Volunteers needed for Starry Trek
Volunteers needed to monitor local waters for starry stonewort
Volunteers who love lakes are needed throughout Minnesota on Saturday, August 8, 2026, to help search for starry stonewort, an aquatic invasive algae that can spread easily and form dense mats in lakes.
Starry Trek is an annual, one-day event where the public meets at training sites across Minnesota to learn how to identify starry stonewort and other aquatic invasive species (AIS). After the training, participants head out to local water access points to look for signs of these AIS. Watch a short video about Starry Trek here (z.umn.edu/YTstarrytrek).
Starry stonewort was first discovered in Minnesota at Lake Koronis in 2015 and has since spread to thirty lakes across the state. Early detection is crucial for managing this species. Starry Trek volunteers have already identified starry stonewort in four lakes and found other AIS such as Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels, during this event.
“This event is a terrific way for people to get outdoors and learn about aquatic invasive species, and help protect their area lakes,” said Megan Weber, Extension Educator with the University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center. “The information we gain at this event helps researchers and managers understand starry stonewort’s current distribution and potentially take action if new infestations are found.”
No experience or equipment is necessary to participate in Starry Trek. Expert training on monitoring protocols and starry stonewort identification will be provided on-site. This event is free, but registration is required.
Nine Mile Creek is excited to be a local monitoring site again this year. Register for our location at starrytrek.org.
There are currently 21 local training sites around the state, including one at our office, Discovery Point. Volunteers will meet at their local site for training, then will be sent to nearby public water accesses to check for starry stonewort. At the end of the day, they’ll return to the local training site to report their findings. For a full list of the sites and other FAQs, please visit starrytrek.org.
The AIS Detectors program is jointly supported by the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center and University of Minnesota Extension. Learn more at maisrc.umn.edu and extension.umn.edu.
For local information, contact:
Jordan Wein, Water Resources Project Manager
952-800-8307
For statewide information, contact:
Megan Weber, Extension Educator
University of Minnesota Extension & Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center
612-626-2235