General ice thickness guidelines

The DNR does not measure ice thickness on Minnesota lakes. Your safety is your responsibility. Learn about the different ways to check ice thickness before heading out. The MN DNR website is a great resource!

Update on the Dec 12 Cold Spring City Council Meeting

On December 12, 2024, the Cold Spring City Council joined the SRCLA in support of a study assessing the feasibility of replacing the Cold Spring Dam with a Rock Arch Rapids that will maintain the existing water level. Funding sources for the feasibility study are unknown at this time. Check out some of the details about Rock Arch Rapids and the highlights of the discussion HERE.

For more information see the Cold Spring Dam section of our Projects page.

Calling all Lake Enthusiasts!

Our Board would like to pass on this DNR Roundtable opportunity to members and non-members. We invite anyone who participates on Jan. 10th to our board meeting on Feb. 18th to share what they have learned! Details are below!

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Roundtable — an annual gathering of conservation partners to discuss fisheries, wildlife, and ecological and water resource topics and encourage partnership — will again include a no-cost, open registration opportunity.

The opportunity to register for one of a limited number of first-come, first-served slots will open at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 10. At that time, a registration link will go live on the DNR’s Roundtable webpage (mndnr.gov/roundtable).

Watch for the Lake Turnover Process!

Did you know the lakes on the Chain "Turn Over" as the water temperature drops?

Our board member, Steve Weeres, shares his interesting insights from working with the board's lake level data portal that displays both lake level and water temperature.

"Now is a time to watch the lake water/ice temperature as the cold weather settles in. The lake will cool to 39 degrees and hold at that temperature while the lake "turns over." 

This process flips the temperature profile from the summer profile with the warmer water at the surface to the winter profile with the cooler water at the surface. Once that is complete, the water will cool to 32-33 degrees, and when the lake freezes, the temperature will be 32 degrees or colder. Once the ice forms on the surface, the LAKESCOUT measures the ice’s temperature. The colder the ice temperature, the faster the ice will form and thicken."

Thank you, Steve, as these fascinating points demonstrate all of our love of the Chain.

Latest Flowering Rush Report

Thank you to the Stearns Coalition of Lake Associations for using their MN DNR New Infestation and Innovative Control Grant to find and treat invasive flowering rush in the Sauk River. Over 62 miles of the Sauk River were surveyed, and flowering rush was present from Juergens Lake to just south of New Munich. Some of the infested areas were treated but more work will need to be done to control it and prevent it from entering the Sauk River Chain of Lakes. Many thanks to all involved including Limnopro, Stearns County Environmental Services, Tigris, and the MN DNR.

Click here to access the full report.

MN Lakes and Rivers Webinar Recording Now Available

Minnesota Lakes and Rivers (MLR) recently conducted a webinar that focused on efforts to improve the condition of the state's shorelines. Speakers included:

💦 Paul Radomski from the Ecological and Water Resources Division, who shared insights into the scientific tools we’re using to protect shorelines.

💦 Kirsti Marohn from Minnesota Public Radio, who discussed her reporting this summer on the issue of vanishing shorelines.

💦 Sue Henken-Thielen, who shared her experiences as a dedicated Lake Steward.

💦 Steve Corbin, one of our valued shoreline evaluators.

The webinar provides a lot of useful information, including insights into the Lake Steward program, which the SRCLA board sponsors along with many other lake associations around the state.

You can view a recording of the webinar via this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa4O-7RtHao

MNLR Sept Post

Check out the September posting from Minnesota Lakes and Rivers (MLR)!  It has an update on the research being conducted by the University of MN's St. Anthony Falls Lab (SAFL) on wake dynamics on shorelines and lake beds.  The final report has been delayed until early 2025 to allow late-breaking data to be included, but this month's report has some interesting information about what has been learned so far.

There's also a fascinating article about Bigmouth Buffalo, a native Minnesota species with lifespans that can exceed humans, although there's growing evidence of how few hatchlings reach adulthood, putting the species at risk long-term.

And of course, there's an update on the Lake Steward program, which the SRCLA has been promoting on our Chain for the past three years.

Check out the full post here.

And Then There Were Seven!

Congratulations to Sheila on Little Cedar Island Lake, whose shoreline has qualified for the Lake Steward program! Sheila recently replaced 60 feet of turf grass along her shoreline with native grasses and wildflowers, helping to reduce nutrient runoff into the Chain.

Several other parcels are being evaluated as possible Lake Steward sites. We'd love to have you take the quiz to see if your property qualifies: https://mnlakesandrivers.org/lake-associations/lake-association-programs/lake-steward/

Join the club!

How Well Do you Know Minnesota? Part 5

There are so many water quality issues for which there is no simple solution. But the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species has a simple solution - if everyone thoroughly Cleaned, Drained and Dried their boats and water related equipment after each use, and then inspected it prior to each use in a new water body, AIS would not spread. This is why education is the cornerstone of all efforts to protect our lakes and rivers from aquatic invasive species."~Jeff Forester, Executive Director, Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates.

Lake Level Update

As you know lake levels across the chain have stabilized and are almost to normal high water levels.

