Upper Pine

Upper Pine Lake is a 233 acre mesotrophic lake located near Finlayson, Minnesota in the Pine/Kettle/Upper St. Croix River watershed. The lake is listed as having a maximum depth of 15 feet, but beaver dams on top of the rock dam at the outlet have kept the water level two feet higher in recent years. Upper Pine is moderately developed, with 35 homes mainly on the northwest and northeast shores. Upper Pine has historically had a diverse aquatic plant community. Seventeen emergent and 29 submerged and floating-leaf species have been documented in surveys dating back to 1958 (Table 1). The most recent survey was a point intercept in May 2010 targeting curlyleaf pondweed. Two Minnesota species of special concern are known to be in the lake: water-willow (Decodon verticillatus) and slender naiad (Najas gracillima). Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), a non-native invasive species, was first documented in Upper Pine Lake in 2022 near the access and in scattered areas around the shore. The lake was treated with herbicide for milfoil in 2023 (acres). Curlyleaf pondweed, another non-native invasive species, is also present in Upper Pine. Individual aquatic plant management permits have been minimal, with 0-2 permits issued annually. The goals of this survey were to determine the current species composition of aquatic plants in Upper Pine Lake, and to determine acreage and species composition of floating-leaf and emergent vegetation beds. A point intercept vegetation survey was conducted on August 19, 2024, using methodology from the MNDNR vegetation survey manual (2019). Sample points were the same used in a 2010 survey and had a density of approximately one point per acre over the entire surface area. After the maximum depth of plant growth was determined to be less than ten feet, points at depths greater than ten feet were not sampled. Aquatic vegetation was present in 88% of the 133 points used in frequency calculation. Large-leaved pondweed was the most commonly sampled species, occurring at 56% of sample points. Coontail, water celery, and Robbins' pondweed were the next most frequently sampled submergent plants, while floating-leaf species Common White Waterlily and Common Yellow Waterlily both occurred at frequencies of greater than 25%. Eurasian watermilfoil was not sampled at any points, nor was it visually observed while traveling between points or mapping floating leaf and emergent vegetation. Frequency of occurrence results from this survey are not comparable with the 2010 survey because sampling was done at different times of the year. However, the overall species composition appears to be similar between years. Minnesota DNR Fisheries Area staff delineated the floating leaf and emergent aquatic vegetation of Upper Pine lake 08/23/2024, following the protocols listed in the MN DNR Lake Plant Mapping Manual. Emergent and floating-leaf vegetation formed a fringe around nearly the entire shoreline of Upper Pine Lake, with a combined total of 59.5 acres. Waterlilies and waterlily/other species beds made up the highest percent of the total area. Pickerelweed was common along the shoreline in scattered areas around the lake. Water willow grew along the northwest shore and in the narrow northeastern arm of the lake. One resident observed that water willow had greatly expanded along his shoreline this year. Purple loosestrife and common reedgrass (Phragmites), both invasive species, were observed in scattered locations along shore. A species table and map are attached to this report. The relative health of a lake's plant community can be expressed numerically by a Floristic Quality Index (FQI). The FQI incorporates species richness with the conservatism (susceptibility to disturbance) of each species sampled. Aquatic plant species in Minnesota have been assigned Coefficient of Conservatism (C) values on a scale of 0 to 10, with higher values indicating lesser tolerance to disturbed habitat. The FQI is the product of the mean C value for species sampled and the square root of the number of species. The FQI for Upper Pine Lake based on 2022 point-intercept data was 34.4, above the biologic integrity threshold (20.2) for the Northern Lakes and Forest - 3b West ecoregion in Minnesota. Upper Pine Lake continues to have a diverse aquatic plant community that contributes to the lake's resilience to ecological stressors.

Upper Pine Lake is a 233 acre mesotrophic lake located near Finlayson, Minnesota in the Pine/Kettle/Upper St. Croix River watershed. The lake is listed as having a maximum depth of 15 feet, but beaver dams on top of the rock dam at the outlet have kept the water level two feet higher in recent years. Upper Pine is moderately developed, with 35 homes mainly on the northwest and northeast shores. Upper Pine has historically had a diverse aquatic plant community. Seventeen emergent and 29 submerged and floating-leaf species have been documented in surveys dating back to 1958 (Table 1). The most recent survey was a point intercept in May 2010 targeting curlyleaf pondweed. Two Minnesota species of special concern are known to be in the lake: water-willow (Decodon verticillatus) and slender naiad (Najas gracillima). Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), a non-native invasive species, was first documented in Upper Pine Lake in 2022 near the access and in scattered areas around the shore. The lake was treated with herbicide for milfoil in 2023 (acres). Curlyleaf pondweed, another non-native invasive species, is also present in Upper Pine. Individual aquatic plant management permits have been minimal, with 0-2 permits issued annually. The goals of this survey were to determine the current species composition of aquatic plants in Upper Pine Lake, and to determine acreage and species composition of floating-leaf and emergent vegetation beds. A point intercept vegetation survey was conducted on August 19, 2024, using methodology from the MNDNR vegetation survey manual (2019). Sample points were the same used in a 2010 survey and had a density of approximately one point per acre over the entire surface area. After the maximum depth of plant growth was determined to be less than ten feet, points at depths greater than ten feet were not sampled. Aquatic vegetation was present in 88% of the 133 points used in frequency calculation. Large-leaved pondweed was the most commonly sampled species, occurring at 56% of sample points. Coontail, water celery, and Robbins' pondweed were the next most frequently sampled submergent plants, while floating-leaf species Common White Waterlily and Common Yellow Waterlily both occurred at frequencies of greater than 25%. Eurasian watermilfoil was not sampled at any points, nor was it visually observed while traveling between points or mapping floating leaf and emergent vegetation. Frequency of occurrence results from this survey are not comparable with the 2010 survey because sampling was done at different times of the year. However, the overall species composition appears to be similar between years. Minnesota DNR Fisheries Area staff delineated the floating leaf and emergent aquatic vegetation of Upper Pine lake 08/23/2024, following the protocols listed in the MN DNR Lake Plant Mapping Manual. Emergent and floating-leaf vegetation formed a fringe around nearly the entire shoreline of Upper Pine Lake, with a combined total of 59.5 acres. Waterlilies and waterlily/other species beds made up the highest percent of the total area. Pickerelweed was common along the shoreline in scattered areas around the lake. Water willow grew along the northwest shore and in the narrow northeastern arm of the lake. One resident observed that water willow had greatly expanded along his shoreline this year. Purple loosestrife and common reedgrass (Phragmites), both invasive species, were observed in scattered locations along shore. A species table and map are attached to this report. The relative health of a lake's plant community can be expressed numerically by a Floristic Quality Index (FQI). The FQI incorporates species richness with the conservatism (susceptibility to disturbance) of each species sampled. Aquatic plant species in Minnesota have been assigned Coefficient of Conservatism (C) values on a scale of 0 to 10, with higher values indicating lesser tolerance to disturbed habitat. The FQI is the product of the mean C value for species sampled and the square root of the number of species. The FQI for Upper Pine Lake based on 2022 point-intercept data was 34.4, above the biologic integrity threshold (20.2) for the Northern Lakes and Forest - 3b West ecoregion in Minnesota. Upper Pine Lake continues to have a diverse aquatic plant community that contributes to the lake's resilience to ecological stressors.

