About Starry Trek
Starry Trek is a statewide event focused on searching for one of Minnesota's newest aquatic invasive species, starry stonewort (and other invaders). Starry stonewort is an invasive algae that was first found in Lake Koronis in 2015 and has since spread to nineteen Minnesota lakes (learn more about starry stonewort and our research). This event is an opportunity for you and to team up with us and hundreds of your fellow Minnesotans to better understand its distribution in Minnesota.
What You'll Do
You will meet at a local training site hosted by one of our local partners where you will receive a brief training on how to identify starry stonewort and other target aquatic invasive species and how to follow the search protocols. Groups are then sent out to nearby priority lakes to follow the protocols and bring back any suspicious organisms. Starry Trek is a free event and no experience or special equipment is required. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
How You'll Make a Difference
In both 2017 and 2018, Starry Trek volunteers discovered new populations of starry stonewort. Follow-up surveys by Minnesota DNR specialists confirmed these new findings in Lake Carnelian (Stearns County, 2020), Wolf Lake (Hubbard County, 2018) Lake Beltrami (Beltrami County, 2018) and Grand Lake (Stearns County, 2017). As a result of the Grand Lake discovery the local lake association and MN DNR teamed up in a rapid response plan to remove the small patch of starry stonewort. Other notable finds by Starry Trek participants include the discovery of a new populations of Eurasian watermilfoil in Winona County (2017) and Aitkin County (2019) and a new zebra mussel population in Dakota County (2018). Over 200 Minnesotans have joined in this effort and searched over 200 public water accesses each year since our inaugural event in 2017.
Background
Starry Trek is organized by the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center and University of Minnesota Extension in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Funding for Starry Trek is provided in part by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Starry Trek is held in coordination with AIS Snapshot Day, an aquatic invasive species search event held in Wisconsin on the same day hosted by the River Alliance of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin Extension, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Recap: Starry Trek 2022
Thank you so much for participating in Starry Trek 2022! No new starry stonewort discoveries were made during Starry Trek this year. Shortly after Starry Trek, MN DNR did make an announcement of the discovery of starry stonewort in Lake Bemidji. This lake was not among those monitored during Starry Trek.
Each year we also get several new reports of Chinese and banded mystery snails that are not yet in the EDDMapS database (a nationwide invasive species reporting system). Not all of these are previously unknown populations, however many of these helped update the database, which is used by MN DNR and many other agencies to track populations of invasive species, so their discovery and reporting is still important and beneficial. And some are likely the first time that species has been reported in that water body as well! This year, 13 new invasive mystery snail reports were made thanks to Starry Trek.
Volunteers in Kanabec and Lake of the Woods Counties also made a fun find when they came across a strange, gelatinous blob. These were freshwater bryozoans! While most bryozoans are found in marine environments, we do have native, freshwater bryozoans in Minnesota and they’re pretty neat!
Below, you will find a list of samples that were passed on to MN DNR for verification or identification and the final determination. Locations are listed by county. You can click the links below to view the report for new AIS reports or to learn more about the native species submitted.
Cass County
- Snail samples from Big Sand Lake were determined to be Chinese mystery snails, a new report for this lake
- Additional snail samples from Big Sand Lake were determined to be banded mystery snails, a new report for this lake
- Snail samples from Big Portage Lake were determined to be Chinese mystery snails, a new report for this lake
- Snail samples from Boy Lake were determined to be banded mystery snails, a new report for this lake
- Snail samples from Sanborn Lake were determined to be Chinese mystery snails, a new report for this lake
- A plant sample collected from Webb lake was determined to be slender naiad, a native species.
Dakota County
- The plant sample from Valley Lake was determined to be Eurasian watermilfoil, which has been previously reported in this lake.
- The snails recovered from Thompson Lake were determined to be banded mystery snails, a new report for this lake. Chinese mystery snails, which have been previously reported in this lake were also recovered.
- The clams recovered from Thompson Lake were determined to be fingernail/pea clams, likely native species.
- The snails recovered from Crystal Lake were determined to be Chinese mystery snails and banded mystery snails, which have both been previously reported in this lake
- The snails recovered from Keller Lake were determined to be Chinese mystery snails, which have been previously reported in this lake
- The snails recovered from Rogers Lake were determined to be Chinese mystery snails, a new report for this lake
- The snails recovered from Lake Farquar were determined to be Chinese mystery snails, a new report for this lake
- The snails recovered from Lake Lac Lavon were determined to be banded mystery snails, a new report for this lake
Kanabec County
- Snail samples from Mora Lake were determined to be Chinese mystery snails, a new report for this lake
- Plant samples from Pomroy Lake were determined to be a native species of Chara (muskgrass).
Hubbard County
- Snail samples collected from 6th Crow Wing Lake were determined to be banded mystery snails, which have been previously reported in this lake. There was also a native snail included in the submitted samples. No faucet snails were reported here.
- Snail samples collected from 11th Crow Wing Lake were determined to be Chinese mystery snails, which have been previously reported in this lake
- Snail samples collected from Big Mantrap Lake were determined to be banded mystery snails, a new report for this lake
- Plant samples collected from Lake Belle Taine were determined to be a native species of Chara (muskgrass)
- The mollusc collected from Hinds Lake was determined to not be an invasive species
- Plant samples collected from Long Lake were determined to be a native species of Nitella (stonewort)
Scott County
- Plant samples from Lake Riley were determined to be native species
- Mussel samples from Lake Riley were determined to be zebra mussels, which have previously been reported in this lake
- Images of the snail samples from Lake Riley were too small to identify the specimen to species, but the snail’s shape was not consistent with invasive mystery snails and it was determined to likely be a native species.
- Images of the snail samples from the Minnesota River were too small to identify the specimen to species, but the snail’s shape was not consistent with invasive mystery snails and it was determined to likely be a native species.
- Images of the snail samples from Lower Prior Lake were too small to identify the specimen to species, but the snail’s shape was not consistent with invasive mystery snails and it was determined to likely be a native species.
- Plant samples from Upper and Lower Prior Lakes were determined to be Eurasian watermilfoil, which has previously been reported at both lakes
Sherburne County
- Snail samples collected from West Hunter Lake were determined to be Chinese mystery snails, a new report for this lake
Stearns County
- Plant samples from the Watab Lake were determined to be common waterweed, a native species
Todd County
- Plant samples collected on lady lake were likely from either spineless hornwort or water marigold, both native species.
Washington County
- Plant samples from Square Lake were determined to be native species, likely Chara (muskgrass)
- Plant samples from Jane Lake were determined to be Eurasian watermilfoil, which has previously been reported at this lake
- Plant samples from Clear Lake were determined to be Eurasian watermilfoil, which has previously been reported at this lake
- Plant samples from Big Marine Lake were determined to be Eurasian watermilfoil, which has previously been reported at this lake. Other plant samples from this lake were determined to be other native species.
- Snail samples from Big Marine Lake were determined to be Chinese mystery snails, which have previously been reported at this lake
- Snail samples from Battle Creek Lake were determined to be Chinese mystery snails, which have previously been reported at this lake
- Snail samples from Tanners Lake were determined to be Chinese mystery snails, a new report for this lake
- The clams recovered from Lake Demontreville were determined to be fingernail/pea clams, likely native species.
