HomeMy WebLinkAbout7B - Status of FIN Program
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4646 Dakota Street S.E.
Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
NOVEMBER 2, 2009
7B
AL FRIEDGES, PARKS AND FLEET MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR
PRESENTATION ON THE STATUS OF THE FISHING IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM (FIN) AT LITTLE PRIOR
Historv
In 2001, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries
initiated a new program, Fishing in the Neighborhood (FIN), to provide more
fishing opportunities to metro area residents. The program provides fishing
ponds intended for younger anglers, but can be fished by anglers of all ages.
FIN works with local communities to make safe, family settings situated in
residential areas where people can enjoy a day in the park and pond fishing.
In the fall of 2003, staff met with representatives from the DNR Fisheries
Department to determine whether the approximately 13-acre pond (Little Prior)
adjacent to Kop Parkway in Lakefront Park would be a suitable location for a FIN
program. It was decided to keep fish year round (as most shallow ponds and
lakes do), the pond would require aeration. Thanks to a $20,000 donation from
Norex to purchase an aerator, this project was made possible and fully funded.
Current Circumstances
Over the last five years many hundreds of students, young anglers, parents and
adults have enjoyed quality angling and the learning environment sponsored at
Lakefront Park. They have learned about fish, installed prairie along the waters
edge, helped the DNR stock the lake, and of course enjoyed catching fish.
One objective guiding management of this lake was a fishery with measures of
quality and diversity of catch to be attractive for youth, family, schools and
community. The fishery at Little Prior consists of bluegill sunfish, black crappie,
largemouth bass, and northern pike, similar to species occurring in Prior Lake.
Due to the natural occurrence of winterkill (low winter oxygen not capable of
supporting game fish) fish stocked into the lake would exhibit above average
growth but would die most winters. Aerating the lake during the winter
maintains oxygen levels that game fish need to support a quality size and
diversity of species for anglers.
An effect of winter aeration in smaller lakes, without natural reduction (winterkill),
is that species like bluegill can become abundant and small. For example fish in
Little Prior ranged in size from 2.6 inches to 8.0 inches with 65 percent of bluegill
six inches or greater in length in 2003. Today 96 percent of the bluegills are less
than 6 inches.
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It was agreed to be desirable by both the City and the DNR to consider natural
winter management when certain benchmarks were met; Le. trap net indices for
bluegill are over 45 (third quartile measure of fish abundance) and the portion
greater than 6 inches is less than 20 percent. We feel, given the high
abundance of small bluegill sampled in 2009 and low abundance of black
crappie, largemouth bass and northern pike it would be beneficial to leave the
aerator off and let a natural reduction occur this winter.
This would rebalance the nutrients in the small fish back to primary and
secondary producers (plants, zooplankton, and aquatic insects). This recycling
of energy tends to have positive effects on fish growth and quality. To achieve
this quality, the plan for restocking the lake beginning the spring of 2010 is:
. Stock up to 25 adult northern pike, 800 adult male bluegill and 10 adult
largemouth bass the first spring after winterkill
. Stock up to 800 adult bluegill, 400 adult black crappie, 25 adult northern
pike and 10 adult largemouth bass the following spring and each year
thereafter as needed.
ISSUES:
One natural outcome following several years of aeration or milder winters, in
lakes like Little Prior, is the potential for larger than average numbers of dead
fish in the spring. This and the fact some fish may be large can be a concern to
the public. Dead fish will likely decompose over a five to 10 day time span and
may smell. Though this is may be considered a negative by some, it produces
many positive ecological benefits (stimulate fish growth, water quality, benefits to
migrating birds).
To help alleviate some public concerns it is helpful to make notice of this action.
It is also can be beneficial to allow an opportunity to harvest some of the larger
fish by the public if desired. The DNR will monitor oxygen levels and post a
notice allowing fishing to occur through the ice just prior to winterkill. This
typically allows some of the desirable "larger" fish to be harvested alleviating one
concern.
By not operating the aerator, a natural reduction in the population of the fish
should occur at Lakefront Lake. This naturally occurring process will redistribute
energy in the aquatic system and tend to have broad ecological benefits
including the potential to grow larger fish. These actions are proposed to
continue providing memorable angling and learning experiences for youth and
families within and visiting the community of Prior Lake at Lakefront Lake.
RECOMMENDED No action is required.
MOTION:
Reviewed by:
1M-a
Frank Boyles, City Manager I {
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