Aquatic Invasive Species

Chisago County Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention

The goals of the Chisago County Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program is to Prevent the spread of AIS through conducting watercraft inspections, decontamination of watercraft, providing education and outreach to citizens, enforcing AIS laws and regional coordination. The County conducts Early Detection activities through zebra mussel veliger sampling, installing zebra mussel monitoring plates, and conducting aquatic plant Point-Intercept surveys. Chisago County will implement Rapid Response actions if zebra mussels or other AIS are found in a lake or river located in the County.

Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District

One of the goals of the Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District is to promote the reduction of non-native aquatic invasive species (AIS). Aquatic invasive species are non-native plants, animals and other organisms. When they are introduced into a lake or river they cause harm to the ecosystem. Once in a lake or river they can be impossible to eliminate and difficult to manage. Each year, thousands of watercraft users come to local lakes and rivers, potentially bringing zebra mussels and other AIS along with them. 

Reporting Suspected Invasive Species

Report a Suspected Invasive Aquatic Plant.

Report a Suspected Invasive Aquatic Animal.

Clean, Drain, Dispose and Dry

The AIS Fact Sheet (PDF) helps educate watercraft users on how to Clean, Drain and Dry watercraft and Dispose of bait to prevent the introduction and spread of AIS. The AIS Fact Sheet (PDF) also provides information on the types of AIS species currently found in lakes in Chisago County. Thank you for taking the steps and helping to reduce the spread of AIS. What you do Matters...and it's Minnesota State law to Clean, Drain, Dispose!

View the Annual Report Fact Sheets below for more information on AIS Activities conducted in Chisago County last year.

AIS Communication and Education

In 2016, staff developed an AIS Communication and Education Plan for Chisago County with the Mission to "Education Citizens about AIS and encourage behavior that reduces or stops the spread of AIS in Chisago County." Please view the fact sheet below for more information on AIS educational activities

 Watercraft Inspection Program

Chisago County and the Lake Improvement District actively works to minimize the spread of aquatic invasive species by conducting boat inspections at public water accesses. The Watercraft Inspection Program (PDF) goal is to inform and educate watercraft users on the threats of AIS. Inspections are key to helping watercraft users understand how to prevent the spread of AIS by cleaning off weeds, dumping and replacing minnow bucket water, and removing the drain plug to let water drain from watercraft.


AIS Treatment Program

The Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District also provides cost share funds to are lake associations for treatment of Eurasian Watermilfoil and Curly-leaf Pondweed to improve navigation for watercraft in are lakes.

AIS in Minnesota

  • 95% of lakes in Minnesota are not infested with AIS.
  • 98% of lakes in Minnesota are not infested with zebra mussels.

Let's continue to work together to help prevent the introduction and reduce the spread of AIS in Chisago County and in the Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District. Visit the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR)Infested Waters Listfor known locations of invasive species found in Minnesota lakes and rivers.

Invasive Phragmites in the Lake Improvement District

Local lake associations are working with the MN Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC), the Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District and St. Croix River Association to identify and map occurrences of invasive phragmites and determine long-term ways to treat infestations along shorelines, and in wetland and upland areas in the Chisago Lakes area.

The Center Lakes Association and Chisago-Lindstrom Lakes Association are actively working with lakeshore owners to cut stands of invasive phragmites on shorelines and treat with an approved herbicide.

To contact your local lake association, or for more information, view the Invasive Phragmites fact sheet below.

