Shirt Lake

How big is Shirt Lake?

How deep is Shirt Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Shirt Lake?

What are the closest cities to Shirt Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Shirt Lake?

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Shirt Lake was conducted on July 28, 2022, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations, but two stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample six stations, a 15-foot seine was used at two stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at two stations. Nearshore sampling captured fourteen species of fish including four species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, and Iowa Darter) and none that are tolerant of disturbance.

The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a June 2022 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.

Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Shirt Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that exceeds the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River-Brainerd Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

What is the average air temp for Shirt Lake?

Are there any state parks near Shirt Lake?