Dakota County Seeks Volunteers To Search For Invasive Algae

DAKOTA COUNTY, MN — Dakota County recently announced that it is seeking volunteers to search for invasive algae starry stonewort Aug. 21.

Starry stonewort was first discovered Lake Koronis in 2015 and has since spread to 16 lakes throughout Minnesota, the county said. Early detection is crucial, according to county officials.

Volunteers will meet outside the Lebanon Hills Visitors Center at 860 Cliff Road at 8:30 a.m. for training before heading to nearby lakes to look for starry stonewort, the county said.

Volunteers will later return to the Visitors Center to report their findings, the county said.

No experience is necessary but volunteers are asked to register by Aug. 15., the county said.

The county said that it is partnering with the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center.

Three years ago, volunteers discovered a new population of zebra mussels, another invasive species, in a lake in Hastings, the county said.

“Protecting our lakes for future generations is important to us all," said Lindsey Albright, water resources specialist with the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District. “Starry Trek volunteers make sure we're doing the best we can to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species."

You can register to volunteer here.