Prior Lake Spring Lake Watershed District
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Posts tagged "lakes"

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

Salt Smartly This Winter: Free Homeowner Workshop Dec 15

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - December 8, 2020 - News

Join the Scott SWCD and the Scott Watershed Management Organization (WMO) for a new FREE Homeowner Strategies to Reduce Salt Pollution webinar!

Learn the best winter maintenance strategies to save you money, protect your property from salt damage, and keep harmful chlorides out of our lakes and streams. It only takes 1 teaspoon of salt to permanently pollute five gallons of water. Let’s keep the freshwater of our lakes and streams fresh!

The event will be held via Zoom on December 15th, from 6:30-7:30 PM. To register, call the Scott SWCD Education Specialist, Shelby Roberts at 952-492-5448 or click HERE to register online. Pre-registration is required.

View Full Article chloride, chloride pollution, chlorides, lakes, salt, sidewalk, snow removal, streams, winter, winter maintanence

Hike the Watershed: Take the Challenge!

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - July 21, 2020 - News, Prior Lake, Spring Lake

Visit your favorite parks and discover new places close to home! Take the challenge to Hike the Watershed and you can be eligible to earn prizes.

This is a great activity for all ages – go for a walk or grab your bikes and head out the door. Use the Hike the Watershed checklist to keep track of the parks you’ve visited.

For extra fun, bring along the Hike the Watershed Bingo card and mark down the things you see while hiking the watershed!

In celebration of the District’s 50th Anniversary, Hike the Watershed highlights many local parks, smaller lakes in the watershed and District restoration projects. We hope you will take this opportunity to get to know your backyard just a little bit better!

Prizes: Visit 6 places on the Hike the Watershed list or score a bingo to win a special edition Hike the Watershed waterproof sticker. For an extra challenge visit all 11 sites or score a blackout on your bingo card to earn some extra swag.

To collect your prize: Email info@plslwd.org 1) a list of the sites you visited and a photo from your adventures or 2) a photo of your completed bingo card along with a photo from your explorations of the District.

View Full Article 50 Anniversary, 50 years, 50th Anniversary, Get Involved, Hike the Watershed, PLSLWD, challenge, explore, explore the watershed, family, family-friendly, lakes

Summer algae blooms: When in doubt, keep out

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - August 26, 2019 - News
Blue-Green Algae in Spring Lake Outlet Channel 2013 (before Alum Treatment)

With summer’s warmer temperatures and runoff from residents’ lawns summer in Minnesota can provide conditions in lakes prime for developing harmful algae blooms which can be harmful to pets and humans.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) outlines what blue-green algae is, when and where you’re likely to find it and what are the possible health effects in a great article on their website here: www.pca.state.mn.us/water/blue-green-algae-and-harmful-algal-blooms.

Who should I call?

If you think you or your pets are experiencing adverse health effects due to contact with, or ingestion of, lake water/algae, seek medical attention immediately.

In addition, report human health effects to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Foodborne and Waterborne Illness Hotline at 1-877-366-3455. For health questions, citizens can contact MDH’s Waterborne Diseases Unit at 651-201-5414 or visit their web site:  Harmful algal blooms (MDH)

MPCA lake monitoring staff track reports of potential harmful algae blooms. For more information on harmful algal blooms, please call 651-757-2822, or toll-free from Greater Minnesota at 1-800-657-3864.

How can we get rid of harmful algae blooms?

We can’t completely eliminate blue-green algae from a lake because they are a natural part of the overall algal community. However, we can help reduce the overall intensity and frequency of algae blooms by reducing the amount of nutrients that enter the lake.

This is where your lawn comes in. Reducing the amount of fertilizer used on your lawn, sweeping up grass clippings and leaves from your street, reducing runoff from your lawn by not overwatering (1 inch per week is all you need!) and Adopting-A-Drain on your street can all reduce the amount of nutrients entering local lakes. Fewer nutrients entering the lakes means less food for algae to grow!

View Full Article Algae, Blue-Green Algae, lakes

DNR cautions lakeshore property owners about using hydraulic jets

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - May 31, 2018 - News, Prior Lake, Spring Lake

Minnesota DNR News Release: May 29, 2018

Using hydraulic jets to get rid of “muck” or to uproot aquatic plants in public waters is illegal, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 

“We remind lakeshore property owners that just because you can buy a hydraulic jet does not make them legal to use in all situations,” said Jon Hansen, aquatic plant management consultant. “You may not use them in any way that disturbs the lake bottom or destroys rooted aquatic plants,”

Aquatic plants help keep water clean and fish populations healthy. Misusing hydraulic jets can destroy fish habitat and muddy the water.

Hydraulic jets, including products like HydroSweep, Aqua Blaster, Aqua Thruster and Aquasweep, can resemble a fan or trolling motor contained in a short tube and create strong currents of moving water. These products are often advertised to control or remove “muck” and “weeds” from a lake bottom; however, using hydraulic jets in this manner is not allowed in Minnesota.

A person may legally operate a hydraulic jet if it is placed high enough off the lake bed so that it does not disturb the bottom or destroy rooted aquatic plants. It should be directed upward toward the water’s surface, which can prevent dead vegetation and duckweed from collecting around docks and boat lifts. Any displacement of sediment or removal of aquatic plants as a result of operating a hydraulic jet would be deemed a violation and may result in a fine.

Aquatic plant regulations and a guide to aquatic plants can be found at mndnr.gov/shorelandplants.

For information on DNR water permits, visit mndnr.gov/permits.

View Full Article Aquatic Vegetation, Aquatic plants, Lake, Vegetation, hydraulic jets, lakes, lakeshore
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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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