MAISRC in the News

Workshop Focuses on Aquatic Invasive Species

June 2, 2018

With as many lakes and rivers as we have here in Minnesota, you can imagine how many invasive species are in our waterways.

Professionals can only do so much, so volunteers are often needed to help deal with aquatic invasive species.

Today, at the Lake Superior Aquarium in Duluth, educators from University of Minnesota Extension hosted a workshop for invasive species detectors.


AIS symposium set for June 8 in Detroit Lakes

June 2, 2018

A little over six years ago, in January 2012, an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Legislative Summit brought over 250 legislators, AIS experts and people concerned about preserving Minnesota's lakes and rivers to the conference center at Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State) in Detroit Lakes.

At that summit, the creation of an AIS research center in Minnesota was identified as a high priority need — and that same year, the Minnesota Legislature responded by appropriating the funds to create the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) at the University of Minnesota.
 


Minnehaha Creek Watershed District receives funds to restore headwaters habitat

May 31, 2018

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District announced Thursday, May 31, that it received a state grant for $567,000 to control common carp in the headwaters of Lake Minnetonka.

A watershed district news release says the Minnesota Legislature approved the grant from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The funds help put a carp-management plan into effect. It is part of a 10-year effort to improve water quality and wildlife habitat in the subwatershed of Six Mile Creek and Halsted Bay.


MAISRC on Minnesota Bound

May 30, 2018

Nick Phelps, director of the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center, was interviewed by Ron Schara for Minnesota Bound! Check it out here:


Researchers Could Find Way to Use Carp-Killing Virus

May 10, 2018

The walleye fishing opener is Saturday, and researchers at the University of Minnesota are asking anglers for help.

They are paying close attention to fish kills this summer, especially those involving carp. And they want those heading out on the water to report back on what they see.

It comes as The Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center may be close to a major breakthrough in controlling invasive carp.

Isaiah Tolo is a fish detective. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS went with him to investigate a fish kill involving carp on Lake Cornelia in Edina.


Willmar to host May 11 training for volunteer AIS Detectors

April 27, 2018

Not being the kind of guy who is willing to throw up his hands and say 'there's nothing we can do' about aquatic invasive species, Mark Johnson went back to school.

He attended a one-day workshop and completed a self-paced, online course to become an AIS Detector as offered by the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center and the University of Minnesota Extension.

As a lakeshore resident and member of the Lake Washington Improvement Association in Dassel, Johnson said he was motivated to learn about aquatic invasive species. He wanted to work on behalf of the lake and educate others on how they can too.


Research on fighting starry stonewort yields limited success

March 26, 2018

University of Minnesota researchers have reported limited success from an experiment to control an invasive weed in Lake Koronis near Paynesville.

Researchers from the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Center have studying how to combat starry stonewort, which has been spread to 11 lakes across the state. They found that a combination of mechanical harvesting and algaecide greatly reduced the biomass of the plants in the treated area. And it was more effective than chemical treatment alone.

But they also found the tiny star-shaped structures on the weed called "bulbils" that can sprout into new plants remained viable after treatment. Preventing recovery will require further research.


Registration for Aquatic Invasive Species Detectors program now open

March 26, 2018

Registration is now open for AIS Detectors, a volunteer network and science-based training program created by the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center in partnership with University of Minnesota Extension.

Participants will learn how to properly identify and report new findings of aquatic invasive species such as starry stonewort, zebra mussels, round goby, and others. After being trained, AIS Detectors will serve a critical role by searching for new AIS infestations, providing outreach in their communities, and helping AIS researchers in the field.

The program is ideal for motivated adults over the age of 18, including AIS managers and inspectors, lake association members, master naturalists, and anyone else who has a desire to learn more about AIS. Detectors will learn how to identify eleven aquatic invasive species that are threatening Minnesota, as well as their common lookalike species.
 


Taking the plunge to fight aquatic invaders

March 22, 2018

Cecilia Riedman and Stephen Long guide their boat along the shore of Turtle Lake in Itasca County and point to a small island of rock and pine. “Recognize that?” Long asks visitors. “A Hamm’s beer commercial was filmed there in the 1960s.” The visitors can’t help but chant the jingle, “From the Land of Sky Blue Waters.”

Turtle Lake is iconic Minnesota, but things have changed since the 1960s.

“It used to be that our lake association was mostly concerned with planning the Fourth of July Festival and the fishing contest,” Riedman says. “Now we’re also thinking about how to engage the 230 people in our association to prevent aquatic invasive species (AIS) from invading our lake.”


U of M study: Plant diversity doesn't protect lakes from invaders

March 14, 2018

A new study from the University of Minnesota challenges a common belief that lakes with diverse plant life are more resilient to aquatic invaders.

The study by the U's Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center looked at 13 years of vegetation survey data collected from about 1,100 lakes by the Department of Natural Resources.

The surprising results: Researchers found no evidence that having a diverse plant community somehow keeps invaders such as curly-leaf pondweed or Eurasian milfoil from taking hold.