EMMONS, Minn. — Work has begun to drawdown State Line Lake to improve water quality and aquatic habitat.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the lake located on the Iowa state line in southern Freeborn County has been plagued with poor water quality for many years. Freeborn County and the DNR have partnered with State Line Lake Restoration Inc. and Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to try to correct those issues. One strategy is removing common carp from the lake.

State Line Lake was lowered in 2014 and then treated with the fish toxicant rotenone to remove rough fish. The lake was restocked with northern pike, yellow perch and bluegill sunfish the following spring. The lake’s water and habitat quality immediately improved and there was an increase in waterfowl. However, as rough fish numbers rebounded from the treatment, water clarity declined and submersed plants have been destroyed. 

Water levels in the lake will be lowered this fall as far as possible for the upcoming winter season, said Jeanine Vorland, DNR area wildlife manager. That will encourage fish and aquatic wildlife to leave the lake prior to ice-up.  The reduced depth will make the lake more vulnerable to freeze-out to remove remaining rough fish.  

The DNR plans to restore normal water levels next spring. If needed, the lake would be restocked with pike and yellow perch. A fish barrier is in place to help keep rough fish from returning to the lake from downstream sources.