Aquatic Plant Surveys

  1. 2004 North Center Lake Aquatic Plant Survey (PDF)
  2. 2004 South Center Lake Aquatic Plant Survey (PDF)
  3. 2004 South Lindstrom Lake Aquatic Plant Survey (PDF)
  4. 2005 Chisago Lake Aquatic Plant Survey (PDF)
  5. 2005 Green and Little Green Lakes Aquatic Plant Survey (PDF)
  6. 2005 North Lindstrom Lake Aquatic Plant Survey (PDF)
  7. 2008 South Center Draft Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
  8. 2009 South Center Draft Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
  9. 2010 Chisago Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
  10. 2010 South Center Point Intercept Survey Points (PDF)
  11. 2010 South Lindstrom Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
  12. 2011 North Center Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
  13. 2015 Green Lake Aquatic Vegetation Survey - Muskgrass Map (PDF)
  14. 2015 Green Lake Aquatic Vegetation Survey - Coontail Map (PDF)
  15. 2015 Green Lake Aquatic Vegetation Survey - Canada Waterweed Map (PDF)
  16. 2015 Green Lake Aquatic Vegetation Survey - Eurasian Watermilfoil Map (PDF)
  17. 2015 Green Lake Aquatic Vegetation Survey - Water Celery Map (PDF)
  18. 2015 Green Lake Aquatic Vegetation Survey - Whitestem Pondweed Map (PDF)
  19. 2015 Green Lake Aquatic Vegetation Survey
  20. 2017 Fish Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
  21. 2017 Horseshoe Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
  22. 2017 Kroon Lake Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
  23. 2017 Little Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
  24. 2017 North Center Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
  25. 2017 Spider Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
  26. 2018 Chisago Lake Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
  27. 2018 West Rush Point Intercept Survey (PDF)
  28. 2019 Little Comfort Point Intercept Survey
  29. 2019 North and South Goose Point Intercept Survey

Common Carp Surveys

  1. 2015 Green Lake Carp Report (PDF)
  2. 2016 Chisago Lakes Lions Club Carp Festival Report (PDF)
  3. 2016 South Center and Linn Lakes Carp Report (PDF)
  4. 2017 Chisago Lakes Lions Club Carp Festival Report (PDF)
  5. 2018 Chisago County Bow Fishing Tournament Report (PDF)

Aquatic Invasive Species and Watercraft Inspection Reports

  1. 2010 Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago Lakes (PDF)
  2. 2011 Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago South Lindstrom (PDF)
  3. 2011 Watercraft Inspection Report - Forest Lake (PDF)
  4. 2012 Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago Lakes (PDF)
  5. 2014 Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago Lakes
  6. 2015 Aquatic Invasive Species and Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago County
  7. 2016 Aquatic Invasive Species and Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago County
  8. 2017 Aquatic Invasive Species and Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago County (PDF)
  9. Attachment A - 2017 Watercraft Inspection Summary CLFLWD
  10. Attachment B - 2017 Yearend Watercraft Inspection Summary CLFLWD
  11. Attachment C- 2017 AIS in Previous Lake or River Visited - Lake Name
  12. Attachment D - 2017 DNR Chisago-South Lindstrom Grant Summary Report
  13. Attachment E - 2017 Lakes and Rivers with AIS in Chisago County
  14. 2018 Aquatic Invasive Species and Watercraft Inspection Report - Chisago County (PDF)
  15. Attachment A - 2018 Watercraft Inspection Program Yearend Report CLFLWD (PDF)
  16. Attachment B - 2018 AIS in Previous Lake or River Visited - Lake Name (PDF)
  17. Attachment C - 2018 Lakes and Rivers with AIS in Chisago County (PDF)

Lakes Susceptibility to Zebra Mussels

  1. 2018 Zebra Mussel Calcium Assessment

Zebra Mussel Plan

  1. 2016 Zebra Mussel Prevention, Early Detection, Rapid Response Plan
  2. Attachment A - DNR Zebra Mussel Fact Sheet
  3. Attachment B - 2015 Chisago County Watercraft Inspection Program
  4. Attachment C - 2015 Chisago County AIS Prevention Report
  5. Attachment D - AIS Detectors and Trackers
  6. Attachment E - Monitoring for Zebra Mussels MN AIS Research Center
  7. Attachment F - Zebra Mussel settlement sampler
  8. Attachment G - How to inspect a Zebra Mussel plant sampler