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Newsletter
April 2015
President’s Letter
I hope you are enjoying the weather and lack of snow. What a great change from the last
two years when winter has continued well into April and “ice out” was pushing into May.
I have been hearing from many local lake people, especially when the newsletter article on
“ice damage” on our lake’s shorelines hit the Perham Focus, Fargo Forum and Grand Forks
Herald. Seems that many of you were able to locate me even if you didn’t get a copy of the
COLA newsletter. And, by the way, I have enjoyed helping all who have inquired on solutions
to the extra damage this year. As an aside, I have spent over $4000 already to repair the
damage on my own shoreline.
Dave Sethre is President
of the OTC COLA
for 2014 & 2015
The other hot topic in the March newsletter came from the editorial on muskie impacts to fisheries. It wasn’t so much
our newsletter making the impact, but when the editorial was printed in the Detroit Lakes and Pelican Rapids newspapers, that started the action. We have heard from a number of individuals on perspectives on muskies impact on
fisheries, and from the DNR on official positions on stocking and fisheries.I hope you check out the editorial section
for more dialogue on the small tempest this has created. More will come, I am almost certain.
Finally, as we see the workload increase with issues and expectations of members, we need to advance the effectiveness of our great group of volunteers. This can most effectively be accomplished with adding a paid staff person to
perform as Executive Director. Whatever person we find, we will draw on their strengths to increase communications
and contact with our members and the public and enhance the fight against the spread of AIS in Otter Tail County,
among other things.
So, please let us know what you think. We need to always keep our edge and be the best we can be. Your input
always helps.
I hope you enjoy the newsletter. And come to our first 2015 COLA meeting on April 16th.
Ottertail Coalition of Lakes Association
Presents:
Seminar on Lakes, Lakeshore Issues and Plants
May 23, 2015 from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Thumper Pond Resort in the Lakes Room
$10 per person for Coalition for Otter Tail Lakes Association Activities
The Program: 12:00 p.m.
Exhibits Open
1 p.m.
Welcome: Jerry Horgen
1:10 p.m.
Darby Nelson, Author of “For Love of Lakes”
1:50 p.m.
Break
2 p.m.
Questions/Answers: Panel of experts to answer your questions:
General lake questions: Darby Nelson, author of “For Love of Lakes”
Buffer/shoreline issues: Gabe Dretsch, East Otter Tail County SWCD
Aquatic Invasive Species Issues: Moriya Rufer, RMB Labs
Buffer Aesthetic and wildlife habitat: Craig Johnson, Landscape Architect
4 p.m. Exhibits Close
Sponsors: Otter Tail County Coalition of Lake Associations, East Otter Tail Soil & Water Conservation District and Lake Region Electric.
Aquatic Invasive Species Fight Continues
Many people of common interest in the fight of the spread of AIS are quite disillusioned to hear that Governor
Dayton and DNR Commissioner Landwehr have thrown in the towel . They have now decided that it is impossible to stop
the spread, so they have sponsored the redirection of AIS research funds into DNR hands for education purposes. They
certainly haven’t visited with the Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force here in Otter Tail County, who believe that it can be
stopped and must be stopped.
The Task Force has recently completed budgeting for 2015 to accelerate the fight. Included in expenditures will be
the purchase of an auto, a boat and a specialized deputy for AIS education and enforcement through the Sheriff ’s Department. In addition to the special deputy, all deputies will see training in AIS issues and enforcement. The COLA was also
included in some funding to aid in the fight. Stay tuned to future reports from the Task Force.
AIS Task Force Open House for Service Providers
AIS Task Force Open House for Service Providers: The Task Force has recently hosted an open house and exchange
with service providers in our county to ensure everyone is on the same page. It was most pleasing to see the great participation and the high level of recognition that the impact to spread of AIS, especially zebra mussels, is in their hands, too.
Everyone must be cognizant to the need to decontaminate docks, lifts and other appurtenances removed from infested waters before reinstallation into new waters. Some service provider policies included leaving items on shore through a whole
winter before reinstallation, a very effective decontamination effort.
