Temperance Lake

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INTRODUCTION
Temperance Lake is a 176-acre lake located just east of the City of Sherburn in Martin County. Temperance Lake is shallow, having a maximum depth of 5 ft. Due to its shallowness, the lake is prone to low oxygen levels in the winter. The last recorded low oxygen event occurred during the winter of 2008-2009; however, it was determined that the low oxygen had minimal effects on the fish population. Although Temperance Lake is located near the top of the watershed, the water quality during the survey was poor as the secchi depth was 0.5 ft. The poor water quality is likely a result of nutrient runoff from nearby agricultural fields. The practically unlimited nutrient supply provides an environment in which microscopic organisms such as algae can thrive, resulting in extreme algae blooms. The lake bottom sediments could also be disturbed by wind action due to the lakes shallowness or by benthic omnivores such as common carp, both contributing to the poor water quality. Temperance Lake is managed primarily for northern pike and secondarily for yellow perch. Northern pike are stocked at a rate of 20 fingerlings per acre once every three years and have been stocked in 2005, 2008, and 2011 and are due to be stocked in 2014 if available. A population assessment was conducted during the week of August 23, 2013 to monitor fish populations using one gill net and nine trap nets.

NORTHERN PIKE
Catch rates of northern pike have varied greatly in Temperance Lake, ranging from 0.5 per gill net in 1996 to 48.5 per gill net in 1991 and from 0.7 per trap net in 1996 to 17.6 per trap net in 1991. Record high catch rates were observed in 1991, the result of a very successful naturally reproduced year class. The 2013 trap net catch rate was up from the previous survey in 2007, increasing from 1.3 per trap net in 2007 to 5.2 per trap net in 2013. Size structure of trap netted northern pike was small, as they ranged in length from 18.5 to 25.4 inches and averaged 22.9 inches. Northern pike were skinny. It does not appear that prey is limited in this system, as yellow perch were captured at a rate of 29.0 per gill net, which is above the expected catch rate for similar lakes. The below average weights of northern pike may be related to increased stress levels during the growing season, caused by warm water temperatures during the summer, as northern pike are a cool water species that can be sensitive to increased water temperatures. The northern pike in Temperance Lake are likely fish that were stocked; however, natural reproduction has been documented in previous years, making it a possibility that they were naturally spawned in the lake. The availability of northern pike spawning habitat is often influenced by the amount of precipitation. Successful spawning is likely limited to years with above average precipitation when water levels are high enough to inundate vegetation. The current stocking regime appears to be effective at providing a fishable northern pike population and should be continued. Northern pike could be an easy target for anglers because of the small size of the lake.

YELLOW PERCH
Gill net catch rates of yellow perch in Temperance Lake have been highly variable, ranging from 29.0 per gill net in 2013 to 161.0 per gill net in 1991 and averaging 80.0 per gill net since 1991. In 2013, the catch rate of yellow perch was 29.0 per gill net, which is the lowest observed gill net catch rate for Temperance Lake; however, the catch rate exceeded the expected catch rate range (2.7 per gill net to 25.0 per gill net) for similar lakes indicating that the yellow perch population is doing well. The 2013 trap net catch rate also exceeded the expected catch range (0.3 to 3.8 per trap net) for similar lakes, which is also indicative of an abundant population given that trap nets typically do not sample yellow perch well in the August heat. Yellow perch were small ranging in length from 4.8 to 8.9 inches and averaging 6.1 inches. Although the small size structure of yellow perch is not desirable for angling, it does provide a great forage base for the northern pike population.

OTHER SPECIES
Common carp were captured at a rate of 27.0 per gill net in 2013, which is high when compared to similar lakes and is the highest catch rate observed for Temperance Lake. The trap net catch rate of common carp was 2.3 per trap net, which is within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (1.0 to 5.5 per trap net). Common carp ranged in length from 12.2 to 28.2 inches and averaged 16.8 inches. The poor water quality in Temperance Lake is likely somewhat attributable to the abundant common carp population, as carp tend to uproot vegetation and stir up sediments when feeding. The common carp population will likely be abundant until a severe winterkill event occurs.

Black bullheads were captured at a rate of 30.0 per gill net which is below the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (30.3 to 150.6 per gill net). Black bullheads have never been a problem in Temperance Lake, as the highest catch rate recorded was 46.0 per gill net in 1991. Gill netted black bullheads ranged in length from 6.9 to 10.9 inches and averaged 8.5 inches.

Since the initial survey in 1991, bigmouth buffalo gill net catch rates have exceeded the expected range of catch rates (0.8 to 7.0 per gill net) for similar lakes. The 2013 catch rate followed this trend as bigmouth buffalo were captured at a rate of 9.0 per gill net. The bigmouth buffalo ranged in length from 4.1 to 28.4 inches and averaged 18.5 inches. It appears bigmouth buffalo had a successful spawning season, as young-of-the-year (YOY) buffalo were sampled in the survey.

Other species sampled included white sucker, yellow bullhead, and black crappie. In addition to these species, a near shore survey conducted after the population assessment sampled fathead minnows, and orangespotted sunfish. Young-of-the-year black bullheads, orangespotted sunfish, and yellow perch were extremely abundant, indicating that ample forage exists in Temperance Lake.

Shoreline areas on the land and into the shallow water provide essential habitat for fish and wildlife that live in or near Minnesota's lakes. Overdeveloped shorelines cannot support the fish, wildlife, and clean water that are associated with natural undeveloped lakes. Shoreline habitat consists of aquatic plants, woody plants, and natural lake bottom soils.

Plants in the water and at the water's edge provide habitat, prevent erosion, and absorb excess nutrients. Shrubs, trees, and woody debris such as fallen trees or limbs provide good habitat both above and below the water and should be left in place. By leaving a buffer strip of natural vegetation along the shoreline, property owners can reduce erosion, help maintain or improve water quality, and provide habitat and travel corridors for wildlife.

Best management practices within the watershed (no-till farming, cover crops, buffer strips, targeted fertilizer application, reduced or metered tiling) would help reduce nutrients entering the lake. High nutrient and sediment input can cause algae blooms and reduce overall water quality. Any improvements in the watershed are likely to have positive impacts on the fishery

Prepared by Jonah Dagel

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