Installing native plants for wetland and upland buffer at Wildwood Resort.

Mary Blickenderfer, University of Minnesota Extension Service, 888-241-0885

Itasca Soil and Water Conservation District is sponsoring University of Minnesota Extension Shoreland workshops and buffer project cost-share over the next two years to promote shoreland stewardship in Itasca County. Pictured are several participants of the September 2005 Introduction to Shoreland Landscaping Workshop learning to install a 200-foot shoreland buffer at Wildwood Resort during a May 2006 Shoreland Planting Workshop near Grand Rapids. These “graduates” went on to install six additional buffer projects on their own properties by the end of May. They will attend the Shoreland Maintenance Workshop later this summer to learn how to fine-tune their projects.

Planting bulrush for wave break and fish habitat.

Participants of Extension’s May 24, 2006 Erosion Control Workshop take their knowledge of bioengineering gleaned in the morning classroom session into the field to stabilize failing slopes of the Rapid River near Baudette. The steep and slippery clay slopes and fluctuating water level, common in the northwestern part of the state, offered challenges to the participants installing “brush mattresses” and “live fascines.” This one-day workshop was sponsored by the Lake of the Woods and Koochiching Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Installing erosion control blanket and live fascines.

Molly Zins, Minnesota Waters, 800-515-5253

Join lake and river advocates from around the state on September 7-9 for the 2006 Lakes and Rivers Conference being held at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC). Networking, excellent speakers, new program opportunities, and fun are guaranteed in beautiful Duluth, the world’s largest inland seaport, surrounded by dramatic hills and a breathtaking historic waterfront. Take a couple of extra days and wander up the North Shore as the colors begin to turn. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and play atop Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in North America.

• Over 35 concurrent sessions from Thur. through Sat.
• Special workshops on advanced topics
• 85 exhibitors of lake management services and products
• Field trips to view innovative projects in the Duluth area
• Local water planning track Thursday sponsored by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
• Session tracks on citizen monitoring, building healthy organizations, watershed stewardship, shoreland development, river ecology and more
• Gala Minnesota Waters Celebration overlooking the harbor
• 1,200 hotel rooms within walking distance of the DECC. An extensive climate-controlled skywalk system connects attendees to lodging, attractions, restaurants, shopping and the DECC, or stay in historic Canal Park, just three minutes away.

For more information, registration, and program agenda, check out the conference web site.

Mary Blickenderfer, University of Minnesota Extension Service, 888-241-0885

At the base of the food web, algae support nearly every aquatic creature. They are essential to a diverse and productive fishery and the overall health of our lakes. Many species of algae occur in lakes. The exact species and their population within a given lake reflect the available nutrients, water clarity, temperature, acidity, time of year, and abundance of algae grazers.

Many Minnesota lakes have algae “blooms” – the mats of vegetation or “pea soup” green water that occur on hot, calm days. On rare occasions blue-green algae blooms can produce toxins that are harmful to fish and other animals, including cattle and dogs.

Algae “blooms” occur under conditions that favor algae growth or when algae grazers are scarce. Turn up the water temperature and add some phosphorus and you have the perfect recipe for algae soup! The small amount of phosphorous that naturally occurs in our lakes is usually insufficient to support large algae blooms. However, phosphorus entering our lakes from the surrounding watershed (the large land area that drains to a lake) or resuspension of phosphorus that has settled on the lake bottom will fuel algae blooms – under optimal conditions, additions of only one pound of phosphorus can lead to 500 pounds of algae!

Fishing pressure on a lake can add to the problem. The saying, “tug on one part of the food web and you’ll affect all the other parts” holds true. Excessive removal of northern pike, walleye, bass, and other game fish from a lake affects populations of small fish and grazers and can ultimately lead to a greater abundance of algae.

The most cost-effective strategies that produce long-term results involve reduction of phosphorous inputs to a lake. Phosphorus commonly enters a lake attached to soil particles, dissolved in runoff, in seepage from failing septic systems and through resuspension of lake bottom sediments. On-land strategies to reduce phosphorus loading to your lake include maintaining septic systems, planting vegetative buffers along streams and lakes, and re-routing runoff into rain gardens and stormwater ponds. In-lake strategies to reduce phosphorus re-suspension include maintaining or restoring the native aquatic plant population, removing/ controlling carp (if they exist in your lake), reducing motorboat speed in shallow water and eliminating other activities that “stir up” sediments.

