2017 Fish Point Intercept Survey (PDF)

Fish Lake Survey Results A point-intercept aquatic plant survey was completed on June 29th, 2017 on Fish Lake. The point- intercept method is considered the standard protocol for sampling by the MnDNR because it offers a methodology that is quantitative (e.g., frequency of occurrence), repeatable (can be used to track trends in aquatic plant communities over time), and georeferenced (can be used to compare plant communities within different areas of a lake). From this data, a Floristic Quality Index (FQI) was calculated that measures the diversity and health of the aquatic plant community. The FQI calculation is based on both the quantity of species observed (species richness) as well as the quality of each individual species. Every aquatic plant in the state of Minnesota has been assigned a coefficient of conservatism value (c-value) ranging from 0 to 10. The c-value of all aquatic plants sampled from a lake is used to determine the FQI for a given lake. Species with a c- value of 0 include non-native species such as curly-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) that are indicative of a highly disturbed environment. In comparison, the native species Oakes pondweed (Potamogeton oakesainus) has a c-value of 10 because this species is extremely rare and only found in undisturbed, pristine environments. The average FQI score for Minnesota Lakes in the North Central Hardwood Forest (NCHF) ecoregion is 23.7±8 with a median of 22.5 (Radomski and Perleberg, 2012). A study of 41 Minnesota lakes surveyed across the state, as part of the EPA’s National Lakes Assessment Project, yielded a maximum FQI score of 30. The FQI score of 30.3 for Fish Lake was higher than all 41 waterbodies, including many pristine waterbodies in Northern Minnesota. The FQI score for Fish Lake is reflective of the high quality nature of the aquatic plant community found in Fish Lake. The Minnesota DNR recently conducted a review of plant surveys conducted on 3,254 lakes across the state. They concluded that the presence of white-stem pondweed (Potamogeton praelongus) and water marigold (Bidens beckii) were good indicators of a highly diverse aquatic plant community. Both of these species were found in Fish Lake. In at least 90% of the surveys in which these two species were observed, a minimum of 13 additional aquatic plant species were detected (Radomski and Perleberg, 2012). Results from the 2017 Fish Lake survey suggest the lake is likely eligible for inclusion in the Minnesota DNR’s List of Lakes of Outstanding Biological Significance. The results of the Fish Lake survey are summarized in Table 1. Included in the table is a list of aquatic plants sampled and their associated c-values and frequency of occurrence values. The distribution and density ranking for each individual species with a frequency of occurrence exceeding 5% is mapped within Appendix A. For each data point mapped, a density ranking of 1 indicates only a few individual plants were observed while a ranking of 4 indicates an abundance of plants were observed.

EOR is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N. Oakdale, MN 55128 T/ 651.770.8448 F/ 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 2 of 17 Table 1. Fish Lake Point-Intercept Survey Results. C- Frequency of Common Name Scientific Name Value Occurrence

Bladderwort Utricularia vulgaris 7 2.3%

Buttercup Ranunculus sp. 6 8.3%

Canada waterweed Elodea canadensis 4 9.9%

Chara (muskgrass) Chara sp. 7 9.9%

Clasping-leaf pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii 5 8.3%

Coontail Ceratophyllum demersum 2 19.5%

Curly-leaf pondweed Potamogeton crispus 0 12.9%

Eurasian watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum 0 15.8%

Fern (Robbins') pondweed Potamogeton robbinsii 8 5.6%

Flatstem pondweed Potamogeton zosteriformis 6 29.7%

Floating-leaf pondweed Potamogeton natans 5 0.3%

Fries pondweed Potamogeton friesii 8 7.3%

Giant bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum 5 1.3%

Large duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza 5 0.3%

Large-leaf pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius 7 10.9%

Narrow-Leaf/hybrid cattail Typha angustifolia/ 'Typha X glauca 0 1.0%

Northern watermilfoil Myriophyllum exalbescens 7 8.3%

Sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata 3 0.3%

Slender naiad Najas flexilis 6 0.0%

Small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus 7 2.0%

Softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani 4 4.3%

Star duckweed Lemna trisulca 5 20.5%

Water celery Vallisneria americana 8 2.6%

Water marigold Megalondonta beckii 8 0.7%

Water stargrass Heteranthera dubia 6 0.7%

Watershield Brasenia schreberi 7 1.3%

White-stem pondweed Potamogeton praelongus 7 3.6%

White water lily Nymphaea odorata 6 6.6%

Wild calla Calla palustris 8 0.7%

Yellow pond lily Nuphar lutea ssp. pumila 9 13.9% Average C-Value 5.5 Summary Table

FQI = C*√S Number of species 30 C= Mean coefficient of conservatism value S= Number of species in sample FQI 30.3

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 3 of 17

Appendix A: Fish Lake Aquatic Plant Species Distribution

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 4 of 17

Figure A-1. Eurasian Watermilfoil distribution – June, 2017.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 5 of 17

Figure A-2. Curly-leaf pondweed distribution – June, 2017.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 6 of 17

Figure A-3. Flatstem pondweed distribution – June, 2017.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 7 of 17

Figure A-4. Coontail distribution – June, 2017.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 8 of 17

Figure A-5. Ivy-leaved (Star) duckweed distribution – June, 2017.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 9 of 17

Figure A-6. Canada waterweed (Elodea) distribution – June, 2017.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 10 of 17

Figure A-7. Chara sp. (Muskgrass) distribution – June, 2017.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 11 of 17

Figure A-8. Large-leaved Pondweed distribution – June, 2017.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 12 of 17

Figure A-9. Yellow and White-waterlily distribution – June, 2017.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 13 of 17

Figure A-10. Northern watermilfoil distribution – June, 2017

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 14 of 17

Figure A-11. Clasping-leaf pondweed distribution – June, 2017.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 15 of 17

Figure A-12. Fern-leaf pondweed distribution – June, 2017.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 16 of 17

Figure A-13. Buttercup distribution – June, 2017.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com memo 17 of 17

Figure A-14. Fries pondweed distribution – June, 2017.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com