Mpls lakes FYI

For those that fish the city lakes in the fall here was my question to Robin Smothers with the city this morning.

Robin,
I know about the posted hours for AIS inspection and launching boats in Lake Calhoun, Harriet, and Nokomis but what happens now that it is after September 30th? Posted dates for inspection is July 13th through September 30th. Can you launch now with out an inspection and anytime of the day?
Thanks
Richie

Here is the answer from them.

Hi, Richie:
The following is the release that was sent out last week, but the short answer is that you may launch at any time (the chains are down), but inspectors may be present during peak times (primarily on the weekends). Hope that answers your question – and thanks for asking!

-Robin Smothers

Increased Aquatic Invasive Species Inspections Hours to End October 1

AIS Inspections to Continue During Peak Lake Usage Times

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) will end its extended Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) inspection hours at Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet and Lake Nokomis on October 1, 2012. Spot inspections will continue to take place at all three lakes during peak lake usage times through the end of fall, focusing primarily on weekends. The boat launches will be open and available for use during regular park hours.

The threat of AIS spreading still exists after October 1, but it is diminished by two factors:

1. The boat traffic will be significantly less than in the warmer summer months
2. Researchers believe that the colder water temperatures in mid-October will slow, then stop the reproduction of zebra mussels

AIS inspections were increased in July after the MPRB Board of Commissioners passed a resolution approving the measures for the 2012 season. Over the next three months, Park Board staff will seek input from the public, including representatives from nearby neighborhoods and the boating, fishing and sailing communities, the DNR and other interested groups to help draft a final policy for 2013.

Public input can be given through multiple channels, including:

Completing an online feedback survey available on the Park Board’s website in mid-November
Commenting through public comment line available at 612-313-7782
Attending a public meeting tentatively scheduled for late 2012
Individuals interested in learning more about the MPRB’s AIS prevention policy, or being notified when public meetings occur, can sign up to receive email updates at http://www.minneapolisparks.org/ais.

So then, the AIS threat is over. whew!

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So then, the AIS threat is over. whew!

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Called on account of falling temps.

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Quote:

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So then, the AIS threat is over. whew!

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Called on account of falling temps.

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Good one James, that’s a knee slapper!

Must have been some state money to be spent by years end….

Here is the information from the DNR that I sent the MPLS Park board to consider in making their determination about Zeb’s and Fall

on the subject of how long veligers may be in our lake waters in fall. In our sampling, we rarely encounter veligers in any October samples. In Mille Lacs Lake, the number of veligers is dramatically reduced in mid-September samples (less than ½ veliger in a liter of water), although they are still present. We don’t have any samples after September in Mille Lacs. However, in 2011 we found veligers consistently throughout the main part of summer and into September in a number of sites on Lake Minnetonka. In the October samples from Minnetonka, there were no veligers found.

A two year study in Lake Erie in the early 1990’s found none or very few veligers in mid-October samples, and very low densities in the September samples.

There has been a report from the Great Lakes area that a researcher has found veligers during winter periods, with the suggestion that these are overwintering veligers. The one through-ice sampling we did in March on Mille Lacs Lake this year did not find any veligers at samples collected at seven sites in the southeastern portion of the lake.

Our data suggests that veligers are either not present or are in extremely low numbers in fall times (October). We have little data for frozen time frames, but the one sampling on Mille Lacs didn’t find any.