A special thanks to those who participated at the event. Pass the word that everyone needs to be careful of repositioning docks and lifts which could harbor zebra mussels. This little creature seems to have an amazing ability to survive
out of the water for long periods of time, so be warned. Please report illegal activity of repositioning/transfer of contaminated items from infested waters to the Sheriff ’s Department.
Otter Tail County Domestic Well Nitrate Sampling Program
Aimee Zimmermann
District Technician/Asst Shoreline Specialist
East Otter Tail SWCD
Beginning in May 2015, rural landowners in thirty two townships across Otter Tail County will be receiving a letter in the
mail explaining that they’ve been chosen to participate in a voluntary study. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture
and the East Otter Tail Soil & Water Conservation District have partnered together to do a study looking at nitrate levels
in private domestic wells in thirty two townships. The information gathered from this program will be used to:
•
•
•
•
Determine current nitrate concentrations in private wells in selected townships
Educate the well owners on the nitrate concentrations in their wells
Assist the county in fulfilling their county water plan in regards to nitrates
Assist in the revision of Minnesota’s Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan
Nitrate levels higher than 10 parts per million (or milligrams per liter) pose a health risk to pregnant women, infants,
and the elderly with serious health conditions (such as going through chemotherapy). Infants consuming high amounts
of nitrates may develop Blue Baby Syndrome, also known as Methemoglobinemia, which develops blue coloration of the
fingers, lips, ears, etc.
Continued on Page 8
Enbridge Pipeline
Gives Report
“Train the Teachers to Train the Kids”
Spring, 2015: Update
Jerry Horgen
A program funded by the Otter Tail County Commissioners and
approved by the Otter Tail County Aquatic Invasive Task Force.
The purpose of this program is to give accurate data on aquatic
invasive species to science teachers (in eleven school districts) in
order they inform their kids and in turn “kids train other kids”
on the prevention of aquatic invasive species-in a format that
is unique to them. A unique format, if you will, using perhaps
some form of technology. Then broadcasting the information to
students, in each school, in a format that other kids will respond
to-kids to kids! We have provided a one page set of ideas for
kids/students to work from entitled, “Help Protect Minnesota
Waters from Aquatic Invasive Species.”
We have done the following thus far with eleven school districts
in our program:
• Provided three workshops for science teachers whereby we
have given out aquatic invasive species curriculum materials
that meet Minnesota Standards.
• Provided aquatic invasive species kits for each school district.
• Provided Aquatic Invasive Species Workshops on an infested
lake:
• May 28, 2014: 45 students from Underwood
• September 18, 2014: 45 students from Fergus Falls
and Perham
Winter/Spring: 2015 activities:
• Workshops at the following schools:
• Battle Lake Public Schools: January 8, 2015
• Parkers Prairie Public Schools: January 28, 2015
• Ashby Public Schools: February 4, 2015
• Henning Public Schools: February 17, 2015
• Rothsay Public Schools: February 19, 2015
• Perham Public Schools: March 19, 2015
• New York Mills: April 9, 2015
• Provide accurate data/resources to assist school districts in
their teaching on AIS issues.
• Provide Aquatic Invasive Species Workshops on an infested
lake in spring 2015.
• Provide a $1,000 grant to the district that develops the best
new idea of “kids teaching kids.” (May 22, 2015)
• Schedule AIS Outdoor Activities on an infested lake this
spring. (at least two trips this spring)
email:[email protected]
Program Developer/Volunteer
At the invitation of the COLA, Enbridge Energy Company,
Inc. staff provided a informational presentation to the
Executive Group of COLA on March 31st. A primary takeaway of the presentation concerned the expected path of the
new Sandpiper pipeline planned for construction in the near
future. Unless some drastic impediment occurs, Enbridge
has no intent of running the pipeline through Otter Tail
County. Its location is going to follow a pioneering route,
unlike the existing route occupied by six pipelines running
from Clearbrook to Bemidji and east to Superior, WI. This
route will approach Otter Tail County as the pipeline follows
the Becker and Hubbard County line south, but then turns
east toward the direction of Park Rapids before it gets to our
county. Of note, the pipeline will be 30” in diameter and
operate at about 1400 psi pressure with a safety factor of 35%
on yield strength of the pipe steel.
