Cook County Trout Lakes To Be Chemically Rehabilitated Starting September 29

The Minnesota Department Of Natural Resources has announced that steps will be taken to clean up some area lakes starting next week, and there are some things you need to know about the process.  Three designated stream trout lakes in Cook County will be chemically rehabilitated to remove undesirable fish species and may be temporarily closed during treatment applications.

Treatment of Kimball, Mink and Boys lakes will begin the week of Sept. 29 and should be completed by the end of that week. The rehabilitation is a joint project between the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Trout Unlimited.

All three lakes will be treated with the selective fish toxicant Rotenone. The three lakes will be posted with informational and warning signs before, during, and following treatment.

The project uses Game and Fish funds and funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, created after voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in November 2008.

Treatments will be done aerially and are expected to kill all fish in the three lakes. Rotenone kills fish, but is not toxic to birds or mammals at the concentrations used in these lakes. While aquatic invertebrate populations can be somewhat affected, effects are minimized by the low treatment concentrations and invertebrates quickly become re-established.

Rotenone detoxifies quickly, usually within two weeks. Swimming in or drinking treated water immediately after treatment is discouraged, and fish killed by Rotenone should not be consumed.

Stocking of trout in Kimball and Mink lakes will resume in the spring of 2015, while Boys Lake may not be restocked until the fall of 2015. Kimball Lake will be stocked with rainbow trout yearlings and brown trout fingerlings, Mink Lake will receive rainbow trout yearlings and splake fingerlings, and Boys Lake will be restocked with brook trout fingerlings.

“We appreciate the commitment of our Trout Unlimited partners in helping us provide long-term stream trout fishing opportunities for future generations,” said Grand Marais Area Fisheries Supervisor Steve Persons. “Minnesota’s inland stream trout lakes are popular with anglers and provide unique opportunities for both novice and experienced trout anglers.”

Anglers fishing these and other stream trout lakes in the area should be sure to follow regulations banning the use or possession of live minnows on designated stream trout lakes.  Minnows from bait shops or natural sources are often contaminated with undesirable species like yellow perch or bullheads. When these species become established in a trout lake, the lake’s ability to support a high quality fishery is greatly reduced.