Prior Lake Spring Lake Watershed District
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News

Native Plant Restorations: Patience Pays Off!

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - May 7, 2021 - News

Native plant restorations often don’t look like much the first couple of years. The plants are busy establishing their deep root systems which are so great at preventing erosion and allowing water to filter into the soil. Once their roots are established underground, then the plants invest their energies into robust above ground growth and flowering.

Out at Spring Lake Town Hall on the shores of Fish Lake, the native prairie and shoreline restoration areas seeded in fall 2019 are moving into their second growing season. This year the plants will continue to develop their root systems and you will start to see some more action above around too. Later this summer, look for the bright yellow flowers of Black-eyed Susans which are commonly seen early in a site’s restoration. As time goes on, other prairie favorites will follow, especially as the site moves into years three and four.

With native plants patience is key, but very worth it!

This restoration project was partially funded by a Conservation Partners Legacy thanks to the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment’s Outdoor Heritage Fund. The project is a partnership between PLSLWD and Spring Lake Township.

View Full Article Fish Lake, Spring Lake Town Hall, Spring Lake Township, native plants, native prairie, prairie restoration, restoration, shoreline, shoreline restoration

Three Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - April 22, 2021 - News

There are many great ways you can celebrate Earth Day. Looking for suggestions? Consider these ideas:

Neighborhood Trash Pick Up

Pick up trash while you’re walking your dog or bring your family, invite some friends or neighbors and head out to pick up trash in your neighborhood, along a trail or at a local park.

After winter there’s plenty of trash to pick up – it often accumulates along the edge of wetlands, waterbodies and unmowed areas.

Adopt – A – Drain

Did you know runoff from your street flows straight into local streams, wetlands and lakes from the stormdrain on your street?

You can help keep local waterbodies clean by adopting a stormdrain on your street and keeping the drain clean of trash, leaves, dirt and other debris. This helps prevent plastic pollution and excess nutrients from degrading local waters and prevents localized flooding on your street! Adopt your drain at:  https://adopt-a-drain.org/.

Plant a tree or native plants in your yard and remove invasive species.

Help wildlife and pollinators by providing habitat in your yard! Trees can provide great shade and native plants can provide a splash of color and food for pollinators. Removing invasive species like buckthorn, honeysuckle or garlic mustard provides space for native trees and plants which support wildlife.

Find resources on Blue Thumb’s website or call the Scott Soil & Water Conservation District at 952-492-5425 for assistance planning your project.

Bonus: Head out and enjoy the outdoors!

Go for a walk or bike, find a quiet spot to birdwatch or head to a park with your family.

Want to explore new places close to home? Try our Hike the Watershed Challenge for eleven hikes at local parks in the watershed. Now is a great time to see the spring ephemeral wildflowers in the woods, like bloodroot (see photo)! These small understory plants bloom early in the spring, taking advantage of the sunlight before the trees leaf out for the year.

Three kids sitting on bench swing looking out over wetland at Rice Lake Park.

Relaxing at Rice Lake Park – a Hike the Watershed park. Photo: A. Stelljes

Thanks to the Mississippi WMO for providing the inspiration for this article.

View Full Article Earth Day

Tree & Native Plants Sales

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - April 1, 2021 - News

Purchase some new native trees, shrubs and flowers for your yard! Trees and shrubs provide shade, habitat, improve water quality and help add beauty to a property.

Every spring several area local governments host annual tree and native plant sales, providing residents an excellent opportunity to purchase native trees, shrubs and flowers for their yards at a low-cost.

Below are three local sales taking place now, but don’t wait to place your orders as items may sell out!

Scott SWCD Tree & Native Plant Sale:

The SWCD offers native trees and shrubs, including a backyard bundle with a combination of trees and shrubs. Trees & shrubs are bareroot seedlings and purchased in bundles. They also offer native seed mixes and native plant kits that are ready to plant. Great way to add wildlife & pollinator habitat to your yard! Order here.

