The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing Tuesday to receive input concerning the proposed partial drawdown of Lake Chapeau and adjacent wetlands during the reclamation of the lake this fall.

The DNR and Shell Rock River Watershed District will be treating the lake, nearby ponds, creeks and ditches west of Albert Lea in Freeborn County with a fish toxicant called rotenone to eradicate the abundant rough fish population.

Rotenone is a substance derived from the roots of various tropical plants that is commonly used to eliminate problem fish, according to a news release. It breaks down rapidly and poses no health risk to humans or dogs following the application.

The process goes hand in hand with efforts already made by the Shell Rock River Watershed District to install electric fish barriers on the lake that prevent new carp from re-entering the lake.

A similar project has been conducted at Pickerel Lake.

“Carp and other rough fish destroy aquatic vegetation and increase algae growth, resulting in poorer water quality and a decrease in important fish and wildlife cover and food sources,” said Andy Henschel, director of field operations for the watershed district, in a news release.

Poor water quality and high populations of rough fish in these areas also adversely affect water quality in Fountain and Albert Lea lakes immediately downstream, according to the release.

To conduct the project, the Department of Natural Resources staff have planned that it would be necessary to remove water from the marshy fringe of Lake Chapeau, also known as White Lake, so these areas do not provide a refuge for rough fish during the treatment.

Water levels will be allowed to return to normal after the treatment.

The public hearing regarding this action will at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners room in the Freeborn County Government Center.

At that time, people who would like to comment on the proposed water management will be able to do so.

According to the release, the treatments are scheduled to begin Sept. 28. If the conditions are not right for aerial application, the rotenone will be applied when suitable conditions develop.

“Water quality in White Lake needs to be significantly improved in order to realize its full potential,” said Marc Bacigalupi, assistant DNR area fisheries manager in Waterville. “Using rotenone will allow us to start from scratch to dramatically improve the fish community and habitat quality for fish and wildlife.”