DNR to hold public information meeting on Round Lake

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public information meeting on a proposal to formally designate Round Lake in Murray County as a wildlife lake. The meeting will be at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 7, at Murray County Central School, 2420 28th St., Slayton, Minn.
Located 12 miles north and two miles east of Slayton, Round Lake is a 162-acre shallow basin with a history of excellent migratory waterfowl use. At present, however, the lake is in a condition typical of many shallow lakes in southwestern Minnesota with poor water quality caused by excessive nutrients and abundant rough fish.
Designating Round Lake as a wildlife lake would give DNR authority to conduct periodic drawdowns by way of two proposed water control structures on the lake. A drawdown can improve waterfowl, wildlife and water quality conditions by stimulating critical aquatic plant growth and promoting a rough fish die-off.
A fish barrier is also proposed to prevent fish from re-entering the lake. DNR contracted with Ducks Unlimited for a study to help determine effective management actions.