Open to all Scott County residents. Pick up day is April 30.

Shakopee Arbor Day Sale:

The City of Shakopee offers a variety of deciduous and coniferous trees including oak, cedar, ironwood, pine and spruce species. All trees are sold in containers. Deciduous trees are 6′-12′ tall with a 1-2″ trunk; Conifers are 2′-3′ tall. Order trees here.

Order deadline: April 16. Open to Shakopee residents. Pick up day is April 24.

Savage – Prior Lake – Credit River Arbor Day Sale:

The Savage Arbor Day sale offers a variety of shade, ornamental, and evergreen trees for purchase. Prices range from $29 to $62. Order trees here.

Order deadline: April 19, 4 pm. Open to all residents of Savage, Prior Lake and Credit River. Pick up day is April 24.

View Full Article Prior Lake, SWCD, Savage, Scott, Shakopee, native, native plants, native trees, residents, shrubs, tree, yard

The Ice is Out!

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - April 1, 2021 - News

2021 ice out in progress on Lower Prior Lake. Photo: Mike Thibault, VidPix Drones

As of March 29, the ice is off all District lakes! On March 21 Sutton Lake was the first lake to report ice off for 2021. Upper Prior was the last to see ice out, reporting ice off on March 29. The District considers lakes ice off once the lake is at least 90% ice free. A huge thank you to our volunteer ice observers who send in ice reports and let us know when the lakes ice out! If you are interested in joining the ice observer list, email Patty at pdronen@plslwd.org.

2021 ice out dates for District lakes:

  • March 21: Sutton
  • March 23: Buck, Cates
  • March 24: Pike, Crystal
  • March 25: Haas, Little Prior
  • March 26: Fish
  • March 27: Spring
  • March 28: Lower Prior
  • March 29: Upper Prior

This year the lakes iced out roughly the same time as they did last year. While it is not uncommon to see ice out in March, lake ice out has been trending earlier in the season over the last several decades with lakes losing about a week of ice coverage in both the spring and the fall as a result of Minnesota’s rapidly warming winters.

You can view the District’s record of historical ice on and off dates here. The DNR has a statewide ice out map with current and historical ice information here.

View Full Article ice, ice off, ice-out, lakes

Winter Fish Kills in Local Lakes

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - March 24, 2021 - News

Winter fish die-off, or winterkill, is a natural process that happens from time to time in our area. This year the watershed and the City of Prior Lake have received reports of winterkill at Pike Lake, Crystal Lake, and Jeffers Pond (see photo).

Winterkill can happen when there are low oxygen levels in the water caused by factors such as:

  • Early snow and ice
  • Snow on the ice reduces sunlight, stopping plants from producing oxygen
  • Shallow water levels
  • Fish using up the available oxygen

After a winterkill event, residents can expect dead fish washing up on shore, foul odor due to decomposition, and an increase in scavenging animals. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommends either leaving the fish to decompose naturally or removing and burying them.

There are some benefits to winterkill, including the removal of invasive species such as carp. Lakes that experience a complete winterkill, such as Pike Lake this winter, receive a fresh start for their fish populations and may see an increase in water quality due the absence of carp.

The Minnesota DNR tracks winterkill; to report a fish die-off, call the DNR at 651-649-5451. More information can be found on the DNR website:  https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fisheries/fishkills.html

This article was first published on the City of Prior Lake’s website here.

View Full Article fish, fish die-off, fish dieoff, fish kills, winter kills
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Prior Lake – Spring Lake Watershed District

The District covers about 42 square miles in Scott County, MN. Water in the PLSLWD flows mainly from the southwest to the northeast through Spring, Upper Prior and Lower Prior Lakes, and then north through the Prior Lake Outlet Channel to the Minnesota River near Valley Fair amusement park.
Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment

Prior Lake - Spring Lake Watershed District
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372

Phone: (952) 447-4166
Email: info@plslwd.org

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