Promoting Urban Fishing: How City and State Governments Work Together in Eagan, Minnesota

One of the goals of the City of Eagan’s water resources program is for twelve of the city’s lakes to support fishing opportunities, giving most residents a place to fish within a mile of home.  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has routinely conducted fish assessments on only about five of these lakes, therefore the city sought to coordinate and develop the capacity to assess the remaining seven. In the resulting collaboration, the city reports its findings to MNDNR for analysis and management recommendations.  The coordinated, long-term data collection and fish management program allows each lake to be assessed at least once every five years. The partnership also promotes communication and support between the two entities in other lake management areas as well, such as use of rotenone and winter lake aeration.  Eagan’s neighborhood fishing program promotes angling by offering free kids’ fishing clinics in summer and winter; by publishing a free fishing guide in print and online; and by maintaining a website specifically about fishing topics and issues in Eagan.  This presentation will give details about how our collaboration was developed and will describe drawbacks and successes along the way.