Emmons, Minn. - July 23, 2015 - Ducks Unlimited (DU) and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) joined with local partners Saturday, July 18, to celebrate the successful enhancement of 446-acre State Line Lake in Freeborn County, Minn.

For decades, State Line Lake was in poor environmental condition. High water levels and invasive carp degraded water quality and the aquatic ecology to the point the water was too turbid to support wildlife habitat and provide outdoor recreational opportunities.

To remedy the situation, DU purchased a 45-acre parcel of land on the lake's outlet. DU engineered and installed a new weir to control water levels and a fish barrier to prevent the re-infestation of carp in the lake in 2013.

Minnesota DNR used the structures in 2014 to temporarily lower water levels in the lake, which rejuvenated aquatic plants and invertebrates. The draw down helped consolidate sediment and nutrients and kill invasive fish during winter months. Water levels were restored this spring. The water is clear and supporting aquatic life again, including waterfowl and other wetland-dependent migratory birds.

"The involvement of Ducks Unlimited was critical to the success of this project," said Laurie Martinson, Minnesota DNR director of operations. "As with other shallow cooperative lake enhancement projects around the state, our partnership with DU's Living Lakes Initiative and strong local supporters made this project a successful reality."

The shallow lake enhancement project was funded through a state appropriation from the Outdoor Heritage Fund as recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, and by philanthropic investments by DU major sponsors.

Other project partners included State Line Lake Restoration, Inc., Freeborn County, City of Emmons, Iowa DNR, Worth County Conservation Board, Shell Rock River Watershed District, the Brackey Family, Unimin Corporation, Flint Hills Resources, and dozens of individual DU Living Lakes Initiative Major Sponsors.

For more information on Minnesota DNR Shallow Lakes Program, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/wildlife/shallowlakes.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org. Connect with us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/DucksUnlimited, follow our tweets at twitter.com/DucksUnlimited and watch DU videos at youtube.com/DucksUnlimitedInc.

Media Contact:
Chris Sebastian
(734) 623-2017
csebastian@ducks.org