Aquatic Invertebrate Biology Lab
The Aquatic Invertebrate Biology Laboratory collects and analyzes aquatic invertebrates (crayfish, aquatic insects such as dragonflies, mayflies and others, zooplankton) from lakes and streams throughout the state.
The program has two primary goals - to expand our knowledge of the distribution, abundance and role that these aquatic invertebrates play in the state's waters, and to provide technical assistance for analysis and protection of these communities.
Aquatic Plant Management Program
Aquatic plants growing in public waters are owned by the state. The Aquatic Plant Management Program protects native vegetation and the aquatic environment from unnecessary harm while allowing lakeshore homeowners to control some aquatic vegetation for water access. The use of pesticides in lakes to control submerged vegetation or aquatic nuisances, the use of automated plant control devices, or the destruction of emergent vegetation by any means, require DNR permits. Permits are issued by Regional Fisheries Managers.
Information Resources
- A Guide To Aquatic Plants: i.d. and management, regulations, permits, etc.
- Common aquatic plants in Minnesota
- Management of Rooted Aquatic Vegetation, Algae, Leeches, Swimmer's Itch - Annual Report 2011
Invasive Species Program
The Invasive Species Program purpose is to curb the spread and minimize harmful effects of nonnative species.
Lake Aeration Program
The goals of the Lake Aeration Program are to ensure the safe winter operation of aeration systems and to ensure the appropriate use of aeration technology.
Lake Ecosystem Monitoring Program
The Lake Ecosystem Monitoring program purpose is to examine current lake monitoring efforts in Minnesota with the hope of identifying key information gaps. We anticipate that this assessment will identify areas where ecological information about lakes and their watersheds is lacking; information that would improve lake management efforts and/or our ability to track the sustainability of the state's lake resources. Ecological Resources plans to use what we learn to design new or supplement existing monitoring programs so that key ecological information about lakes is collected, interpreted, and made available.
Upper Mississippi River Long-Term Resource Monitoring Program
The purpose of the Upper Mississippi River Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) is to provide long term trend information to river managers that will allow for more informed management of the Upper Mississippi River, insuring its survival as a viable floodplain river ecosystem. Lack of information on the river has made it difficult for federal and state agencies to manage it for competing uses.
Pollution Spills Program
Reports of fish and wildlife kills are investigated and the cause is determined when possible. Forensic determinations are made by the Ecological Resources' Pathology Lab, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Laboratory, the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostics Lab, or the USFWS labs at LaCrosse or Madison, Wisconsin. When the cause is a pollution incident and a responsible party is identified, restitution is sought for the value of the fish or wildlife killed. The MPCA or MDA may also be involved when industry or agribusiness are the responsible parties.