilized by the Cass County AIS Program to assist with determining the number of AIS watercraft inspector hours to be scheduled for the various lakes. This tool helps to rank the lakes within the county that should be prioritized for watercraft inspections, as well as visualizes the point of diminishing returns from added inspections and provides a figure that displays the optimal balance of inspections to maximize the number of intercepted risky boats.

The AIS Explorer is easy to use and available for all. Users can focus on any lake in Minnesota. Not only will you see the overall risk score for potential future infestation, but it’s also possible to see the incoming and outgoing network of boater activity.

 

Summary data from our lakes: (Overall risk score: 1.0 indicates lake is infested)

Little Boy                                                                 Wabedo

Risk Score: Overall: 0.3865                                 Risk Score: Overall: 0.3535

Boater Network:                                                  Boater Network:

Incoming infested: 25.5%                                   Incoming infested: 27.4%

Incoming non-infested: 74.5%                                Incoming non-infested: 72.6%

Outgoing Infested: 13.1%                                       Outgoing infested: 13.6%

Outgoing non-infested: 86.9%                                Outgoing non-infested: 86.4%

The AIS Explorer dashboard is free and open to the public at www.aisexplorer.umn.edu. Funding for AIS Explorer was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) and the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

For more information: www.maisrc.umn.edu/aisexplorer

Is It Curly-leaf Pondweed or Clasping-leaf Pondweed?

Curly-leaf (non-native/invasive)


Keys to identify the 2 types of pondweed:                                                   

Clasping-leaf (native)




Curly-leaf pondweed impacts:

 

Curly-leaf pondweed is native to Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. It was likely introduced when common carp were intentionally introduced into Midwest waters as a game fish in the 1880’s. The species was likely spread through the movement of watercraft and water-related equipment. It was first noted in Minnesota around 1910. It is known to be present in more than 750 lakes in 70 of the 87 counties in Minnesota.


Curly-leaf pondweed is classified as prohibited invasive species in Minnesota. It is illegal to possess, buy, sell, transport, and introduce a prohibited invasive species.

Neither Little Boy nor Wabedo lakes are known to have curly-leaf pondweed, however we do have the native clasping-leaf pondweed. Broad-leaf pondweeds, e.g., clasping-leaf pondweed, provide excellent habitat for panfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, and northern pike; bluegills nest near these plants and eat insects and other small animals found on the leaves; walleyes use these pondweeds for cover.

 

Credits:

Aquatic Invasive Species Identification Guide for Minnesota, www.maisrcumn.edu.

MN DNR website

Siberian Pea shrub

 

Siberian Pea shrub has been identified growing along the shore of Wabedo Lake. Ideally, these shrubs should be removed, or at minimum, not allowed to spread. If you suspect you have Siberian pea shrub on your property, contact us at wlbcrlakes@gmail.com or Cass County or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for assistance in identification and management. Siberian Pea shrub is listed as a Restricted Noxious Weed – propagation, importation, transport and sale of the plant are prohibited in Minnesota.

Keys to identify:

 

Impacts:

 

Looks similar to:

How to eradicate:

Plant these natives instead:

Rusty Crayfish and Chinese Mystery Snail

Chinese mystery snails and rusty crawfish are both present in Little Boy and Wabedo. Although they are considered to be invasive species, a lake isn’t identified as “infested” when these species are present. According to the MN DNR they are regulated invasives.

What does it mean if it is a regulated invasive species? In Minnesota, it means it is legal to possess, sell, buy, and transport, but it may not be introduced into a free-living state, such as being released or planted in public waters.

Rusty Crayfish

Keys to Identify:

 

Impacts:


Credits: AIS Identification Guide:  A Minnesota Handbook, www.maisrcumn.edu.

MN DNR website: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/index.html

Chinese Mystery Snail

Chinese Mystery Snails: 

Keys to Identify:

 

Impacts:


Looks similar to:





Credits: AIS Identification Guide:  A Minnesota Handbook, www.maisrcumn.edu.

MN DNR website: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/index.html

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

What Is It?:

Where is it Found?

Keys to Identify:


Impact of Purple Loosestrife and Why Does It Matter:


 

How It Grows and Spreads:

 

How to Prevent:

Look-alike Native Plants:

Blue Vervain

Fireweed

Credits:

MN DNR website: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticplants/purpleloosestrife/index.html

University of Minnesota Extension: www.extension.umn.edu

 

Photo Credit:

      Minnesota Wildflowers: www.minnesotawildflowers.org

 

For more information:

Restore Your Shore – MN DNR: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/rys/index.html

Score Your Shore – MN DNR: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/scoreyourshore/index.html

Play-Clean-Go: https://www.playcleango.org/help-stop-invasive-species-with-playcleango

Spiny Waterflea (Invasive)

What Is It?:

Microscopic freshwater zooplankton that can decimate populations of other native zooplankton resulting in a decreased food source for native fish and an increase in algal blooms.


Keys to Identify:

Where to Look:                       

Nearby Lakes with Spiny Waterfleas:         

 

How to prevent Spiny Waterflea:

Because recreational boaters and anglers can inadvertently move them or their eggs on fishing line, bait buckets, live wells, or fishing nets, it’s so important to follow MN AIS laws:

o   Clean watercraft of all aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.

o   Drain all water, including livewells and bait water. Remove boat drain plugs; keep them out during transport.

o   Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.

o   Dry docks, lifts, swim rafts and other equipment for at least 21 days before placing equipment into another water body.

 

Credits:

MN AIS Research Center (MAISRC): https://www.maisrc.umn.edu/about-spinywaterflea

AIS Identification Guide:  A Minnesota Handbook, www.maisrcumn.edu

MN DNR website: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticanimals/spinywaterflea/index.html

 

For More Information:

MAISRC spiny waterflea research: https://www.maisrc.umn.edu/spinywaterflea-research

Zebra Mussels 

Keys to identify:

Looks similar to:


Where to look:            

Zebra Mussel Impact:

 

What we should know:


How to prevent zebra mussels:

Clean watercraft of all aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.

Drain all water, including live wells and bait water. Remove boat drain plugs; keep them out during transport.

Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.

Dry docks, lifts, swim rafts and other equipment for at least 21 days before placing equipment into another water body.

 

Credits: 

AIS Identification Guide:  A Minnesota Handbook, www.maisrcumn.edu

MN DNR website: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticanimals/zebramussel/index.html

Eurasian Milfoil

Is It Eurasian Milfoil or Northern Milfoil?

Eurasian watermilfoil looks similar to many native, beneficial watermilfoils found in Minnesota lakes and rivers. Its common native look-alike is northern watermilfoil.  It’s spread primarily through the movement of water-related equipment. Plant fragments can get tangled on boats, trailers, motors, anchors and other water-related equipment. All it takes is a single plant fragment to start a new population. It is a prohibited invasive species in Minnesota, which means it is unlawful (a misdemeanor) to possess, import, purchase, transport or introduce these species except under a permit for disposal, control, research or education.

Eurasian watermilfoil impacts:

Keys to Identifying the 2 Types of Milfoil

EURASIAN                                                                                            NORTHERN

Credits: 

AIS Identification Guide:  A Minnesota Handbook, www.maisrcumn.edu

MN DNR website: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticplants/milfoil/index.html

Starry Stonewort 

Keys to Identify:

Looks similar to the follow native species:

Where to look:            



Starry Stonewort Impacts:

What we should know:

 

How to prevent starry stonewort:

 

 Credits: 

AIS Identification Guide:  A Minnesota Handbook, www.maisrcumn.edu.

MN DNR website: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticanimals/zebramussel/index.html.

MN DNR infested waters: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ais/infested.html