Little Waverly

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Little Waverly Lake, was conducted on September 3 - September 9, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample nine stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at one station. Nearshore sampling captured 15 species of fish including four that are tolerant of disturbance (Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, and Green Sunfish). A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 12 species of fish, including three that are tolerant of disturbance (Bigmouth Buffalo, Common Carp, and Green Sunfish). Yellow Bullhead and Black Crappie comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Common Carp and Largemouth Bass comprised a majority by biomass. Bluegill and other insectivorous species only accounted for 6.5 percent of the biomass. The nearshore and trap net were combined with gill net data from a July 2024 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Little Waverly Lake is adversely impacted by stressors, as indicated by an FIBI score below the general use impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to a previous survey in 2014 and an earlier survey in July 2024. The differences between the 2024 surveys are the lack of any small benthic-dwelling individuals captured in the September survey whereas the July survey sampled one Tadpole Madtom and a lower proportional biomass of insectivorous species in the trap net with only 6.5% in this September survey versus almost 29% in the July survey - driven by lower proportional biomass of Bluegill and Bigmouth Buffalo and a higher proportional biomass of Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the North Fork Crow River watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Little Waverly Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Little Waverly Lake, was conducted on September 3 - September 9, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample nine stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at one station. Nearshore sampling captured 15 species of fish including four that are tolerant of disturbance (Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, and Green Sunfish). A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 12 species of fish, including three that are tolerant of disturbance (Bigmouth Buffalo, Common Carp, and Green Sunfish). Yellow Bullhead and Black Crappie comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Common Carp and Largemouth Bass comprised a majority by biomass. Bluegill and other insectivorous species only accounted for 6.5 percent of the biomass. The nearshore and trap net were combined with gill net data from a July 2024 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Little Waverly Lake is adversely impacted by stressors, as indicated by an FIBI score below the general use impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to a previous survey in 2014 and an earlier survey in July 2024. The differences between the 2024 surveys are the lack of any small benthic-dwelling individuals captured in the September survey whereas the July survey sampled one Tadpole Madtom and a lower proportional biomass of insectivorous species in the trap net with only 6.5% in this September survey versus almost 29% in the July survey - driven by lower proportional biomass of Bluegill and Bigmouth Buffalo and a higher proportional biomass of Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the North Fork Crow River watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Little Waverly Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Little Waverly Lake is located just west of Waverly Lake within the city limits of Waverly in southern Wright County. It has a surface area of 330 acres and a maximum depth of 12 feet. The watershed is large and dominated by agriculture. Twelve Mile Creek runs through the lake and connects to the North Fork Crow River. Water quality is poor with a 10-yr average summer water clarity of 3.3 feet. Because the lake is shallow and nutrient rich, a winter aeration system is often used to prevent winterkill. Aquatic vegetation is sparse and shallow. The lake was listed as infested with Eurasian watermilfoil in 1995 and zebra mussels in 2021. There is one county owned public access on the lake with a dock and room for up to 10 trailers. A standard survey was completed in 2024 to update fisheries data last collected in 2014. The Northern Pike catch in 2024 was higher than in 2014 and exceeded the range of expected values for lakes similar to Little Waverly. Lengths ranged from 12 to 32 inches with an average length and weight of 19 inches and 2 pounds. Only three percent of the pike sampled were longer than 26 inches. Anglers are encouraged to harvest small pike (under 22 inches) and release the larger ones to help achieve a more balanced fish community and to improve growth rates. There is an excellent Largemouth Bass population with a wide range of sizes available to anglers including fish up to 20 inches with an average length of 15 inches. Catch rates of bass were similar to the previous survey and 56% of the fish were longer than 15 inches. Walleye fry have been stocked in Little Waverly in the past with little success. While no Walleye were sampled in 2024, a few Walleyes have been sampled over the years. Little Waverly is connected to Waverly Lake via a culvert and short channel. Since Waverly Lake is consistently stocked with Walleye fingerlings it is likely that some of them emigrate into Little Waverly. Black Crappie abundance in gill nets and trap nets were both higher than 2014. Although crappie up to 12 inches were sampled most of the fish sampled were small, averaging five inches in length. The Bluegill catch improved from the previous survey as well and was near the lakes long-term average. Bluegill lengths ranged from four to eight inches with an average length of six inches. The Yellow Perch catch was higher than 2014 and near the long-term average for the lake. Improvements in the number of perch should help provide a source of forage for the expanding Northern Pike population and already abundant Largemouth Bass population. A single 18-inch Channel Catfish was sampled in 2024, compared to 12 in 2014. Channel Catfish are abundant in the Crow River and have immigrated into Little Waverly, Waverly, and other connected lakes in recent years. A couple of other significant changes observed during this survey were Black Bullhead abundance increased substantially over the previous survey (2014) and was above the long-term average for the lake as well as a huge year class of Bigmouth Buffalo were sampled. Prior to 2024 only one Bigmouth Buffalo had been sampled in gill nets. This year almost 200 were sampled with most being less than 10 inches long. Other species caught in the survey included: Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

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

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

Little Waverly has a maximum depth of 12 feet and a mean depth of 6.7 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

Yes — Little Waverly has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.