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Aquatic Invasive Species
Chisago County Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention
The goals of the Chisago County Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program are 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. Opens in New Window
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
- 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.
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 and 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 2022 (PDF)
- Chisago County - AIS Decontamination Blitz 2022 (PDF)
- Chisago County - AIS Communication and Education 2022 (PDF)
- Chisago County - Bait Disposal Partnership 2022 (PDF)
- Chisago County - AIS Prevention Workshop 2022 (PDF)
- Chisago County - AIS Zebra Mussel Veliger and Spiny Waterflea Monitoring 2022 (PDF)
- Chisago County - AIS Zebra Mussel Watch Program 2022 (PDF) Opens in New Window
- Chisago County - AIS Water Access Monitoring Program 2022 (PDF)
- Chisago County - AIS Starry Trek 2022 (PDF)
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 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.
The Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District (CLLID) also provides cost share funds to our lake associations for treatment of Eurasian Watermilfoil and Curly-leaf Pondweed to improve navigation for watercraft in our lakes.
Lake Improvement District (LID) Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Partnership Program - Reimbursement Request
We have created a form for Lake Associations within the LID to submit AIS treatment expenses for reimbursement. Please fill out the LID AIS Partnership Program Reimbursement Request Form (PDF) and save it to your computer. Once complete, please sent this form along with any supporting documents via email to Ben Elfelt. For additional information, please view the 2023 LID AIS Partnership Program (PDF).
Chisago County 2023 - 2024 Aquatic Invasive Species Treatment (AIS) and Education Grants for Lake Associations
Chisago County is issuing a grant application to distribute the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water Resources Grant Funding to lake qualified lake associations for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Treatment and Education Outreach projects. Please fill out the 2023 - 2024 Aquatic Invasive Species Treatment and Education Grant Application Form (PDF) and save it to your computer. Applications are due May 3, 2023. Please send the completed application form, along with any supporting documents via email to Susanna Wilson Witkowski.
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, email Julia 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 Chisago County - Invasive Phragmites Flyer (PDF).
Aquatic Plant Surveys
- 2005 Chisago Lake Aquatic Plant Survey (PDF)
- 2005 Green and Little Green Lakes Aquatic Plant Survey (PDF)
- 2005 North Lindstrom Lake Aquatic Plant Survey (PDF)
- 2004 North Center Lake Aquatic Plant Survey (PDF)
- 2004 South Center Lake Aquatic Plant Survey (PDF)
- 2004 South Lindstrom Lake Aquatic Plant Survey (PDF)
Point Intercept Survey
- 2018 Chisago Lake Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2010 Chisago Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2022 East Rush Lake Southeast Bay Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2021 East Rush Lake Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2022 Lake Emily Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2017 Fish Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2017 Horseshoe Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2017 Kroon Lake Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2021 Linn Lake Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2017 Little Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2019 Little Comfort Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2020 Little Horseshoe Lake Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2019 North and South Goose Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2017 North Center Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2011 North Center Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2019 North Lindstrom Lake Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2022 Peterson Lake Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2020 Pioneer Lake Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2020 Rabour and Mandall Lakes Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2020 School Lake Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2010 South Center Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2009 South Center Draft Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2008 South Center Draft Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2021 South Lindstrom Lake Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2010 South Lindstrom Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2017 Spider Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2022 Swamp Lake Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2019 Wallmark Lake Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
