Starry Trek 2025

Starry Trek began in 2017 as an effort to catch the aquatic invasive alga starry stonewort in its tracks, while also educating lake-loving Minnesotans and contributing to research. In August 2025, the annual statewide event saw remarkable participation, with 162 volunteers scouring 249 public accesses on 210 bodies of water.

“We share our thanks with all our volunteers and local partners who contribute their time and energy to each of the local training sites across the state,” says Megan Weber, the University of Minnesota Extension educator who leads the effort alongside Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center staff. “From our Aquatic Invasive Species Detectors, to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, county departments, Soil and Water Conservation District staff, nonprofit organizations, and more — we could not take on this kind of effort without them.”

In 2025, Starry Trek volunteers found new populations of starry stonewort in four lakes:

• Garfield Lake, Hubbard County
• Gull Lake, Beltrami County
• Three Island Lake, Beltrami County
• Two Rivers Lake, Stearns County

Volunteer and prosper

Early detection has enabled highly effective management of starry stonewort, including in Grand Lake and Carnelian Lake (both in Stearns County, discovered by Starry Trek volunteers in 2017 and 2020, respectively).

Jane Bartelme, president of the Grand Lake Area Association, volunteered at Starry Trek for her fourth year.

“I feel like it’s giving back. The Starry Trek program is what found starry stonewort in Grand Lake,” says Bartleme. “We appreciate that we caught it early, and we’ve been able to do some things to keep it away from the main part of the lake.”

Minnesotans like Bartleme want to enjoy their favorite lakes, and lakes are also economic drivers due to boating, fishing, tourism and the communities that spring up around them.

“Once invasive species come in and establish themselves, they can outcompete the native plants and animals, and it can change the entire ecosystem of a lake,” adds Brad Matuska, Extension Aquatic Invasive Species Detector volunteer at Grand Lake.

To boldly protect our lakes

Knowing what to look for is key, which is why Mike Hirst, a resource conservationist with Lake of the Woods Soil and Water Conservation District, hosted and trained volunteers at Zippel Bay State Park.

The group found samples of previously known populations of invasive species, but no starry stonewort or other new invasive species. 

“When volunteers give the lake a check-up every year, local leaders are in the best position to implement management strategies early if the invasive alga is found,” says Weber.

In the meantime, Aquatic Invasive Species Detectors help counties and lake associations educate boaters and others to prevent them from spreading invasive species.