Upper Pine Lake is a 233 acre mesotrophic lake located near Finlayson, Minnesota in the Pine/Kettle/Upper St. Croix River watershed. The lake is listed as having a maximum depth of 15 feet, but beaver dams on top of the rock dam at the outlet have kept the water level two feet higher in recent years. Upper Pine is moderately developed, with 35 homes mainly on the northwest and northeast shores. Upper Pine has historically had a diverse aquatic plant community. Seventeen emergent and 29 submerged and floating-leaf species have been documented in surveys dating back to 1958 (Table 1). The most recent survey was a point intercept in May 2010 targeting curlyleaf pondweed. Two Minnesota species of special concern are known to be in the lake: water-willow (Decodon verticillatus) and slender naiad (Najas gracillima). Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), a non-native invasive species, was first documented in Upper Pine Lake in 2022 near the access and in scattered areas around the shore. The lake was treated with herbicide for milfoil in 2023 (acres). Curlyleaf pondweed, another non-native invasive species, is also present in Upper Pine. Individual aquatic plant management permits have been minimal, with 0-2 permits issued annually. The goals of this survey were to determine the current species composition of aquatic plants in Upper Pine Lake, and to determine acreage and species composition of floating-leaf and emergent vegetation beds. A point intercept vegetation survey was conducted on August 19, 2024, using methodology from the MNDNR vegetation survey manual (2019). Sample points were the same used in a 2010 survey and had a density of approximately one point per acre over the entire surface area. After the maximum depth of plant growth was determined to be less than ten feet, points at depths greater than ten feet were not sampled. Aquatic vegetation was present in 88% of the 133 points used in frequency calculation. Large-leaved pondweed was the most commonly sampled species, occurring at 56% of sample points. Coontail, water celery, and Robbins' pondweed were the next most frequently sampled submergent plants, while floating-leaf species Common White Waterlily and Common Yellow Waterlily both occurred at frequencies of greater than 25%. Eurasian watermilfoil was not sampled at any points, nor was it visually observed while traveling between points or mapping floating leaf and emergent vegetation. Frequency of occurrence results from this survey are not comparable with the 2010 survey because sampling was done at different times of the year. However, the overall species composition appears to be similar between years. Minnesota DNR Fisheries Area staff delineated the floating leaf and emergent aquatic vegetation of Upper Pine lake 08/23/2024, following the protocols listed in the MN DNR Lake Plant Mapping Manual. Emergent and floating-leaf vegetation formed a fringe around nearly the entire shoreline of Upper Pine Lake, with a combined total of 59.5 acres. Waterlilies and waterlily/other species beds made up the highest percent of the total area. Pickerelweed was common along the shoreline in scattered areas around the lake. Water willow grew along the northwest shore and in the narrow northeastern arm of the lake. One resident observed that water willow had greatly expanded along his shoreline this year. Purple loosestrife and common reedgrass (Phragmites), both invasive species, were observed in scattered locations along shore. A species table and map are attached to this report. The relative health of a lake's plant community can be expressed numerically by a Floristic Quality Index (FQI). The FQI incorporates species richness with the conservatism (susceptibility to disturbance) of each species sampled. Aquatic plant species in Minnesota have been assigned Coefficient of Conservatism (C) values on a scale of 0 to 10, with higher values indicating lesser tolerance to disturbed habitat. The FQI is the product of the mean C value for species sampled and the square root of the number of species. The FQI for Upper Pine Lake based on 2022 point-intercept data was 34.4, above the biologic integrity threshold (20.2) for the Northern Lakes and Forest - 3b West ecoregion in Minnesota. Upper Pine Lake continues to have a diverse aquatic plant community that contributes to the lake's resilience to ecological stressors.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Black Crappie, and Bluegill in Upper Pine. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Upper Pine. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Upper Pine has a maximum depth of 15 feet and a mean depth of 9 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Upper Pine is from 2024.

Yes — Upper Pine has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.