Upper Island Lake (North)

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Upper Island is a 101 acre lake with 100 (99%) acres of littoral area and a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake is located just north of Cromwell, MN off State Highway #210 and has a DNR administered earthen, back-in access. The designated access is off the County Road #120 right-of-way and has very limited parking. Walleye fry have been stocked in even years from 2000 through 2010. Upper Island was last assessed in 2002. Upper Island was surveyed during the summer of 2010 to update information about fish populations and to evaluate the success of the walleye stocking program.

Walleye abundance of 0.3 per gillnet lift was down from 2002 (0.5) and was below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Walleye mean length was 19.8 inches but only 2 individuals were captured. Not enough individuals were sampled to evaluate stock density or growth. Both fish were from the 2002 year-class. Both walleyes aged corresponded to a stocked year-class.

A total of 19 largemouth bass were sampled with electrofishing equipment. The catch rate of largemouth bass was 35.8 fish per hour of electrofishing on-time. Largemouth bass average length was 15.0 inches and growth was fast compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2002 through 2009 were represented in the sample except 2007 and 2008. Shoreline seining captured 2 young-of-the-year (YOY) largemouth bass with an average length of 2.4 inches.

Northern pike abundance of 2.7 per gillnet lift was down from 2002 (7.3) and below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. The northern pike CPUE of 2010 is the lowest on record of seven investigations dating back to 1977. Average length was 22.0 inches and growth was average compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2002 to 2009 were represented except 2004.

Black crappie abundance of 1.6 per trapnet lift was down from 2002 (3.8) and was average when compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Black crappie mean length was 7.6 inches and growth was slow compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2003 to 2008 were represented.

Bluegill abundance of 10.4 per trapnet lift was up from 2002 (3.1) and above average when compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average length of sampled bluegills was 5.8 inches and growth was average compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2002 to 2007 were represented.

Yellow perch abundance of 0.2 per gillnet lift was up from 2002 (0.0) and was below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Only one perch was captured and it was 6.5 inches in length. Not enough individuals were sampled to evaluate stock density or growth. The one perch captured was from the 2007 year-class.

Other fish species sampled included black, brown and yellow bullhead, bowfin, central mudminnow, mottled sculpin, tadpole madtom, common shiner, golden shiner, Johnny darter, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass and white sucker.

Information was collected on aquatic vegetation, substrate and water quality. Thirty-three aquatic plant species or species groups were identified along 10 transects. Yellow water lily, coontail and flat-stem pondweed were the most frequently found plant species (90% of transects) followed by northern milfoil (80% of transects). The most common substrate types were sand and detritus which were identified along 70% and 60% of the transects, respectively. Results of laboratory water analysis indicate Upper Island is an alkaline, moderately hard water lake with low fertility.

Upper Island Lake was included in an index of biotic integrity (IBI) assessment in 2010. In addition to standard gillnets and trapnets, beach seines and backpack electrofishing equipment were used to index species richness of the nearshore lake habitat.

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