You can always view the current status here: https://srcl.org/water-level-horseshoe

MPR Series On MN Shorelines

Kirsti Mahron, a correspondent for MPR News who covers central Minnesota, has been working on a series of articles and on-air segments focusing on diminishing natural shorelines on upper Midwest lakes and the environmental impact of highly-developed shorelines on water quality. A number of segments have been released, including one that highlights a shoreline project on Great Northern Lake on our very own Chain!  Keep checking this link as MPR will be releasing additional segments in the near future (click here to view).

Shoreland Owner Training for AIS Prevention

Shoreland owners play an integral part in AIS prevention by understanding the risks their watercraft and shoreline equipment like docks, lifts and rafts pose when moving from one waterbody. This training video lays out the best practices each of us can take to mitigate the risks to protect our resources for future generations.

Cold Spring Dam Update

SRCLA members brought up concerns about the effectiveness of the Cold Spring Dam after the flooding and lake-level volatility in 2022 and 2023. The SRCLA began working with stakeholders like the DNR (owners of the dam), Stearns County, the Sauk River Watershed District, Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District (SCSWCD), and others to examine the state of the Cold Spring Dam. The following links show the evolution of that discussion starting with the DNR's initial response and ending with the SRCLA's support of a SCSWCD feasibility study of potentially changing the existing dam into a rock arch rapids-type dam.
DNR's Iinitial Response (Jan 2024)
SWCLA Letter of Support (July 2024)
Below are several examples of similar projects. For more examples see the Projects page.

Blue Green Algae reported on the Chain

It's that time of year to watch out for blue green algae on Minnesota lakes! Learn more about blue green algae and how to reduce your risks from harmful algae blooms HERE.

How Well Do you Know Minnesota? Part 4

There are so many water quality issues for which there is no simple solution. But the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species has a simple solution - if everyone thoroughly Cleaned, Drained and Dried their boats and water related equipment after each use, and then inspected it prior to each use in a new water body, AIS would not spread. This is why education is the cornerstone of all efforts to protect our lakes and rivers from aquatic invasive species."~Jeff Forester, Executive Director, Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates.

A note about the recent rainfall…

From Steve Weeres, SRCLA Board Member: Due to the recent heavy rain the SRCL level has gone up 1 foot since 7/30.

The river stage at St Martin crested on Tuesday afternoon and is starting to drop. There is a picture of the current river level is below. The lake level should crest 1-2 days later.

An expected maximum level would be around 1088.3 feet on Thursday and then it should begin to drop, based on historical data.

Be sure to monitor the lake level at srcl.org.

Be a Hero Transport Zero - Use Decon Stations

Fight the spread of aquatic invaders. Be a hero, transport zero. Use decontamination stations to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Spring assessment results: Joe Stewig, DNR Fisheries Manager

Data and comments from Joe Stewig, DNR Fisheries Manager, for fish counts completed on the Sauk River chain so far this spring and summer.  To view the file with charts click here.

• The main purpose of the spring trapping was to see if any Musky remain in the chain. This is the first time the DNR has ever used large frame trap nets in the SRCL, so we really don’t have anything to compare it to.

• We did measure crappies and sunfish, but with the weather the way it was the larger sunfish had not moved in. It was a cool week, and the fish were not really moving around a great deal during the weeks the traps were in place. Only 3 musky were caught, with sizes from 38-44.5 inches in length!

• While we didn’t measure any catfish, but we did learn that the large frame trapnets are very effective at sampling large catfish! The biggest one we measured was 34-inches and 16 ½ pounds.

• Gill net surveys of the chain were completed July 29 – August 2, with 12 gill nets being set across the East Lakes (Bolfing, Great Northern, Knaus, Krays, Schneider, and Zumwalde-two in each lake). Two gill nets will also be set in Becker Lake. Cedar Island will be surveyed the week of August 12 – 16 (12 gill nets) and Horseshoe will be surveyed the week of August 19 – 23 (9 gill nets). We will use this data to see how the walleye population is doing as well as the catfish.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: The experimental channel catfish regulation currently on the chain as well as Long, North Brown’s, Eden, and Mud/Vail’s lakes will be up for review this fall.

Channel Catfish: The current Possession limit is 10 of which only one fish over 24" is allowed in possession. This limit is being considered to decrease back to state possession limit of five.

Interested parties can make comments on the regulation here (FAW Public Input | Engage with DNR | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources or attend the public input meeting which will be held Tuesday September 10 from 6 pm – 7 pm at the Richmond City Hall, 45 Hall Ave SW, Richmond, MN 56368.

Notice of Public Meeting

The Stearns County Park Department is holding a public input meeting regarding the new park south of Cold Spring.

Chain of Lakes County Park is located at 16163 County Road 49, in Cold Spring, MN 56320.

The Park Department is currently working on a management plan for the property and will gather feedback from the public at this meeting.

Topics of discussion will include potential amenities and limited hunting area. The SRCLA letter of support highlighting the Association's interest can be found here.

Here is the official meeting notice:

https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/STEARNS-3aa630e

How Well Do you Know Minnesota? Part 3

There are so many water quality issues for which there is no simple solution. But the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species has a simple solution - if everyone thoroughly Cleaned, Drained and Dried their boats and water related equipment after each use, and then inspected it prior to each use in a new water body, AIS would not spread. This is why education is the cornerstone of all efforts to protect our lakes and rivers from aquatic invasive species."~Jeff Forester, Executive Director, Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates.