The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Finland area fisheries staff are seeking comments through Friday, March 23 on management plans for a number of Lake and Cook county lakes. This annual process includes several waters located within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).

Management plans describe the past, present and desired future conditions of the waters. The plans identify specific management activities planned for that lake or stream in the next five to 20 years. Comments and suggestions from those most interested in these waters are crucial when it comes to making the plans and determining management success. For anglers this is the best opportunity to influence how these lakes and streams are managed.

Every year DNR fisheries staff prepares or revises individual lake and stream management plans for several waters in each management area. In the Finland area, plans for the following lakes and streams are being reviewed:

Cook County lake plans being updated with no changes in management planned:

• Alton Lake (BWCAW).
• Frear Lake.
• Vrye Lake.

Lake County lake plans being updated with no changes in management planned:

• Dime Lake.
• Green Wing Lake.
• Perent Lake (BWCAW).
• Spear Lake.
• Unnamed (Frelickson) Lake.
• Wampus Lake.
• Water Tank Lake.

Lake County lakes being revised with potential management changes:

• Bone Lake – increase in trout stocking review.
• Hogback Lake – increase in trout stocking review.
• Jouppi Lake – increase in trout stocking review.
• Tanner Lake – proposing walleye stocking.

Initial management plans are being written for these rivers located in Lake County:

• Island River.
• Stony River.

Interested parties can review current plans and draft plans for lakes and streams in the area as well as recent fish population assessment information at the DNR’s Finland area fisheries office located at 6686 Highway 1, Box 546, Finland, Minnesota. Office hours are 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Individuals also may call 218-353-8855, or email [email protected] to have an electronic copy of the management plan emailed to them.

Comments may be submitted via mail or email. Suggestions for management of any of the other lakes and streams in the Finland area are welcome at any time and will be considered when those plans are due for review.