To help improve water quality and the ecological health of Lake Cornelia and Lake Edina, the District is undertaking goldfish management.

Goldfish are an invasive species of fish that cause water quality problems due to their bottom feeding behavior. They stir up lake bottom sediments which reduces water clarity and releases phosphorus. They also uproot aquatic vegetation, destroying habitat for waterfowl and aquatic communities.

The goldfish population was likely started with the release of pet goldfish into one or more of the lakes within the system.  Awareness and public education are needed to prevent this from happening in any small ponds that could perpetuate the invasive goldfish population in the Cornelia chain.

Summer of 2025 NMCWD fisheries program formed a partnership with the Minnesota Zoo.

Check out the article here: https://www.startribune.com/edina-lake-goldfish-minnesota-zoo/601465663

For more information about our fisheries program on lake Cornelia: https://www.ninemilecreek.org/whats-happening/current-projects/lake-cornelia-project/

Questions?

Contact Jordan Wein, Water Resources Project Manager, at 952-800-8307 jwein@ninemilecreek.org