Lakes with high phosphorus levels will benefit from the strategies listed above, but may also require additional efforts to reduce existing phosphorus. These are best determined with the assistance of a limnologist or lake consultant (not a product sales representative). Your local Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) office may provide direct assistance or help you find a consultant. Examples of treatments to consider are: phosphorus inactivation, sediment removal, artificial circulation, algae harvesting, foodweb manipulation, and algacides. Keep in mind, implementation of these treatments will require planning, substantial funding, and may require a Minnesota DNR permit. Depending on the method used, repeated treatments are often necessary, some may have negative impacts on a lake, and none of them alone will be affective in the long-term restoration of your lake unless phosphorus inputs from watershed and in-lake activities are also controlled.

Want to know more?

Information on the Web:

• http://www.extension.umn.edu/water/
• http://www.shorelandmanagement.org
• http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/DD7040.html

For permit information:

• http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecological_services/pubs_regulations.html

Photo Credit: Douglas Jensen.

Doug Jensen, MISAC, communications, outreach and education committee chair, and Minnesota Sea Grant Program, 218-726-8712

Minnesota will soon have a comprehensive state plan to address aquatic and terrestrial invasive species. Several members of the Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Council (MISAC, or mee-sack) including staff from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), and Minnesota Sea Grant met in 2005 to begin developing a draft plan.

In October, Minnesota reached a milestone. For the first time, 70 representatives from various businesses, government, and non-governmental entities, including the University of Minnesota Extension Service, gathered at a workshop to address terrestrial and aquatic invasive species.

Why a state plan? Both DNR and the MDA are mandated to administer invasive species response plans, and other organizations, including Sea Grant, were interested in creating a plan. Merging efforts into one plan provides a common structure for coordinating and guiding invasive species detection and response efforts, encourages input from partners, and improves access to funding.

Workshop attendees participated in breakout sessions according to their interests and indicated how their organizations would address invasive species prevention, early detection, management, and coordination efforts. This information will be used as input for the comprehensive state plan. Participant interest and contributions during the workshop demonstrated the relevance for the need to address invasive species issues through a comprehensive approach.

The workshop was sponsored by Minnesota Sea Grant through a grant from the Great Lakes Commission in collaboration with MISAC, the DNR, and MDA. According to workshop evaluations, the workshop was very successful:

• 89 percent of attendees felt the workshop was useful to address their organization’s invasive species-related mission, goals, and objectives
• 71 percent thought that the draft plan is on track to become a viable appoach
• 79 percent felt it brought together diverse stakeholders
• 78 percent were more than likely to implement aspects of the plan

Comments received on the draft will be considered during revision by MISAC. Once a revised plan is ready, it will be distributed to the public for comment. The plan is expected to be finalized by mid-2006. A synthesis of the workshop outcomes will be presented at a Great Lakes Regional Summit hosted by the Great Lakes Commission in 2006.

To learn more about MISAC, please visit them on the web.

[This article is adapted from the new Extension “Lake Home and Cabin Kit”]

What is Swimmer’s Itch?

Swimmer’s itch, technically known as Schistosome dermatitis, is a common malady around Minnesota’s lakes during midsummer. It appears as red, itchy, bite-like welts within several hours of leaving the water. The irritation may last from a few days to several weeks, depending on an individual’s sensitivity. About 30-40 percent of people who come in contact with the parasite are sensitive and experience irritation. There are no reported long-term effects from swimmer’s itch and the parasite that causes it will not survive in humans.

Where Does it Come From?

Swimmer’s itch comes from a microscopic flatworm parasite Schisosome cercariae that lives as an adult in aquatic birds or mammals, usually waterfowl. The adult worm sheds its eggs into the feces of the host, and the eggs are released into the water where they hatch into free-swimming miracidiae. The miracidiae swim in search of an intermediate host, one of four species of snail that inhabit shallow waters in Minnesota. The host snails live in all sorts of areas including weedy, rocky, and sandy bottoms. After 3-4 weeks in the snail, a second free-swimming stage, called a cercaria, emerges, in search of a primary host (another bird or mammal) to complete its life cycle. The cercariae are about 2 mm long and barely visible.