There report was quite informative. We were provided with
reasons that the pipeline will depart from previous routes.
Pipeline safety and mitigating spills was discussed, as well as
discussions of alternative rail hauling issues and comparisons.
One of the notable discussion items was the $80,000 (per mile
of pipeline) that will be expected in payment of real estate taxes
to the county where the pipeline is located. After division
between schools and other entities, enough will remain to
reduce taxes to ordinary citizens, or be used for increased
services. None for Otter Tail County as it now stands.
As the presentation was video-taped, it will be replayed in total
at the upcoming April COLA meeting. Clear the air and come
check it out. The meeting will be Thursday night at 7:00 p.m.
on April 16th at the Ottertail Community Center in Ottertail,
MN.
Christine Davis and Paul Ebstow of Enbridge Energy Company
provided information on routing and technology issues for
the Sandpiper pipeline
COLA Awards
2015
COLA Awards
Volunteer of the Year Award and Lake Association of the Year Award
Presented on August 20, 2015 at the COLA Meeting
Dear Otter Tail County GOLA General Directors and Friends:
Please pass along this notice to the Officers of your Lake Association and others that may find it of interest.
As we approach the August 1, 2015 deadline for acceptance of Nominations for Volunteer and Lake Association
of the year, we ask that you honor your volunteers who tirelessly share their time and talent, either individually
or as a group.
The OTC COLA’s Volunteer of the Year and Lake Association of the Year is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging volunteers to assist in protecting and preserving the lakes they love. Self-nominations are accepted.
Do not pass up this opportunity to inspire, recognize, encourage and engage your volunteers who have demonstrated that they have the fortitude to meet challenges and accomplish goals.
The Volunteer of the Year nominee criteria:
Can be a past or present volunteer; and
• Has made a significant investment of their time and talent to protect and preserve their lake; or
• Has demonstrated an ability to bring people together and engage them in activities that protect and preserve
the lake; or
• Has demonstrated an ability to bring about positive change.
The Lake Association of the Year nominee criteria:
• Must be a present member of the OTC COLA; and
• Successfully implemented a lake improvement project; or
• Successfully implemented an educational or outreach program; or
• Has substantially increased membership or participation of members; or
• Has successfully partnered with the local/county/state or federal government or agencies.
In no more than two (2) pages, describe the nominee’s specific achievement (s). Please be sure to include the
name and contact information for the person submitting the nomination, including e-mail address and phone
number; the name of the Lake Association/Volunteer, their contact information, including e-mail addresses and
phone numbers.
The letter of nomination should be emailed to: [email protected] and electronically dated by August 1, 2015. It
may be mailed to: The COLA Selection Committee, C/O Jerry Horgen, 41708 Grace Etta Road, Henning, MN
56551 and postmarked by August 1, 2015. The awards presentations will be on August 20, 2015
Otter Tail County
Buffer Initiative
February 2015
OTTER TAIL COUNTY BUFFER INITIATIVE
Minnesota Shoreland Management Rules and the Otter Tail County Shoreland Management
Ordinance require a permanent 50-foot wide vegetated buffer on agricultural land in
shoreland areas adjacent to designated public waters.
Policy relating to Agricultural Use Standards:

Minnesota Shoreland Management Rules 3120.33 Subpart. 7 items A, B

Otter Tail County Shoreland Management Ordinance (8/1/2013) Section IV 4.B.
Otter Tail County’s Ordinance & State Rules allow general cultivation farming, grazing, nurseries, horticulture, truck farming, sod farming, and wild crop harvesting provided steep slopes,
Shore Impact Zones & Bluff Impact Zones are maintained in permanent vegetation.
Height of 25’
30’ Bluff impact
Bluff Impact Zone: A bluff and land located within 30 ft. from the top of the bluff.
Shore Impact Zone: For parcels with permitted
agricultural land uses is equal to a line parallel to and
50 ft. from the Ordinary High Water Level (OHWL).
