The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has begun lowering the water level of Lake Christina in Douglas and Grant counties.
“The purpose of the drawdown is to increase the chances of winter die-off of unwanted fish populations that have negative impacts on water quality and aquatic vegetation,” said Nicholas Brown, DNR wildlife lakes/Red River Basin specialist. “An added benefit is to allow more sunlight to get to the lake bottom to stimulate native plant growth in the early growing season next year.”
A portion of Lake Christina is a Migratory Waterfowl Feeding and Resting Area and drawdowns are part of an ongoing adaptive management approach for the lake. The lake’s permanent pump system will be used to lower the lake two feet or more below the historically average water level. Most of the lake is closed to motorized watercraft and the closed area is posted.
The lake has a fair amount of emergent plant vegetation, which can provide cover for hunters. The lower water levels during the drawdown may make access difficult later in the waterfowl season for hunters with larger boats.
“We thank hunters for their patience with the low water conditions,” Brown said. “These conditions will increase the number of waterfowl using the lake and will lead to better hunting in future years.”
For information on the management of Lake Christina or the drawdown operation, contact Nicholas Brown, DNR Wildlife Lakes/Red River Basin specialist, at 218-671-7970 or [email protected].
For more information on shallow lakes management, visit the DNR website.