Charlotte Lake

How big is Charlotte Lake?

How deep is Charlotte Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Charlotte Lake?

What are the closest cities to Charlotte Lake?

Are there boat launches on Charlotte Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Charlotte Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Charlotte Lake?

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Charlotte Lake was conducted on June 21-22, 2022, by DNR 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 seven sampling stations, but three stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample two stations, a 15-foot seine was used at five stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at three stations. Nearshore sampling captured 24 species of fish including six intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, and Rock Bass) and three that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish, Fathead Minnow, and Black Bullhead).

A summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff on June 21-23, 2022. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 12 species of fish, including two that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Bowfin and Bluegill comprised a majority by biomass.

The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a 2018 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., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, and Blacknose Shiner), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead 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.

An assessment of lakeshore habitat was also conducted on Charlotte Lake on June 22, 2022, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 36 survey sites evenly spaced 100 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline Zone (the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), Shoreland Zone (land-ward from shoreline to development structure or 100 feet), and Aquatic Zone (lake-ward 50 feet of shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 67.0 (± 4.8) out of 100 possible, which is moderately low and below the average score of 73. A low score indicates taht sites are typically developed and have a lower than expected amount of natural habitat. Approximately 50% of the sites were developed with a mean score of 44.1 (± 5.5), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 90.0 (± 1.1).

Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Charlotte Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that meets the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. Data from these surveys will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Long Prairie Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

What is the average air temp for Charlotte Lake?

Are there any state parks near Charlotte Lake?