State Wildlife Grant Final Report Status and critical habitat of special concern and rare fish species in lakes within seven counties in Minnesota.

A total of 125 lakes were sampled in 7 counties from 2006-2008 based on criteria of water transparency, intolerant species associates and historical occurrences of targeted species: least darters (Etheostoma microperca), pugnose shiners (Notropis anogenus) and longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis). Least darters were found in 49 lakes (44 new localities), pugnose shiners in 30 (20 new) and longear sunfish in 2. Noteworthy results include least darters in Lake Minnewashta (Carver County) where the species was last reported in 1962 and the first record of the species from the St. Croix River Drainage in Forest Lake (Washington County). Pugnose shiners were found in Thompson Lake (Sherburne County) where they have not been reported since 1959 and Clearwater Lake (Wright County) since 1946.