justnorth posted on November 14, 2007 17:21 :: 1584 Views
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has adopted a year-round restriction on the use of motorized watercraft on Towner Lake in Grant County near the town of Herman. The DNR commissioner may restrict the use of motorized watercraft on lakes designated for wildlife management under Minnesota Statute 97A.101. The management plan for the lake was amended to include the restriction on motorized watercraft after the DNR hosted a public informational meeting and solicited comments from the public concerning the proposed restriction.
Towner Lake was legally designated as a wildlife management lake in May 2003. The designation allowed the DNR to partner with Ducks Unlimited to install a permanent electric pump station and new outlet structure. These improvements and the wildlife lake designation allow the DNR to actively manage water levels in Towner Lake to improve aquatic habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife species.
The lake was initially drawn down during the summer of 2004 and remained mostly dewatered during 2005. Towner Lake was allowed to re-flood in 2006. The goal of the temporary drawdown was to reduce the fish population and to re-establish bulrush and other emergent vegetation in the lake.
Aquatic plants responded well to the draw down. Emergent vegetation has become well established, covering approximately 75 percent of the basin. Submerged aquatic vegetation is abundant in the open water areas.
The emergent vegetation provides cover and nesting habitat for waterfowl, as well as other nongame species of birds. Submerged aquatic plants provide a direct food source for waterfowl and also provide habitat for invertebrates, which are an important source of protein for migrating waterfowl.
The restriction on the use of motorized watercraft on Towner Lake is intended to protect the newly established plants from physical disturbances associated with motorized boat traffic. The motorized watercraft restriction will also minimize the disturbance to wildlife using the lake. Towner Lake remains open to hunting and other recreational pursuits with nonmotorized watercraft.
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