Buffer Strips are planted strategically between fields and surface waters (rivers,
streams, lakes, and drainage ditches. They provide a wide variety of environmental
benefits ranging from protecting water quality, soil conservation, to wildlife habitat.
 Buffers slow runoff from fields, trapping and filtering sediment, nutrients, pesticides and other potential pollutants before they reach surface waters.
 Deep rooted plants and wider corridors are more effective at protecting water
quality and promoting ground water recharge, as well as stabilizing the shoreline.
 Continuous buffers provide connecting corridors allowing wildlife to move from
one habitat to another. They provide a source of food, nesting cover, and shelter.
Birdseye view of an agricultural landscape with
grass filter strips and other types of conservation
buffers. Photo courtesy USDA NRCS.
For more information please contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District.
East Otter Tail SWCD office at (218) 346-4260 ext. 3
West Otter Tail SWCD office at (218) 739 - 4694 ext. 4
Clean Water Fund grant awarded to
Otter Tail County SWCDs for
County Buffer Initiative
Otter Tail County, Minn – The Otter Tail County Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) are honored to announce that the Otter Tail County Buffer Initiative has been awarded over $290,000 in funding
from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) through the Clean Water, Land and
Legacy Amendment.
In March 2014, the West Otter Tail SWCD, East Otter Tail SWCD, and Otter Tail County developed and
adopted the Otter Tail County Buffer Initiative. Otter Tail County is unique in that there are 1,049 lakes,
more than any other county in the United States, and 1,174 miles of rivers, streams, and ditches which
totals 4,618 miles of shoreline. Because of this unique resource West Otter Tail SWCD, East Otter Tail
SWCD and Otter Tail County are working in cooperation to protect the water resources within Otter Tail
County.
The Otter Tail County Buffer Initiative was developed to address the resource concern for Agricultural Use Standards, as outlined in Otter Tail County’s Shoreland Management Ordinance and Minnesota
Shoreland Management Rules for shoreland areas along public waters. The Agricultural Use Standards
states that 50 feet of permanent vegetation must be maintained along all public waters.
Through the awarded Clean Water Fund grant, this initiative will accelerate the inventory of public waters
and identify compliance with Shoreland Management Ordinance. This initiative aims to educate landowners and provide conservation programs to move in the direction of 100% compliance.
“Otter Tail County’s abundance of lakes, river, and streams are an important natural resource in our community,” Brad Mergens, District Manager said. “This grant funds will allow us to accelerate our work to
protect and restore water quality. We’re grateful for support from all our partners and the commitment of
our community to move this project forward.”
Since the Amendment was passed by Minnesota voters in Nov. 2008, more than $100 million has been
invested in “on-the-ground” projects. Citizens and local governments have installed more than 4,100
conservation practices to improve the quality in the state’s lakes, rivers and wetlands.
In this grant round 197 applications were received, totaling $37 million in requests for the $14 million in
available funds. “Using the on-the-ground knowledge and experience of our local government partners
we are able to fund projects that are targeted towards the most critical areas,” BWSR Executive Director
John Jaschke said. “These projects will make a local impact, and also help move our state towards its water quality goals.”
For more information please contact the West Otter Tail SWCD at 218-739-4694 ext. 4.
Continued from page 3
Otter Tail County
Domestic Well Nitrate Sampling Program
When nitrogen enters the ground, bacteria convert the nitrogen to nitrites and then nitrates. These chemical
compounds are essential nutrients for plants, which absorb them from the soil. Plants can only absorb so much
nitrate – after the plants are “full”, any excess nitrates then enters the groundwater. Some people picture groundwater
as flowing in large underground rivers or lakes, but that’s not quite true. Groundwater moves through the cracks and
pores of soil, moving faster through coarse sand than fine clay. It typically moves at a rate of inches per day – about 5
years to travel 1 mile, compared to rivers that flow in feet per second. High amounts of nitrates can result from leaky
septic systems, over applying fertilizer, and also can be found naturally from decaying organic matter, among other
sources.
