Water Resources - 8.08: Starry Trek - The Fight Against Starry Stonewort
General Description
No, it's not the name of a local rock band (but what a great name, right?). Join the University of Minnesota and Dakota County for an exclusive day focusing on the search for starry stonewort and other aquatic invasive species (AIS). Starry stonewort is an invasive algae that was first found in Lake Koronis (Stearns County) in 2015 and has since spread to other Minnesota lakes across the state. Starry stonewort can spread aggressively and form dense carpets on the bottom of lakes causing concern on what the effects might be on recreational and ecological impacts.
Training sites are located across Minnesota and Wisconsin and localized volunteer groups will be hosted by regional agencies, local organizations, and individuals. Participants will first meet at their local training site in the morning and will be assigned monitoring routes. Volunteers will then drive their personal vehicles (or carpool with other participants) to up to 5 monitoring routes. All participants will then return to the initial training site by 1:00 p.m. to check-in and turn in any specimens and datasheets to end the day.
No experience is necessary and all ages welcome. Spend the morning having fun outdoors while providing an important service to your community as we aim to protect our local bodies of water.
Interested? Register with your local host team through the following link - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/starry-trek-2026-tickets-1992492051362?aff=oddtdtcreator
Event Date/Time
Saturday, August 8
8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Attend training before heading out to assigned locations.
- Individuals will be assigned local bodies of water to search.
- All participants will return to the meeting point to report findings and turn in any specimens and data sheets at 1:00 p.m.
Minimum Qualifications
- Must be able to attend the whole training.
- Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. This event is not recommended for younger children (under 5 years old).
- No experience or equipment is necessary.
Minimum Time Commitment
4.5 - 5 hours
Activity Level
Medium - May involve varying amounts of activity (long walks, rough terrain, and moderate physical exertion. May not be recommended for volunteers with physical limitations. Comfortable, sturdy shoes recommended.
Required Training
No experience is necessary to participate, training for this event is provided.
Additional Information
Learn more about this opportunity at the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center.
Contact Information
Katie Pata
Environmental Resources Specialist
Email: katie.pata@co.dakota.mn.us
Qualifications Required
- Signed Volunteer Waiver Must be at least Yes
- Accepted Data Privacy Notice - Tennessen Notice Must be Yes
Schedule Summary
This activity has the following schedule
| Date | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, August 08, 2026 | 8:30 AM | 1:00 PM |
