Lake Byllesby (Cannon River) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Byllesby |
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 Lake Byllesby
Location in Minnesota
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| Location | Dakota and Goodhue counties in Minnesota. Near Cannon Falls |
| Coordinates | 44°31′00″N 92°58′05″W / 44.516531°N 92.968170°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Cannon River |
| Primary outflows | Cannon River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
| Max. width | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| Surface area | 1,432 acres (580 ha) |
| Average depth | 10–35 ft (3.0–10.7 m) (average) |
| Max. depth | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Water volume | 20,000 acre⋅ft (0.025 km3) |
Lake Byllesby is a large, man-made lake in Minnesota. It covers about 1,432 acres (580 hectares). This lake is located on the Cannon River. It stretches across parts of Dakota and Goodhue counties.
A man-made lake like this is called a reservoir. Lake Byllesby was created when the Byllesby Dam was built. This dam helped make electricity using water power. Today, Lake Byllesby is a popular spot for fun activities. It is the biggest lake in Southern Dakota County. The lake is about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of the Twin Cities.
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Lake Byllesby Regional Park
The Lake Byllesby Regional Park is a great place to visit. It is managed by Dakota County Parks & Trails. You can find many things to do there. The park has places to launch boats. There are also campgrounds for RVs and tents.
If you like to be active, there are trails for hiking and biking. You can also enjoy picnic areas with your family and friends. On the northeast side of the lake, there is a swimming beach. Goodhue County also has a small park on the southeast side. It offers picnic spots and another boat launch.
Important Bird Area
The area around Lake Byllesby is special for birds. The National Audubon Society calls it an "Important Bird Area." This means it is a very important place for birds to live. Many different kinds of birds use the Cannon River Valley as their home.
Fishing in Lake Byllesby
Lake Byllesby is a fantastic place for fishing. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) keeps track of the fish here. You can find many types of fish in the lake.
Common Fish Species
Some of the fish you might catch include:
- Black bullhead
- Black crappie
- Bluegill
- Channel catfish
- Green sunfish
- Largemouth bass
- Northern pike
- Pumpkinseed
- Smallmouth bass
- Walleye
- White bass
- Yellow perch
Other Fish Species
The lake also has other interesting fish. These include:
- Bigmouth buffalo
- Bowfin (also called dogfish)
- Common carp
- Freshwater drum
- Golden redhorse
- Quillback
- White sucker
- Emerald shiner
Invasive Species
Lake Byllesby has a plant called Flowering rush. This plant is an invasive species. An invasive species is a plant or animal that is not native to an area. It can grow very fast and harm the local environment.
Flowering rush can take over the lake. It can make it harder for native plants and fish to thrive. Because it is a problem, it is against Minnesota State Law to move this plant away from the lake. This rule helps protect other lakes and rivers from this invasive plant.