Townships in Otter Tail County were evaluated for aquifer vulnerability and proportion of land in row crop
production by the MN Dept of Ag. Townships selected for nitrate sampling have greater than 30% of the land area
identified as having vulnerable soil and have at least 20% of the land area in row crop productions. Roughly 14,000
households will be receiving water sample kits.
Starting in May, letters will be sent out to nearly 14,000 households in the selected townships to inform residents about
the study at a rate of 1,000 letters/week. Shortly after, residents will be receiving a water sample kit in the mail. To take
the sample, simply let your drinking faucet run for a few minutes then fill the small bottle with cold water out of the
running faucet. After the sample has been taken, it will be mailed (with prepaid postage) to RMB Labs in Detroit Lake
for certified testing. Residents will be notified of their results. This is a voluntary study that includes certified water
testing at no charge (free) for participants. Any personal information given will remain private.
Nitrate levels can be reduced or even eliminated by several methods, commonly by having a reverse osmosis system
installed. It should be stressed that boiling water will not reduce nitrate levels, it will actually increase the amount of
nitrates present. Water softeners or water filters (such as a Brita Filter) will not remove nitrates, either.
If you receive a water sample kit in the mail, we ask that you take the time to participate in the study. It should only
take a few minutes of your time and will
provide our county with incredibly useful
data. If you are outside of the thirty two
townships and would like your drinking
water tested for nitrates, you may do so
at the East Otter Tail SWCD – Please let
us know in advance if you’re planning
on stopping by. If you have any questions
or concerns about the Otter Tail County
Domestic Well Nitrate-Nitrite Sampling
Program, please feel free to contact Aimee
Zimmermann or Katelyn Haarstick at the
East Otter Soil and Water Conservation
District at (218) 346-4260 Ext 3 or stop
by our office at 801 Jenny Avenue SW in
Perham.
OTTER TAIL COUNTY
LAND & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION
Ice Damage Repair
Policy
WWW.CO.OTTER-TAIL.MN.US
GOVERNMENT SERVICES CENTER
540 WEST FIR AVENUE
FERGUS FALLS, MN 56537
218-998-8095
FAX: 218-998-8112
OTTER TAIL COUNTY
LAND & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION
ICE DAMAGE REPAIR POLICY
WWW.CO.OTTER-TAIL.MN.US
GOVERNMENT SERVICES CENTER
540 WEST FIR AVENUE
FERGUS FALLS, MN 56537
EFFECTIVE April 15, 2015
218-998-8095
FAX: 218-998-8112
A Conditional Use or a Grade and Fill Permit will not be required for earthmoving necessary to repair
ice damaged shoreline provided:
1.
ICE DAMAGE REPAIR POLICY
The property owner’s name, E-911 property address, lake name and number are placed on our
ice damage repair list.
EFFECTIVE April 15, 2015
2. The repair is limited to shoreline damaged during the winter of 2014 – 2015.
A Conditional Use or a Grade and Fill Permit will not be required for earthmoving necessary to repair
3.
No moreshoreline
than 200provided:
feet of shoreline per lot is repaired.
ice damaged
4.
1.
5.
2.
6.
3.
7.
4.
The ice ridge material is leveled and flattened in place when possible.
The property owner’s name, E-911 property address, lake name and number are placed on our
If conditions
do notlist.
allow the ice ridge to be leveled in place, it may be pulled landward from the
ice
damage repair
lake on upland areas or removed from the site.
The repair is limited to shoreline damaged during the winter of 2014 – 2015.
No ice ridge spoil may be pushed towards the lake.
No more than 200 feet of shoreline per lot is repaired.
No more than 10 cubic yards of topsoil may be placed within the Shore Impact Zone in order to
restore
disturbed
(i.e. wheel
tracks).
The ice the
ridge
materialvegetative
is leveled cover
and flattened
in place
when possible.
8.
5.
Allconditions
disturbed do
areas
are appropriately
(i.e. in
straw
roll,it may
erosion
controllandward
blanket, or
hydro
If
not allow
the ice ridgestabilized
to be leveled
place,
be pulled
from
the
seed)onwithin
10 areas
days of
of the
lake
upland
or completion
removed from
therepair.
site.
