April 6, 2007 - TOP STORIES
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DNR: Changes for Canadian border waters
Third annual Archery in Schools State Tournament set for Apr 14
John House takes the grand slam in Minnesota art
DNR: Changes for Canadian border waters
Spiny waterflea infestation triggers new regulations for Rainy Lake, Namakan Lake, Rainy River, Lake of the Woods
DNR News
In response to the spread of nonnative, invasive spiny waterflea to U.S. - Canada border waters, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has implemented new regulations on Rainy Lake, Namakan Lake, Rainy River and Lake of the Woods.
The regulations are intended to prevent the spread of spiny waterfleas to other waters. They prohibit the transport of water, prohibit harvest of bait for personal use, and restrict the commercial harvest of bait from those waters, similar to zebra mussel-infested waters in Minnesota. Commercial harvest of bait will still be allowed at Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River by licensed minnow dealers who have received special training and permits.
“Spiny waterfleas can spread when boats, fishing or bait harvesting gear, or even seaplanes become contaminated with egg-laden females or when water from the infested lakes and rivers is transported,” said Gary Montz, DNR aquatic invertebrate biologist. “Although the waterfleas may die between fishing trips, they might be carrying eggs that can begin a new infestation.”
Experts believe spiny waterfleas originally arrived in the United States from Eurasia in the ballast water of cargo ships. They were first found in Lake Ontario in 1982 and in Lake Superior in 1987. Boaters, anglers and seaplanes have most likely spread them to inland waters since then.
DNR recently designated the four waters as “infested waters” because spiny water fleas are documented in those waters, or in the case of the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods, the waterfleas will be carried in water flowing downstream into them.
Crane Lake, also in the Canadian border region of the state, was recently confirmed to contain waterfleas. Kabetogama and Sand Point lakes are also likely to have them since they are directly connected to Crane Lake. Designation of these waters, and possibly other adjacent waters, as infested will follow.
Spiny waterfleas collect in masses, sticking to fishing lines, downrigger cables and anchor lines. The masses can resemble gelatin or cotton batting with tiny black spots, which are the creatures’ eyes and/or eggs. Individual animals are difficult to distinguish without magnification because they are only 1/4 - to 5/8 - inch long.
Anglers are often the first to discover spiny waterfleas because the fleas adhere to angling gear. The waterfleas can be a nuisance to anglers. Where there are high densities of the waterfleas, they can foul up angling gear.
The waterfleas can have different harmful impacts in different lakes. The waterfleas compete with small fish for food called zooplankton. While larger fish eat them, tiny fish may not be able to consume this invader. In certain types of lakes, waterfleas can change the species and numbers of zooplankton, which can harm those lake ecosystems.
To combat the spread of the spiny waterfleas and other aquatic invasive species, the DNR, Voyageurs National Park, and others will step up public information efforts with the message to Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Signs will be posted at water accesses, watercraft will be inspected at water accesses, and brochures and identification cards will be distributed to boaters and anglers to inform them how to prevent the spread.
The National Park Service will take precautions to help prevent the spiny waterflea from invading the Voyageurs National Park’s interior lake systems. The National Park Service officials do not believe that interior lakes are infested at this time. They are considering a range of alternatives for protecting the interior lakes from this invasive species. Voyageurs National Park’s management will announce the new preventive measures prior to fishing opener weekend.
Information regarding the spiny waterflea in Canadian border waters may be obtained at any Voyageurs National Park visitor center, or the DNR Fisheries offices in Baudette or International Falls.
Before leaving the water access, boaters and anglers should:
• remove aquatic plants and animals, including gelatinous or cotton-batting-like material from fishing lines, downrigger cables or anchor
ropes
• drain water from livewells, bait containers and bilges by removing the drain plugs; those who want to keep live bait must replace lake or river water with tap or spring water.
Boaters and anglers should also:
• dispose of unwanted live bait in the trash
• spray the watercraft and gear with hot high pressure or hot tap water (above 140 degrees F or 60 degrees C for at least one minute) before transporting to another water
• or dry the watercraft and gear thoroughly for at least five days before transporting to another water.
