CASE STUDY - LAKE FREMONT, MN
LAKE FREMONT, MINNESOTA
Lake Fremont is a 493-acre lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota. It has an average 5-foot depth, and has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake has 5.1 miles of shoreline, and is a popular local fishing lake for warmwater fish. The lake is located a few miles east of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, a 30,700-acre refuge established in 1965 to support migratory birds and their habitats. The refuge is designated as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. Many kinds of wetlands exist on the refuge, including the St. Francis River, wet meadows, and shallow and deep marshes.
This shallow lake with low to moderate water clarity has conditions favorable for widespread aquatic plant growth. The lake is susceptible to winter kill.
There is a concrete boat launch managed by the City of Zimmerman.
Curlyleaf pondweed was first detected in the lake in 1957, and was found growing at, or near the surface on 61 acres in 2008.
Local governments in Minnesota possess only those powers granted by the State legislature or implied as necessary to carry out such powers. Cities and towns in Minnesota are authorized to legislate for the "general welfare."
Click on the image for a larger version of this map on Google Earth.
MAJOR ESTIMATED PATHWAYS OF AIS INTRODUCTION TO LAKE FREMONT
PATHWAY - AVIATION
SUB-PATHWAY
RESPONSIBLE CITY/COUNTY DEPT.
STATE LAW/REGULATION
LOCAL AUTHORITY
RECOMMENDATION
Municipalities, including cities and counties, may operate and regulate airports. (MN ST 360.032).
Not Applicable
Unknown
Planes/Helicopters
Sherburne County Public Works
None found. No public or private airport in City of Zimmerman.
Seaplanes
MN ADC 8800.1700 (Public Seaplane Base Licensing) & 800.2000 (Private Seaplane Base Licensing). Use must be in conformity with marine traffic rules of jurisdiction with authority over water.
None found. No public seaplane bases listed on MNDOT site. Unclear what local authority exists over private seaplane bases.
Consider adopting city/county ordinance requiring seaplanes to follow AIS BMPs when landing in Lake Fremont.
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PATHWAY - WATER
SUB-PATHWAY
RESPONSIBLE CITY/COUNTY DEPT.
STATE LAW/REGULATION
LOCAL AUTHORITY
RECOMMENDATION
Continue working to implement AIS Prevention Plan.
General AIS Prevention
Sherburne Soil and Water Conservation District; Sherburne County Parks and Recreation
AIS Prevention Aid
(MN ST 477A.19)
Sherburne County: In November 2014, Sherburne County, by resolution, delegated Sherburne Soil and Water Conservation District to develop and implement an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Plan. (Sherburne County Resolution #110414-AD01612). Sherburne SWCD encourages involvement in the MN DNR’s AIS Volunteer program.
Hull/surface Fouling
Unknown
None found.
None found.
Conduct research on the hull/surface fouling vector to identify responsible authorities and possible actions to address.
None.
Stowaways
City of Zimmerman
Sherburne County Sheriff
Watercraft and water-related equipment requirements and prohibitions
(MN ST 84D.10)
City of Zimmerman: None found.
Adopt a provision similar to Sherburne County.
Sherbourne County: Unlawful to possess non-native, to Minnesota, Prohibited Animals (Prohibited Animal Ordinance (ORD-125) Sec. 3(b)). Ordinance grants County right of inspection and seizure.
None found.
Anglers
Sherburne County Parks and
Recreation
State regulations on fishing contests
(MN ADC Chapter 6212)
Add provision to Sherburne County Parks Ordinance addressing AIS risks from anglers. Consider requiring event permit for fishing tournaments (if applicable).
Fish Escapes/Releases
Sherburne County Parks and
Recreation
Unauthorized release of invasive species required (MN ADC 6216.0280)
Sherbourne County: Unlawful “to release an animal into the lands or waters in the Park or Trail that is not indigenous to the area…” (Park Ordinance (ORD-227) Sec. 4.H.)
Add parallel provision to City of Zimmerman Code.
PATHWAY - LAND
SUB-PATHWAY
RESPONSIBLE CITY/COUNTY DEPT.
STATE LAW/REGULATION
LOCAL AUTHORITY
RECOMMENDATION
Cars, Buses, Trucks, ATVs, Recreational Boat Trailers
May not place trailer in waters with aquatic macrophytes attached (MN St 84D.10)
Add parallel provision to City of Zimmerman Code.
Sherbourne County: Unlawful for any person to “fail to drain boats or water vessels in accordance with MN state law.” (Park Ordinance (ORD-227) Section 6.C). Sherburne County Sheriff’s Department contracts with a local AIS Inspector hiring agency for inspections
Sherburne County Public Works
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PATHWAY - LAND
SUB-PATHWAY
RESPONSIBLE CITY/COUNTY DEPT.
STATE LAW/REGULATION
LOCAL AUTHORITY
RECOMMENDATION
Bait
Sherburne County Parks and Recreation
Permit required to harvest bait or transport water from infested waters. Lake Fremont not listed as infested, but there are infested waters in the county. State restrictions on bait include: VHS-free certification for frozen or dead fish used as bait (MN ST 97C.342); species prohibitions (MN ST 97C.341); and disposal prohibitions (MN ST 84D.10, Subd. 4(e)). Crayfish may not be sold for live bait use. (MN ADC 6259.0200).
None found.
Add provisions to City of Zimmerman Code and Sherburne County Parks Ordinance addressing the bait pathway.
Unknown
Pet/Aquarium
State "aquarium facility license" is required for owners of wholesale and retail aquarium facilities (pet stores) that sell fish that are species of aquatic life which are present in MN waters, or species of aquatic life that are not present in MN but can survive in waters of the state. (MN ST § 17.4988 Sub. 4.) An aquarium facility license is not required to sell tropical, subtropical, and saltwater fish, and goldfish. Aquarium fish may not be stocked in any MN waters.
None found.
Consider implementing city and county policies or procedures that reinforces or seeks to verify the MDNR license requirement or adopting a local ordinance requiring a business license for pet stores. Implement targeted AIS education for pet store owners that highlights state and local restrictions on possession and release.