9.
6.
Theice
shoreline
repair
is be
completed
April
15, 2015 and October 1, 2015.
No
ridge spoil
may
pushed between
towards the
lake.
7.
No more than 10 cubic yards of topsoil may be placed within the Shore Impact Zone in order to
restore the disturbed vegetative cover (i.e. wheel tracks).
8.
All disturbed areas are appropriately stabilized (i.e. straw roll, erosion control blanket, or hydro
seed) within 10 days of completion of the repair.
9.
The shoreline repair is completed between April 15, 2015 and October 1, 2015.
LR Ice Damage Repair Policy 03/03/2015
OTTER TAIL COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Editorial
This editorial is a duplicate of a letter sent to the DNR in 2014 by Ms. Steinbrueck
The opinion of the author does not necessarily represent the opinion
of OTC COLA or its Members. Information is
provided as part of a dialogue on important
issues facing us.
Muskies in
Big Pelican Lake
By Irene A. Steinbrueck
To: Minnesota DNR
From: Irene A. Steinbrueck ( year-round resident on Little Pelican Lake)
RE: Muskies in Big Pelican Lake
My love for fishing on Big Pelican Lake and adjacent lakes dates back to the late 1970’s. The following observations are relevant:
Late 1970’s through the 1980’s - An abundance of large fish including walleye, crappie, sunfish, bass, northern, rockbass,
and bullhead existed. My preference was for the large crappie and sunfish for both the catching and the eating. Fishing was a
joy. Schools of crappie and sunfish could easilty be found throughout most-of the summer months. If I really tried, even the
ccasional walleye bit on my hook. One could catch one’s limit of edible fish in only a few hours, leaving most of the day to tend
to other chores or lake related activities.
1990’s through 2000 — Somewhere during this 10 year period, the schools of crappie totally disappeared. One might be able to
catch a few during early May, but only at a few locations, and in fewer numbers and reduced size. By the late 1990’s my family
chose to catch and release the crappies in hopes that they would replenish themselves, (I have photos to document this release).
This has not happened.
2001-present —The size and number of sunfish, crappie, walleye, etc. continued to gradually decrease. One can fish throughout
the summer without catching a crappie. It is not uncommon to fish a whole day in order to get one’s limit of keepable sunfish.
On a lucky day one can still find a school of nice sunnies, but not crappies. I haven’t caught a bullhead in years. Northern are
sufficient in number but frequently have chunks bitten off of them. Fishing for edible fish has become a chore, rather than a joy.
A neighbor who was fishing on Little Pelican for crappies in their spawning area in May told me of seeing a huge muskie in the
same area. What do you suppose the muskie was eating??? The fisherman caught five, ate none, but rather chose to release
them, hoping some would survive.
While I can only speak for myself, I can assure you that the majority of people whom I have spoken with, agree with me that
the muskies now in Big Pelican Lake and adjacent lakes are not desirable. Without question, the introduction of the muskie to
this lake has changed the eco-system drastically.
Please stop stocking them so that we may have a chance to return the lake to the wonderful fishing iake it was prior to
their introduction. They are certainly not native to this lake. I was of the opinion that the DNR wished to maintain natural
environments. What happened???
Irene M. Steinbrueck
COLA Meeting – April 16th – 7 p.m.
at the Ottertail Community Center
Agenda items will include report on buffer initiative and well sampling program with
Aimee Zimmerman of the East Otter Tail SWCD office, discussion on shoreline repair procedures,
discussion on muskie stocking issues, showing of Enbridge presentation via video, and more.
Please join us and tell us what is on your mind. Look for final agenda in an upcoming email.
Editorial Response
Minnesota’s Muskie
Management Program.
By Jim Wolters
The MNDNR manages for Muskellunge (Muskie) in 106 waters of the state and stocks muskies in 49 of these waters.
