Clearwater Lake AssociationDeerwood MN

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    • Overview >
      • Clearwater Lake Association
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      • The Legal Paperwork
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    • Membership Communication
    • Membership Dues
    • Meet the Board
    • Recent and Upcoming Events
    • Crayfish Campaign >
      • Trapping
      • Storing
      • Cooking
      • Eating
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Lake Health
    • Overview >
      • Lake Health Overview
      • Lake Managment Plan
      • What Can I Do
      • 2018 / 2021 Aquatic Vegetation Survey
      • DNR and Milfoil Treatment
    • Reports and Maps >
      • Lake Reports
      • Lake Maps
      • Aquatic Management Area
    • Trophic State Index
    • Water Level >
      • Water Level Management
      • HIgh Water Report
      • High Water Damage
      • Ice Heaves
    • Invasive Species >
      • What are Invasive Species
      • Eurasian MilFoil
      • Curly-Leaf Pondweed
      • Rusty Crayfish
      • Buckthorn
      • Invasive Treatment >
        • Treatment Plans
        • Invasive Maps
    • Loons >
      • Clearwater Loons
      • Nesting Project
      • Loon History
      • Why Clearwater Loons Are Important
      • Loon Cam 2017
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      • Lake shore Mini Grant
      • Seminar Flier
      • News Release
      • Grant Gallery
      • Willow Wattle - DIY >
        • Willow Wattle Supplies
        • Willow Wattle Prep
        • Willow Wattle Install
    • Historical Data
    • DNR and Other Resources
  • Community
    • Membership List
    • Photo Gallery
    • Lake History - From our Members
    • Clearwater Forsest Camp >
      • Dining Hall Images
    • Log In Information
  • Contact Us
  • Home
    • What's New on the Web Page
  • Lake Association
    • Overview >
      • Clearwater Lake Association
      • Mission Statement
      • The Legal Paperwork
    • Meetings >
      • 2022 Meetings
      • Past Meetings
    • Membership Communication
    • Membership Dues
    • Meet the Board
    • Recent and Upcoming Events
    • Crayfish Campaign >
      • Trapping
      • Storing
      • Cooking
      • Eating
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Lake Health
    • Overview >
      • Lake Health Overview
      • Lake Managment Plan
      • What Can I Do
      • 2018 / 2021 Aquatic Vegetation Survey
      • DNR and Milfoil Treatment
    • Reports and Maps >
      • Lake Reports
      • Lake Maps
      • Aquatic Management Area
    • Trophic State Index
    • Water Level >
      • Water Level Management
      • HIgh Water Report
      • High Water Damage
      • Ice Heaves
    • Invasive Species >
      • What are Invasive Species
      • Eurasian MilFoil
      • Curly-Leaf Pondweed
      • Rusty Crayfish
      • Buckthorn
      • Invasive Treatment >
        • Treatment Plans
        • Invasive Maps
    • Loons >
      • Clearwater Loons
      • Nesting Project
      • Loon History
      • Why Clearwater Loons Are Important
      • Loon Cam 2017
    • Community Mini-Grant >
      • Lake shore Mini Grant
      • Seminar Flier
      • News Release
      • Grant Gallery
      • Willow Wattle - DIY >
        • Willow Wattle Supplies
        • Willow Wattle Prep
        • Willow Wattle Install
    • Historical Data
    • DNR and Other Resources
  • Community
    • Membership List
    • Photo Gallery
    • Lake History - From our Members
    • Clearwater Forsest Camp >
      • Dining Hall Images
    • Log In Information
  • Contact Us

Rusty Crayfish

  • Lake Health
    Overview
  • Reports and Maps
  • Trophic State Index
    Lake Health Standard
  • High Water
    Find out the causes and what we are doing about it.
  • Invasive Species
    Clearwater has 4 invasive species.
    • What Are Invasive Species?
    • Eurasian Milfoil
    • Curly-Leaf Pondweed
    • Rusty Crayfish
    • Buckthorn
    • Treatment Plan
    • Invasive Maps
  • Lake shore Run off Mini Grant 
  • Our Loons
  • Historical Data
    See what people have been tracking!
  • DNR / Other Resources
    There is all kinds of GREAT information out there. 

What are Rusty Crayfish

Rusty crayfish are crustaceans that grow up to 5 inches long. They are native to the Ohio River basin.  Rusty crayfish have spread to several states and Ontario. They were discovered in Minnesota around 1960 and are confirmed in about 50 Minnesota waters, mostly in central and northern counties.  They are often used as bait and it is suspected that they spread through dumping of bait buckets.
 
Rusty crayfish are aggressive invaders that often displace native crayfish.  They are an opportunistic feeder, which means they eat almost anything, including plants and small fish.  They can harm native fish communities by feeding on their eggs and young, drive out or hybridize with native crayfish, and eliminate aquatic vegetation.
 
They also have a higher metabolism and grow larger then native crayfish.  This combination results in a larger appetite then the native crayfish.  

How to Identify it

Rusty crayfish have dark rusty-colored spots on each side of their back, about where you would grab them to pick them up.   Their claws are  smooth and vary in color from grayish-green to reddish brown.    The tips of their claws also have black bands.  Rusty Crayfish are significantly larger then the native form of crayfish in Clearwater lake.

What Can I do

The best way to control rusty crayfish is to slow the spread of them to other lakes.
  • It is illegal in MN to use crayfish as bait.
  • Never transport them from one body of water to another.
  • Learn how to identify the rusty crayfish
  • Have a Crayfish boil!   They are good to eat and you are helping the lake too!  You can catch them by hand, with a net or in a trap!  
Consider a donation to the Invasive species fund, to treat our lake.


Turn In Poachers

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Clearwater Forest Camp

Since 1954, Clearwater Forest has served as a retreat center and summer camp.  They are owned and managed by Presbyterian Clearwater Forest, Inc.  Clearwater Forest is an important resident on our lake.  With 4+ miles of lake shore and over 1000 acres around  Clearwater, everyone benefits from their mission statement "... be a faithful steward of God’s creation."

To lean more, go to clearwaterforest.org.
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