- 2018 West Rush Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
Green Lake Aquatic Vegetative Survey
- 2015 Green Lake Aquatic Vegetation Survey (PDF)
- 2015 Green Lake Aquatic Vegetation Survey - Canada Waterweed Map (PDF)
- 2015 Green Lake Aquatic Vegetation Survey - Coontail Map (PDF)
- 2015 Green Lake Aquatic Vegetation Survey - Eurasian Watermilfoil Map (PDF)
- 2015 Green Lake Aquatic Vegetation Survey - Muskgrass Map (PDF)
- 2015 Green Lake Aquatic Vegetation Survey - Water Celery Map (PDF)
- 2015 Green Lake Aquatic Vegetation Survey - Whitestem Pondweed Map (PDF)
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 check out on the following surveys:
East Rush Lake and Southeast Bay Plant Survey 2021/2022 - Web Map
- 2021 Green and South Center Lakes Carp Population Estimate Report (PDF)
- 2018 Chisago County Bow Fishing Tournament Report (PDF)
- 2017 Chisago Lakes Lions Club Carp Festival Report (PDF)
- 2016 South Center and Linn Lakes Carp Report (PDF)
- 2016 Chisago Lakes Lions Club Carp Festival Report (PDF)
- 2015 Green Lake Carp Report (PDF)
- 2022 AIS and Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago County (PDF)
- Attachment A - 2022 CLFLWD Yearend Watercraft Inspection Summary Report (PDF)
- Attachment B - 2022 CLFLWD AIS Program Yearend Summary (PDF)
- Attachment C - 2022 Lakes Rivers with AIS in Chisago County Map (PDF)
- Attachment D - 2022 AIS Prevention AID Program Chisago County (PDF)
- 2021 AIS and Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago County (PDF)
- Attachment A - 2021 CLFLWD Yearend Watercraft Inspection Summary Report (PDF)
- Attachment B - 2021 CLFLWD AIS Program Yearend Summary (PDF)
- Attachment C - 2021 Lakes Rivers with AIS in Chisago County Map (PDF)
- Attachment D - 2021 AIS Prevention AID Program Chisago County (PDF)
- 2020 AIS and Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago County
- Attachment A - 2020 CLFLWD Yearend Watercraft Inspection Summary Report (PDF)
- Attachment B - 2020 Lakes and Rivers with AIS in Chisago County (PDF)
- Attachment C - 2020 AIS Prevention AID Program Chisago County (PDF)
- 2019 AIS and Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago County (PDF)
- Attachment A - 2019 Watercraft Inspection Program Yearend Report CLFLWD (PDF)
- Attachment B - 2019 Lakes and Rivers with AIS in Chisago County (PDF)
- Attachment C - 2019 AIS Prevention AID Program Chisago County (PDF)
- 2018 AIS and Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago County (PDF)
- Attachment A - 2018 Watercraft Inspection Program Yearend Report CLFLWD (PDF)
- Attachment B - 2018 AIS in Previous Lake or River Visited - Lake Name (PDF)
- Attachment C - 2018 Lakes and Rivers with AIS in Chisago County (PDF)
- 2017 AIS and Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago County (PDF)
- Attachment A - 2017 Watercraft Inspection Summary CLFLWD (PDF)
- Attachment B - 2017 Yearend Watercraft Inspection Summary CLFLWD (PDF)
- Attachment C - 2017 AIS in Previous Lake or River Visited - Lake Name (PDF)
- Attachment D - 2017 DNR Chisago-South Lindstrom Grant Summary Report (PDF)
- Attachment E - 2017 Lakes and Rivers with AIS in Chisago County (PDF)
- 2016 AIS and Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago County (PDF)
- 2015 AIS and Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago County (PDF)
- 2014 Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago Lakes (PDF)
- 2012 Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago Lakes (PDF)
- 2011 Watercraft Inspection Report - Forest Lake (PDF)
- 2011 Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago South Lindstrom (PDF)
- 2010 Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago Lakes (PDF)
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. View the Chisago County Water Monitoring video YouTube Video .
Zebra Mussels
Lakes Susceptibility to Zebra Mussels
Zebra Mussel Plan
- 2016 Zebra Mussel Prevention, Early Detection, Rapid Response Plan (PDF)
- Attachment A - DNR Zebra Mussel Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Attachment B - 2015 Chisago County Watercraft Inspection Program (PDF)
- Attachment C - 2015 Chisago County AIS Prevention Report (PDF)
- Attachment D - AIS Detectors and Trackers (PDF)
- Attachment E - Monitoring for Zebra Mussels MN AIS Research Center (PDF)
- Attachment F - Zebra Mussel Settlement Sampler (PDF)
- Attachment G - How to Inspect a Zebra Mussel Plant Sampler (PDF)