DNR Southern Region Hearing Set on High Island Lake Designation
(2005-01-20)
Tom Conroy Information Officer DNR Southern Region 261 Hwy 15 South New
Ulm MN 56073 507/359-6014 tom.conroy@dnr.state.mn.us
NEWS RELEASE
January 12, 2005
For additional information, contact: Nicole Hansel-Welch, DNR Wildlife Lakes
Specialist; 218-833-8626 (Nicole.hansel-welch@dnr.state.mn.us)
Hearing Set on High Island Lake Designation
A proposed plan designed to improve the water quality and fish and wildlife
habitat of High Island Lake in Sibley County will be the subject of a public
input meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 25.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the New Auburn City Hall. The public is
invited to attend and voice their opinions regarding future management of
this lake.
Nicole Hansel-Welch, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Lakes
Specialist, explained that the water quality of High Island Lake has
deteriorated significantly over the years and has lost much of its appeal
for game fish and waterfowl.
"Local citizens are very interested in restoring the water quality and fish
and wildlife habitat of High Island Lake and we are convinced that the best
way to do that is to designate the lake as a Wildlife Lake," Hansel-Welch
said. "That designation will allow for occasional partial drawdowns of the
water level, a management technique that has proven highly successful in
other similar lakes."
Currently, High Island Lake has an over-population of undesirable fish
species such as carp and black bullhead. These fish root up bottom sediments
which in turn further cloud the water and stymie needed aquatic plant
growth. A partial drawdown, Hansel-Welch explained, will increase the
likelihood of a winterkill of those fish. Once such a winterkill occurs, the
DNR would stock the lake with walleye fry.
Scott Sparlin of the Friends of the Minnesota Valley initially took on the
task of organizing local citizens to come up with a plan for addressing the
problems afflicting High Island Lake. A group was organized and met monthly
during 2004 to develop the plan that calls for the lake designation.
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