September 2012 Gem Lake Newsletter

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Gem Lake News Page 5 of 6 Goose Lake Fish Study Produces Interesting Results A fish survey was conducted on East and West Goose Lake during mid July. The study was conducted by the Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization (VLAWMO), in conjunction with Blue Water Science Company. Both basins of this lake are on the state impaired list for nutrient overload and most of the loading is coming from within the lake. The last survey done on Goose Lake was in 1986 by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Both basins were full of bullhead fish, with a few suckers, but no game fish found at that time. These type of rough fish stir up lake sediments searching for food, which in turn release nutrients into the water column, causing the major algae blooms, as well as pea colored water. To the surprise of the surveyors, the fish populations in both basins are pretty good and healthy. Great population of bass, crappie, perch and bluegill are present, and are doing very well eating the young bullheads. This suggests that some, if not all the game fish present have been stocked within the last few years, due to the abundance of nine to ten inch bullhead and little evidence of younger bullhead. The DNR stocked bluegill a few years ago but there are no public records showing any other stocking. Private stocking records may solve the mystery of where the other game fish came from. Water quality in both basins of Goose Lake has been improving over the last few years, but is still far from meeting state standards. Steve McComas of Blue Water Science believes that the water quality improvement over the last few years may well be contributing to the growing game fish populations in the lake. The fact that there was only one sucker sample in the nets during the survey and that almost all of the bullhead sampled were nine to ten inches long, could mean that all the young bullhead that have hatched over the last few years have become fish food, slowing reducing the number of rough fish stirring up sediments. Even with the current population of game fish, Goose Lake is still unsightly, extremely impaired, and continues to maintain a large population of bullhead. This bullhead population is still stirring up the sediments and suspending the nutrients in the water column. McComas believes that if you can get the current bullheads out of the lake, you will continue to see an improvement in water quality. A full report will be coming in the next few months. In the meantime more information can be found either at the website, or by calling Kristine Jenson at 651-204-6070. The website address is www.vlawmo.org. Story courtesy of VLAWMO.