Register by Aug. 6 for upcoming Starry Trek
Volunteers from across Minnesota are needed Saturday, Aug. 18, to search for starry stonewort, an algae that is the state's newest aquatic invasive species.
There will be more than a dozen sites checked around the state, including Dakota County. Volunteers in Dakota County will meet at Camp Sacajawea Retreat Center, 5121 McAndrews Road, Apple Valley, at 8:30 a.m. for training before heading to nearby lakes to look for starry stonewort. Volunteers will return to the Western Service Center to report their findings. For a full list of the sites around the state and other information, visit www.starrytrek.org.
No experience or equipment is necessary to participate. Expert training on monitoring protocols and starry stonewort identification will be provided. This event is free, but registration is requested by Aug. 6. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Volunteers will receive a complimentary gift.
Starry stonewort is an invasive algae that was first found in Lake Koronis in 2015 and has since spread to 11 Minnesota lakes. Early detection of this species is critical for control. Learn more about starry stonewort from the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center at www.maisrc.umn.edu.
A portion of the funding for this program is provided by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
Contact Lindsey Albright, water resources specialist with Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District, at lindsey.albright@co.dakota.mn.us or 651-480-7783 with any questions.