Spiny waterflea watch identification cards are available by calling the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367), and the University of Minnesota Sea Grant Program at (218) 726-8712.
Third annual Archery in Schools State Tournament set for Apr 14
400 students are slated to compete in Becker
DNR News
The third annual Minnesota Archery in the Schools State Tournament will be Saturday, April 14, in Becker. Approximately 400 students are slated to compete for team and individual honors beginning at 9 a.m. in the Fieldhouse at the Becker school campus. The event is open to the public.
The competition is open to students in schools that are participating in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), a project sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
With more than 150 Minnesota schools enrolled in NASP, an estimated 60,000 students will participate in physical education based archery classes in 2007, and an additional 10,000 will utilize the gear at summer camps and after-school programs.
The State Tournament is a culminating event for students who participate in archery as an in-school unit. All participants use the same equipment that they use in class. The NASP program utilizes the Genesis bow, full-length aluminum arrows, and the same 80-centimeter target used in the Olympics. Each participant shoots 15 arrows at 10 meters, and 15 arrows at 15 meters. Participants compete both as an individual, and as members of a team in the elementary, middle school, or high school division.
Archery is proving popular with teachers and students because everyone can compete fairly, regardless of size, gender or athletic talent. In fact, archery is often most popular with students that lag behind in other athletic activities.
According to the DNR’s Kraig Kiger, who coordinates the NASP efforts in Minnesota, archery is breaking down a number of stereotypes.
“Inner city schools in Minneapolis and Saint Paul have successful programs, and will be competing side by side with kids from suburban and rural schools,” Kiger said. “We are reaching an ethnically diverse population with archery, but we are also breaking gender stereotypes. Girls are embracing archery in record numbers.”
Linda Beck is the tournament chairperson and the lead instructor for NASP in Minnesota. She sees the state tournament as an opportunity for parents to come and cheer on their children in a sport they can participate in for the rest of their lives. “Archery is a sport that whole families can do together,” she said. “Unlike football or basketball, kids can expect to shoot archery for decades after they graduate.”
Beck knows what she is talking about when it comes to youth archery. She was named the 2006 Developmental Coach of the Year by the United States Olympic Archery Program.
Beck started coaching eight years ago after more than 20 years as a competitive target and 3D archer. Her coaching endeavors include work with a Junior Olympic Archery Development clubs in Central Minnesota and Fort Wayne, Ind.
Beck said that as much as she enjoys shooting, her passion is teaching archery to beginners and coaching young, elite shooters. She spends much of her spare time from her job as manager of technical services for Cargill Foods, coaching archers. In 2006, Beck was named as a Regional High Performance Coach for USA Archery. Kisik Lee, USA Archery National Head Coach, asked Beck to be an assistant coach at the 2006 Junior World Championships last summer in Mexico.
Beck was given the responsibility of the junior and cadet male compound teams. Both teams won gold medals in the team event.
Two of Linda’s students, Adam Wruck and Corey Muellenbach, were members of the Junior World Championships Team where Muellenbach won the bronze.
For more information about the NASP program visit www.nasparchery.org or www.dnr.state.mn.us.
Bear hunt application deadline approaching
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will accept applications for the 2007 Minnesota black bear hunting season through Friday, May 4. This year, 13,200 licenses will be available in 11 permit areas in northern and central Minnesota. The season will run from Sep. 1 through Oct. 15.
Applications can be made through the Electronic Licensing System (ELS) agents throughout the state, plus the DNR License Center at 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul. Applications can also be made by calling 1-888-MNLICEN (665-4236), or online at www.dnr.state.mn.us.
Licenses for the no-quota area, which is the area outside of the 11 permit areas, can be purchased directly at any ELS agent beginning July 1. No previous application is necessary to buy a no-quota area license.
In 2006, there were 15,722 applicants for the available 14,850 permit area licenses. Six of the 11 permit areas were under-subscribed.
Hunters harvested a total of 3,290 bears: 2,718 in the permit areas and 520 in the no-quota area. Bear licenses cost $39 for residents and $196 for nonresidents. The bag limit will remain at two bears in the no-quota area and one bear in all-quota permit areas.
© 2007 Outdoors Weekly Corporation