One of Minnesota's great resources is its surface water. The lakes and rivers provide a home for 156 species of fish, many invertebrates and aquatic plants, as well as providing habitat for many migratory waterfowl. Besides the natural benefits of freshwater ecosystems these areas are a source of enjoyment for both the people who live nearby and those who travel to experience what the waters have to offer.
Some ways that people use our water resources:
- In 1998 Minnesota had 780,680 registered boats
- and 30,013 Personal Water Craft.
- Minnesota leads the nation in fishing licenses sold per capita with 1.6 million licensed anglers in 1999 and an estimated total of 2.3 million anglers.
- Sport fishing expenditures in 1999 totaled to $1.87 billion.
(Water 2000; Fish 2003)
What do people want in a lake?
People prefer lakes that are aesthetically pleasing and ones that permit the activities that they enjoy. Fishermen want lakes and rivers that support populations of the fish they prefer. Swimmers want water that is safe to swim in and water that appears clean and is free from large amounts of aquatic plants and algae.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' (MDNR) Minnesota
Lake and Watershed Data Collection Manual provides survey questions
for determining lake water quality. The potential responses to the question:
"Describe the physical condition of the lake water today" range from:
-
"Crystal clear water"
to
- "Severely high algal levels with one or more of the following: massive floating scums on lake or washed up on shore, strong foul
odor, or fish kill."
What causes a lake to change from being crystal clear to one where the water looks more like pea soup with "massive floating scums" and dead fish? In many cases this may be due to cultural eutrophication.
Previous Page | Next Page
|