Heron Lake is a lake in
Jackson County, in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...
of
Minnesota
Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...
.
Heron Lake is the English translation of the native
Dakota language
The Dakota language ( or ), also referred to as Dakhóta, is a Siouan language spoken by the Dakota people of the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, commonly known in English as the Sioux. Dakota is closely related to and mutually intelligible with the Lak ...
name, Okabena, meaning place where the heron nest.
The lake is divided into four sub-basins named: Duck Lake, North Marsh, North Heron, and South Heron. A channel named Division Creek connects South Heron to North Heron. Each sub-basin has unique characteristics and differing substrates.
The outlet for the Heron Lake basin is currently controlled by the State Dam that is managed by the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR). However, the downstream channel size controls outflow during high water events.
History
Heron Lake has a long history as an important resting area for migratory waterfowl and had sustained Native American communities for thousands of years. At the turn of the 20th century, this bounty was then exploited by unregulated
market hunters
A professional hunter (less frequently referred to as market or commercial hunter and regionally, especially in Britain and Ireland, as professional stalker or gamekeeper) is a person who hunts and/or manages game by profession. Some professional ...
who could bag thousands of ducks per day. As these important wildlife resources declined and markets changed, settlers became more dependent on agriculture. As this
agricultural use intensified, 90% of the wetlands and 99% of the prairie was converted to farmland. This has led to water quality issues since the 1950s and has greatly impacted wildlife numbers due to the loss of important
submerged aquatic vegetation
Aquatic plants, also referred to as hydrophytes, are vascular plants and non-vascular plants that have adapted to live in aquatic environments ( saltwater or freshwater). In lakes, rivers and wetlands, aquatic vegetations provide cover for aquat ...
and habitat.
Conservation Work
However, due to this rich history, work to improve the water quality and wildlife habitat of Heron Lake has increased throughout the watershed in recent decades. Multiple conservation organizations have completed projects in the watershed including the MnDNR,
USFWS
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is a U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior which oversees the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats in the United States. Th ...
,
Pheasants Forever
Pheasants Forever, Inc. (PF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit conservation organization, is dedicated to conserving wildlife habitat suitable for pheasants. Formed in 1982 as a response to the continuing decline of upland wildlife and habitat throughout ...
,
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, United States. it works via affiliates or branches in 79 countries and territories, as well as across every state in the US.
Founded in ...
Minnesota Land Trust Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited (DU) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people.
History and profile
In 1927, an offshoot of the Boone and ...
,
Delta Waterfowl, and the North Heron Lake Game Producers.
Heron Lake, with the exclusion of Duck Lake, has been designated as a state Wildlife Lake since 1973. This designation gives the MnDNR the authority to manage the lake for wildlife habitat and temporarily draw down the lake level to promote vegetative growth. Watercraft use is also restricted during the sensitive waterfowl nesting season.
See also
*
List of lakes in Minnesota
This is a list of lakes of Minnesota. Although promoted as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes", Minnesota has 11,842 lakes of or more. The 1968 state survey found 15,291 lake basins, of which 3,257 were dry. If all basins over 2.5 acres were counted, Minn ...
References
Lakes of Minnesota
Lakes of Jackson County, Minnesota
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