Locally in Otter Tail County, three lakes are stocked. Muskie populations in the state are managed at very low
densities, compared to other game fish species. In general, 0.25 fish per surface acre is the goal for muskie managed
lakes. Of these fish, only a very small percentage will reach and exceed 50”, even fewer will reach or exceed the new
54” minimum size limit. The Minnesota DNR has studied the impact of native and introduced muskie populations
on other game species and concluded that there is minimal impact on other important sport fish. Readers can find
this study on the DNR Fergus Falls Fisheries website under Reports at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/
fergusfalls/index.html
Locally, muskie’s were first introduced in Pelican Lake in 1978, thus have been present in the lake’s fish community/
ecosystem for over 36 years. Stocking of muskie occurred infrequently in the 1980’s until a regular stocking regime
began 25 years ago (1989). Pelican Lake is currently stocked every-other year with muskie fingerlings at a rate of 1
fish/littoral acre, or 1,625 fingerlings every other year. As a point of reference the MNDNR stocks 1.6 million walleye
fry in Pelican Lake every other year and has stocked in excess of 21 million fry since 1989. The DNR has been stocking
walleye in Pelican Lake on a regular basis since the DNR began keeping records in 1945. Historical data from DNR
surveys on Pelican Lake have shown no negative impacts of primary managed game fish species since muskellunge
introduction. In fact, both yellow perch and walleye abundance has increased and abundance of small northern pike
has decreased over this time period.
DNR Fisheries in Fergus Falls will be conducting a suite of surveys/assessments in Pelican Lake in 2015, including
spring trap net assessments for muskellunge and black crappie, a spring electrofishing assessment for bass, a standard
summer population assessment with emphasis on walleye, northern pike, and yellow perch and fall electrofishing for
young-of-the-year walleye, to collect updated information on many of the game fish species. This updated information
will be used to make future fish management decisions in Pelican Lake.
On a broader scale, a definition of an Invasive Species, as stated on the DNR Website is:
“Invasive species are species that are not native to Minnesota and cause economic or environmental harm or harm
to human health.”
Muskellunge are not considered or listed on the DNR website as an Invasive Species; they are native to Minnesota.
Efforts with the DNR’s Aquatic Invasive Species Program have concentrated on true aquatic invasive fish such as
Silver and Bighead Carp (invasive carp), Round Goby, Ruffe, White Perch and other aquatic species such as zebra
mussels, spiny water flea and Eurasian water milfoil.
Anyone with questions/concerns can contact me directly.
Jim Wolters
Area Fisheries Supervisor, Fergus Falls
[email protected] or 218-739-7576.
Schedule of COLA Summer Meetings
COLA will have its 2015 monthly General Meetings
on the third Thursday of each month starting at 7
p.m. in April through September.
SITE:
Community Center, Ottertail City,
103 S. Lake Avenue
Meeting Dates:
April 16
5:00 to 6:55 p.m.
Water Sampling Kit Pickups
7:00 to 9:00 p.m
General Meeting
May 21
June 18
July 16
August 20 - Annual Meeting
Awards Volunteer and Organization of the year
Election of officers and directors
Contact Info for OTC COLA:
Jeff Stabnow, Past President
40186 N. Clitherall Lake Road
Clitherall, MN 56524
218-864-8401 or 218-770-1276
Email: [email protected]
Dave Sethre, President
304 County Hwy. No. 1
Ottertail, MN 56571
218-367-3322 or 701-371-4497
Email: [email protected]
Dave Majkrzak, COLA Vice President
Residence - Pelican Lake
Telephone (Cell): 701-238-8406
Email: [email protected]
September 17
Water Sampling Test Kits: Can be picked up prior
to April 16th General Meeting: 5:00 - 6:55 pm.
Water sampling equipment also may be picked up
at RMB Labs on weekdays:
22796 County Hwy 6, Detroit Lakes MN 56501.
The telephone number is 218-846-1465.
Interested in joining COLA or
forming a Lake Association? Contact the Membership Committee!
Pat Prunty, Committee Chair
45056 County Hwy 35
Dent, MN 56528
Home: 218-342-2226
Cell: 612-750-6276
email: [email protected]