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Outdoors: How the muskrat got its name

This winter has been a bit strange in the northland where I reside. Not much snow but enough cold temperatures to start freezing the lakes. The small lakes and ponds freeze up tight right away, but the larger lakes have…

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Practices first, games next?

With Wednesday’s Executive Order 20-103 by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Minnesota State High School League will begin in-person practice for winter sports and activities on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.

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Protecting Water Through Winter

It may not look like a Minnesota winter yet, but soon enough we’ll be covered in snow.  It is still important to protect lakes and rivers from pollution during the colder months.  Even when it is cold, pollutants from our lawns and driveways can still run down through stormdrains and into lakes and rivers.  Follow these four tips to keep your favorite lake or river healthy and ready for recreation next summer:

Don’t let winter waste make spring messes
Cold temperatures and frozen water don’t slow down a pup’s digestive system. Continue to pick up pet waste through the winter to prevent bacteria and pathogens from getting into lakes and rivers.  It’s easy to let it pile up, but come spring those frozen piles will melt and make a real mess!

Be a good fisherman
Whether you visit a lake once or set up a second (fishing) home for the season, please remember the “leave no trace” motto and take everything you bring onto the lake back with you when you leave. Everything that’s left on a lake’s frozen surface ends up in the water below when ice-out occurs leading to safety and public health issues.

Shovel before salt
Shovel first and shovel often during snowstorms. If you get the pavement clear, there is no snow to become compacted and turn to ice. This is the most effective method for safe walkways. Lastly, pay attention to temperature. Rock salt doesn’t work well when the temperature is below 15⁰F. Keeping areas clear through shoveling and scraping is your best bet in cold temperatures.

Stay safe on ponds with unpredictable ice
Keep yourself and your family safe. It’s never safe to skate or walk on a frozen pond. Ice thickness on small stormwater ponds is not as certain as ice that forms on natural lakes. It is constantly changing as runoff and drainage water flow through the ponds all year long. With the unpredictability of water movement and impacts of road salt, it is best just to stay off ponds.