Sibley Lake

How big is Sibley Lake?

How deep is Sibley Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Sibley Lake?

What are the closest cities to Sibley Lake?

Are there boat launches on Sibley Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Sibley Lake?

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Sibley Lake was conducted on August 5, 2021, 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 all 10 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 to sample two stations, and site conditions prevented the use of a seine at two stations. Nearshore sampling captured 16 species of fish including one species that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Blacknose Shiner) and two that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Common Carp and Green Sunfish).

A summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff on August 11-12, 2021. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 12 species of fish, including one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Common Carp). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Common Carp, Bluegill, Yellow Bullhead, and Walleye comprised a majority by biomass.

The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a July 2020 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., Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). 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 provide evidence that the fish community in Sibley Lake is adversely impacted by stressors, as indicated by an FIBI score below the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Crow Wing River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

What is the average air temp for Sibley Lake?

Are there any state parks near Sibley Lake?