Minnesota Mixed Bag: Remember the Outdoor News Foundation on Give to the Max Day on Thursday, Nov. 20

Plymouth, Minn. — The Outdoor News Foundation reminds readers to consider donating to the outdoors mentoring nonprofit this Give to the Max Day, next Thursday, Nov. 20. The year-old organization recently announced its first round of scholarships, donations, and other accomplishments for 2025. See the ad on Page 12 for this year’s recipients, including wildlife and fisheries students Alex Treinen and Drew Provinzino.

The Outdoor News Foundation is dedicated to recruiting new hunters, anglers, and conservationists by exposing them to and by engaging them in the outdoors lifestyle and culture, educating them on conservation issues, and supporting the next generation of outdoors journalists, as well as fish and wildlife researchers and managers.

Learn more about the Foundation and its mission and donate at www.outdoornews.com/foundation

MORE COVERAGE FROM MINNESOTA OUTDOOR NEWS:

USFWS halts ongoing national wolf recovery plan; what’s it mean for potential delisting?

Minnesota’s firearms deer opener ’25: a bit better than a year ago?

Whitefish and the old ways: Maintaining a North Country tradition in Minnesota

DNR Seeks Public Feedback on Cody Lake Aeration Permit Request

St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR is seeking public input on a request from the Wheatland Twin Lakes Sportsmen Club to install and operate an aeration system on Cody Lake in Rice County, west of Lonsdale and east of Montgomery.

The DNR would like to hear from lake users and stakeholders and will consider those perspectives in its decision-making.

“Lake aeration in the state’s southern region is used on several shallow lakes to prevent a winterkill of fish,” said Craig Soupir, DNR southern region fisheries manager. “Aeration systems agitate and oxygenate water, helping to limit the number of fish that die due to a lack of oxygen in the water.”

Cody Lake has not been aerated since 2014. At that time, the DNR worked with the club to cease aeration, because the practice was leading to less winterkill and providing refuge to common carp. A goal of the lake management plan since 2014 has been to rely on periodic winterkill to reset the fish population, allowing more successful northern pike or walleye stocking and suppressing common carp.

The sportsmen club proposes aeration at Cody Lake as a possible solution to prevent winterkill. The club proposes that preventing winterkill in the lake could increase game fish population stability.

Comments will be accepted through Tuesday, Nov. 18. Interested parties may forward their comments to: Regional Fisheries Manager Craig Soupir by email at craig.soupir@state.mn.us, by mail at 21371 MN Hwy 15, New Ulm, MN 56073, or by phone at (507) 461-9377.

Improvements Coming to Moccasin Point Public Water Access on Lake Vermilion

St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR is launching a major redevelopment of the Moccasin Point Public Water Access on Lake Vermilion to improve safety and accessibility, protect water quality, and enhance infrastructure. The redesigned Moccasin Point site will feature 81 vehicle/trailer and 18 single vehicle parking spaces, new boat ramps, boarding docks, and short-term mooring docks, AIS inspection and cleaning stations, and more.

To minimize disruption, the DNR has adopted a phased construction schedule. Rock excavation will begin in December 2025, which will allow the Moccasin Point PWA to be open for public use from late December 2025 through May 2026. A closure of the site will occur starting in June 2026, with a reopening anticipated in late summer or fall of 2026.

Project status information will be posted on the project page of the DNR website.

Zebes Confirmed in Big Sand Lake in Hubbard County

St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Big Sand Lake, near Dorset in Hubbard County.

A Big Sand Lake property owner contacted the DNR after finding an adult zebra mussel on a personal watercraft lift being removed from the lake for the season. A DNR invasive species specialist found another zebra mussel attached to a dock about three-quarters of a mile from the initial report location.

Several new zebra mussel populations in Minnesota lakes in recent years were first reported by property owners and lake service providers removing docks, boats, and boat lifts at the end of the season.

Citizens should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist if they think they have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species that was not already known to be in the water body.

More information is available on the aquatic invasive species page of the DNR website.

DNR Accepting Apps for No Child Left Inside Grant Program

St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR has announced another round of funding for the No Child Left Inside grant program. These grants provide resources to increase youth participation in outdoor recreation, natural resources education, hunting, and angling. Public entities and nonprofit organizations that serve Minnesota youth younger than 18 may apply for No Child Left Inside.

Grants will be awarded in 2026 and are intended for projects occurring May 2026 through June 2027. The Minnesota DNR is accepting applications for both mini grants (less than $5,000) and larger grants ($5,001 to $25,000).

Applications must be received by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Prospective applicants may send their questions to outreachgrants.dnr@state.mn.us