Minnesota Mixed Bag: DNR to partially draw down Lake Bronson – Outdoor News

Lake Bronson, Minn. — The Minnesota DNR was set to begin a partial drawdown of the water level of Lake Bronson in Kittson County this week

The partial drawdown, which will reduce the lake level by 4 feet, is necessary to allow DNR engineers to inspect the Lake Bronson Dam and ensure it is functional in the event of increased fall precipitation. This inspection follows observations of the spillway gates during late summer that indicated temporary safety measures may be needed to ensure the ability to continue to operate the gates safely.

This partial drawdown will also serve as the first stage of a near total drawdown of Lake Bronson that is required as part of the dam-replacement project that will commence soon. This project is expected to begin later this fall, with final completion by July 2027.

Access to the lake will be prohibited during the partial and full drawdown, to ensure public safety and protect sensitive resources in the project area.

A public information meeting about the dam-replacement project will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Lake Bronson State Park Visitor Center. The meeting will provide details about the project and an opportunity for participants to ask questions about the project’s timeline and park operations.

The Lake Bronson Dam, located in Lake Bronson State Park, was built in 1936 and is listed in poor condition. Plans to replace the dam have been in progress for more than 10 years, and the majority of the funding needed for the project was secured in the 2020 and 2023 bonding bills.

For more information on the project, visit the webpage for the Lake Bronson Dam replacement project.

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Minnesota’s Nitti is National Walleye Tour Angler of the Year

Springfield, Mo. — In just his second season on the National Walleye Tour, pro angler Hunter Nitti, of Rosemount, has been named the 2024 Progressive Angler of the Year. He finished 57th during his rookie season a year ago, but this year changed his tourney routine, practiced more on the water, and steered clear of “dock talk,” according to the NWT.

“Attitude and work ethic is everything as a pro angler,” Nitti said. He also said he was committed to using the latest in technology: “If you’re not using it, you’ll get beat by it,” he said.

Nitti’s greatest successes came on Lake Erie, the Mississippi River near Red Wing, and the Bay of Green Bay in Wisconsin. He finished in the top 10 four times, and earned $72,000. For winning the angler of the year title, he also won a boat and motor package.

Zebra Mussels Confirmed in Becker’s Toad Lake

St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Toad Lake, near Osage in Becker County.

A Becker County aquatic invasive species specialist contacted the DNR after finding zebra mussels attached to pontoons that had been moored on the south end of Toad Lake. A DNR invasive species specialist found juvenile zebra mussels at the public water access on the south end of the lake, indicating that zebra mussel reproduction has been occurring in the lake.

More information is available on the aquatic invasive species page of the DNR website.

Starry Stonewort Confirmed in Crow Wing’s Rush Lake

St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR has confirmed the presence of the invasive algae starry stonewort in Rush Lake, near the town of Crosslake in Crow Wing County. Rush Lake is part of the Lower Whitefish Chain of Lakes. Starry stonewort had not previously been confirmed in the Whitefish Chain of Lakes.

A contractor working on Rush Lake contacted the DNR after finding suspected starry stonewort. The contractor was hired by the Whitefish Area Property Owners Association to conduct plant surveys at boat accesses within the Whitefish Chain of Lakes. A DNR invasive species specialist confirmed the presence of starry stonewort at the Rush Lake public water access, which is located on a channel between Rush Lake and Whitefish Lake.

Follow-up surveys are being conducted to determine starry stonewort distribution in Rush Lake and to determine whether starry stonewort is present in other lakes in the Lower Whitefish Chain of Lakes. The DNR is working with the Whitefish Area Property Owners Association and Crow Wing County to determine immediate response steps.

Starry stonewort has now been confirmed in 31 water bodies in Minnesota. It was first confirmed in Minnesota in 2015.

Starry stonewort is an algae that looks like some native aquatic plants. It can form dense mats, which can interfere with recreational uses of a lake and compete with native plants. Starry stonewort has never been eradicated from any U.S. lake or river, but treatment or careful removal can help reduce the risk of spread and relieve associated nuisance impacts on water-related recreational activities.

More info is available on the aquatic invasive species page of the DNR website.

Source: https://www.outdoornews.com/2024/09/18/minnesota-mixed-bag-dnr-to-partially-draw-down-lake-bronson/