Aquatic Invasive Species

Chisago County Water Monitoring Video

Join Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District and county Water Resources staff for a day of lake monitoring in the Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes watershed.  

Visit the Lower St. Croix Partners website where Susanna, Water Resources Manager with Chisago County, demonstrates how to record lake level readings and check zebra mussel monitoring plates.   County Watercraft Inspectors show how they work with boaters to inspect and decontaminate watercraft and prevent aquatic invasive species from coming into area lakes.  

To view the Chisago County Water Monitoring video, visit https://www.lsc1w1p.org/virtual-project-tour or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAyrgsPx3GA.

Chisago County Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention

The goals of the Chisago County Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program is to Prevent the spread of AIS through conducting watercraft inspections, decontamination of watercraft, providing education and outreach to citizens, enforcing AIS laws and regional coordination. The County conducts Early Detection activities through zebra mussel veliger sampling, installing zebra mussel monitoring plates, and conducting aquatic plant Point-Intercept surveys. Chisago County will implement Rapid Response actions if zebra mussels or other AIS are found in a lake or river located in the County.

Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District

One of the goals of the Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District is to promote the reduction of non-native aquatic invasive species (AIS). Aquatic invasive species are non-native plants, animals and other organisms. When they are introduced into a lake or river they cause harm to the ecosystem. Once in a lake or river they can be impossible to eliminate and difficult to manage. Each year, thousands of watercraft users come to local lakes and rivers, potentially bringing zebra mussels and other AIS along with them. 

Reporting Suspected Invasive Species

Report a Suspected Invasive Aquatic Plant. Opens in New Window 

Report a Suspected Invasive Aquatic Animal. Opens in New Window 

Clean, Drain, Dispose and Dry

The AIS Fact Sheet (PDF) helps educate watercraft users on how to Clean, Drain and Dry watercraft and Dispose of bait to prevent the introduction and spread of AIS. The AIS Fact Sheet (PDF) also provides information on the types of AIS species currently found in lakes in Chisago County. Thank you for taking the steps and helping to reduce the spread of AIS. What you do Matters...and it’s Minnesota State law to Clean, Drain, Dispose!

View the Annual Report Fact Sheets below for more information on AIS Activities conducted in Chisago County last year.

• Chisago County - AIS Program Accomplishments 2022 (PDF)
• Chisago County - AIS Watercraft Inspections 2021 (PDF)
• Chisago County - AIS Decontamination Blitz 2021 (PDF)
• Chisago County - AIS Communication and Education 2021 (PDF)
• Chisago County - Bait Disposal Partnership 2021 (PDF)
• Chisago County - AIS Figuring Out Phragmites Workshop 2019 (PDF)
• Chisago County - AIS Zebra Mussel Veliger and Spiny Waterflea Monitoring 2021 (PDF)
• Chisago County - AIS Zebra Mussel Watch Program 2021 (PDF) Opens in New Window 
• Chisago County - AIS Water Access Monitoring Program 2021 (PDF)
• Chisago County - AIS Starry Trek 2022 (PDF)

AIS Communication and Education

In 2016, staff developed an AIS Communication and Education Plan for Chisago County with the Mission to "Education Citizens about AIS and encourage behavior that reduces or stops the spread of AIS in Chisago County." Please view the fact sheet below for more information on AIS educational activities

• Chisago County - AIS Communication and Education Program Activities 2021 (PDF)

 Watercraft Inspection Program

Chisago County and the Lake Improvement District actively works to minimize the spread of aquatic invasive species by conducting boat inspections at public water accesses. The Watercraft Inspection Program (PDF) goal is to inform and educate watercraft users on the threats of AIS. Inspections are key to helping watercraft users understand how to prevent the spread of AIS by cleaning off weeds, dumping and replacing minnow bucket water, and removing the drain plug to let water drain from watercraft.

• Chisago County - Aquatic Invasive Species and Watercraft Inspection Program 2022 (PDF)

AIS Treatment Program

The Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District also provides cost share funds to are lake associations for treatment of Eurasian Watermilfoil and Curly-leaf Pondweed to improve navigation for watercraft in are lakes.

• Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District - Aquatic Invasive Species Treatment Program 2021 (PDF)

AIS in Minnesota

• 95% of lakes in Minnesota are not infested with AIS.
• 98% of lakes in Minnesota are not infested with zebra mussels.

Let’s continue to work together to help prevent the introduction and reduce the spread of AIS in Chisago County and in the Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District. Visit the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Infested Waters List Opens in New Window  for known locations of invasive species found in Minnesota lakes and rivers.

Invasive Phragmites in Chisago County and the Lake Improvement District

Chisago County and Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District (LID) staff, along with local lake associations, are working with the MN Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) and MN Department of Natural Resources to identify and map occurrences of invasive phragmites and implement treatment strategies to control infestations along shorelines, as well as in wetland and upland areas throughout Chisago County.

Center Lakes, Chisago-Lindstrom and Green Lakes Associations are actively working with lakeshore owners to manage stands of invasive phragmites on shorelines by treating with an approved herbicide.  The Chisago Lakes LID and other partners are working to treat invasive phragmites in roadsides and other upland sites. 

If you live in the Chisago Lakes Area, contact your local lake association and a representative will consult with you to determine if you have invasive phragmites.  If your property has invasive phragmites, the lake association will document the population in EDDMaps, a statewide reporting website, and will guide you on the next steps to treat the invasive phragmites.

If you live anywhere in Chisago County, contact Julia at bohne001@umn.edu for guidance on determining if you have native or invasive phragmites.  She will ask you to take and share photos that will help in making a remote identification. 

To contact your local lake association, or for more information, view the Invasive Phragmites fact sheet below.

• Chisago County - Invasive Phragmites Flyer (PDF) 

Aquatic Plant Surveys and Web Mapping

The aquatic plant point-intercept survey reports list the frequency and distribution of native and invasive plants found in a lake.  

Web mapping links are available in the following point-intercept survey reports.  All plant species found during the survey are included in the map.  

Clicking on an individual point reveals all the plant species found at a given point and the density (abundance) of each species sampled at that point.  To find the ArcGIS Online map, please click on the following surveys:

East Rush Lake and Southeast Bay Plant Survey 2021/2022 - Web Map

Little Horseshoe Lake Plant Survey 2020 - Web Map

Rabour and Mandall Lake Plant Survey 2020 - Web Map