The release of cercariae typically occurs in late June or early July, when lakes are nearly at their warmest summer temperatures. If the spring has been very warm, problems with swimmer’s itch may begin earlier in the summer. Most cercariae are released around midday, and will swim to the surface to increase their chances of finding a host. Wind and currents have been shown to carry cercariae as much as four miles from the area they were released.

In some areas snail populations may be as high as 400 per square meter, and one infected snail may release up to 4,000 cercariae per day. Even if not all the snails are infected, that can mean millions of cercariae on a typical beach each midsummer day.

When a swimmer leaves the water and the water drops on their skin begin to evaporate, the tiny cercariae burrow into the skin in an effort to survive. The swimmer may feel tingling on exposed parts of the body. Where water is held near the skin (at waistbands and leg openings) the cercariae have more time to burrow in. The cercariae are killed by the body’s natural defense mechanisms, but they cause a welt, or red itchy spot like a mosquito bite. People cannot become a host for the parasite, either through skin penetration or by swallowing lake water.

Is there any treatment?

Some sunscreens and lotions may reduce the infections, although nothing is known to be completely effective. If you get swimmers’ itch, lotions or ointments may relieve the itching. In severe cases, you may need antihistamines or steroid creams that can be prescribed by a physician.

People often want to control the snail hosts or the free-swimming cercariae, but neither option is practical because the cercariae can swim or be carried long distances. To control severe infestations of snails, the application of copper sulfate in the lake is a possibility, but it requires application over a large area and copper sulfate can also kill smaill fish. Waters treated with copper sulfate should not be used for 48 hours after application. ANY chemical treatment in the water requires a permit from the Department of Natural Resources, Section of Fisheries. Contact your regional DNR fisheries office for assistance and permit information.

How Can I Avoid Swimmer’s Itch?

You can reduce the likelihood of suffering swimmer’s itch by following these simple guidelines. Although even careful adherence to the recommendations may not be 100 percent successful in preventing an outbreak, you can minimize the extent of irritation and itching.

• Dry off as soon as you leave the water. Rub your skin briskly to remove water drops before they begin to evaporate. Be sure to dry underneath waistbands and around leg openings of swimming suits. Encourage children to dry off thoroughly each time they leave the water.
• Shower with soap and fresh water or change into dry clothes as soon as possible after swimming.
• Don’t wade or play in shallow water, especially in weedy areas. Swimming off of a raft or pontoon minimizes your exposure.
• Clean beaches of weeds or other debris that have washed up on shore. They can harbor the snails.
• Don’t swim when there has been an onshore breeze that may have carried parasites to your beach.
• Don’t feed geese and ducks or allow them to congregate near your beach. Waterfowl are an important adult host for the parasites.

Black-eyed Susan

Mary Blickenderfer, University of Minnesota Extension Service, 888-241-0885

Just in time for the planting season, shoreland specialists share their “short list” of native species for the upland area of your shoreland – plants that have performed the best in restorations statewide.

Before selecting plants for the upland area of your shoreline property, you will need to determine the general type of soil(s) you have: coarse, medium, or fine. For best plant survival it is recommended that you choose species that were part of the pre-disturbance native plant community. You can do this by identifying the plants growing on an undisturbed piece of shoreline with soil and sun exposure similar to your site (called a reference site). This may require assistance of a botanist.

You also need to consider your objectives for this portion of your shoreland: erosion control, showy garden, shade, wildlife habitat, etc. Use the table below to assist you in selecting plants that meet your objectives. Select the row in the table that corresponds to your soil type and use the groupings to help further narrow your species list. For erosion control, choose grasses that have a deep, fibrous network of roots (see Grasses column of the table). If on a slope, rapidly spreading shrubs and flowers will provide additional structure (see Rapid Colonizers column). If you’re looking for a showy planting and erosion isn’t an issue, flowers can provide color throughout the summer (see Accent Flowers column). For shade and additional wildlife habitat, select trees and shrubs (see Woody Plants column).

For flowers and grasses plan to sow seed at the rate of 8 oz. and 2 oz., respectively, for each 1,000 square feet of planting area. Small containerized plants (plugs) spaced 1-2 feet apart also work well, or use a combination of seeds and plants. For shrubs and trees use bare-root or larger containerized plants spaced 3-20 feet apart, as recommended.

Shoreland specialists who contributed to the “short list”:

Gregg Thompson- Asso. of Metropolitan Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Bonnie Hiniker- Sunshine Gardens

Mary Blickenderfer, Eleanor Burkett- U of MN Extension

References:

• Ownbey, G. and T. Morley. 1991. Vascular Plants of Minnesota – A Checklist and Atlas. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. 306 pp.
• Gleason, H. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeast United States and Adjacent Canada, 2nd edition. NY: The New York Botanical Garden. 910 pp.

Karen Terry.

Karen Terry, Extension Educator, Fergus Falls, 218-998-3927

Karen is originally from Indiana and attended both Butler University and Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis. She came to Minnesota in 1988 to attend the University of Minnesota in St. Paul where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Fisheries and Wildlife. For over 14 years, Karen has worked with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resource’s Stream Habitat Program as a river ecologist. In this position, she did research, field surveys, and environmental education. She joined Extension in January 2006, as a Regional Extension Educator in Water Resource Management and Policy at the Fergus Falls Regional Center, working with the Shoreland Education Team.

Natural Resources and Environment educators will again be participating in the 2006 Lake Home and Cabin Show, Friday April 21 – Sunday April 23 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Shoreland Education, Septic Systems, Trees and Woodlands, and Housing Technology experts will be available to answer your questions as you check out our hands-on exhibits and displays. This year, we will have a kiosk set up where you can purchase our books, DVDs, and the revised 2006 Lake Home and Cabin Kit. Once again, the 2006 Lake Home and Cabin Show will be a great place to get all the latest information from the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

Val Were, Outdoor Corps Coordinator, 612-624-7430

Since 2003, Outdoor Corps, a University of Minnesota Extension Service program, has been empowering high school students to meet environmental stewardship needs in their communities. Under teacher supervision, students participating in the program sample lakes in their communities and apply the science and math skills they’ve learned in their classrooms to real-world situations. All students and teachers are compensated for their time.

Outdoor Corps services are provided to lake associations and communities for a fee. In 2005, two sampling packages were available. Clients could opt for a basic package including water transparency, dissolved oxygen, and pH profiles, or order a complete sampling package: profiles and chemical analysis of total phosphorous and chlorophyll-a.

Three adult supervisors and ten high-school students worked during the 2005 summer sampling season in Benton, Stearns, Cass, Crow Wing, Kandiyohi, and Meeker counties (Figure 1). Samples were collected at a total of 32 sampling sites on 29 lakes. In addition, water samples were collected at a majority of the lakes and sent for total phosphorous and chlorophyll- a analysis at A.W. Research Lab in Brainerd.

Outdoor Corps will continue in 2006. For more on the program and its activities, please visit them on the web.

Dawn Dubats, Rice Creek Watershed District, 763-398-3078

Native plants can improve water quality and help with drainage problems by reducing the “squishy” spots in your lawn. So why isn’t everyone planting natives? Part of the problem has been that native plants are harder to find in retail stores.

The Rice Creek Watershed District developed a program called “One-Stop Shopping to Restore Your Yard & Shore” to make it easy for watershed residents to find these beneficial native plants. A web site has been developed and displays were posted at area garden retailers to help people learn the how to’s of rain gardens and lakeshore restoration. While all of the participating retailers are in the Twin Cities area, anyone can use the web site, which includes a plant selector tool. You simply enter your parameters into the site — for example, a flowering plant for a shady wet spot — and it will provide you with a list of native plants. The garden centers that provide space and support for the One-Stop displays are: Landscape Alternatives in Roseville, Lebens Floral at Old Town Market in Hugo, Linder’s Garden Center in St. Paul, and Rice Creek Gardens in Blaine.

Why are native plants so effective in improving water quality? The answer is largely due to their extensive roots, which sometimes extend 16 feet down. These roots anchor soil, decreasing erosion and suspended sediment that can make lakes and streams cloudy. If the plants are planted as a “buffer” between a yard and the lake, the roots act as a filter and absorb polluted run-off and excess nutrients before they enter the lake. When planted in the lake, native plants produce oxygen and provide habitat for fish and wildlife.