Please note interesting article below from the Brainerd Dispatch about Zebra Mussels. Please share this article with your lake association membership. Fall is prime time to discover zebras and the level of concern continues to rise with Zebra Mussels being found in Rose Lake (Ottertail County) and Lake Irene (Douglas County). All these lakes are part of major chains in those Counties. Rose Lake flows in the Ottertail River system infesting major lakes like Big and Little Pine, Rush Lake and Ottertail Lake while Lake Irene flows into Lake Miltona (5000+ acres) and Lake Ida (4000+ acres)

Meanwhile, our lake chains in Hubbard County like the Mantrap Chain, Fishhook Chain and the Crow Wing Chain are presently free from Zebra Mussels (we hope). Lakeshore property owners, citizens, and LGU's need to be informed about these rapidly spreading invaders. Zebra Mussels are not here yet and we need to keep it that way.

There appears to be several trends with these silent invaders. Once they get into a County they seem to spread around the County either by water movement, boat transfer or lakeshore equipment.. So let's keep them out of Hubbard County. Another trend appearing is the movenemt of Zebra Mussels on boat lifts. And they are probably private parties moving a boat lift from one lake to another with no concern or responsibility to check for Zebra Mussels. These private parties are probably trying to save a buck ($$) but end destroying a lake or a chain of lakes.

You need to check your equipment and watch your neighbor to see if equipment is being moved in or out to another lake. You need to be responsible and deligent.

Thanks for helping prevent the spread of AIS.

Dan

Open Forum: Halting the spread of invasive species

Posted: October 12, 2011 - 7:28pm

October 12, 2011 - 08:28pm

Lately, it seems like most people can hardly pick up a newspaper without seeing something about Aquatic Invasive Species. I recently attended meetings with the Gull Lake and Serpent Lake Associations to discuss recent developments and what must be done in the future. Many of the lakes in our area, including Gull Lake and Mille Lacs Lake have seen a significant increase in zebra mussels. These invasive species have become an epidemic and I applaud those lake associations that are being pro-active and doing all that they can to defend their lakes.

I was the chief author of a new law designed to combat these Aquatic Invasive Species and while it was a good first step, we have a ways to go. I propose the three Es: Enforcement, Education and Engagement. We need to strengthen enforcement even beyond what is in the new law. We should consider further increasing fines on offenders and possibly even require boat decontamination. For improving education, we should require every boater — whether a resident or visitor — to obtain stickers, and we should further educate them on preventing the spread of invasive species.

Finally, people need to be engaged. We need folks to volunteer at boat landings, help with decontamination, inform visitors of procedures, or join a lake association. It will take all of us — elected officials, the DNR, volunteers and even visitors to begin to reverse the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species.

Recently, I heard someone say that eventually all lakes will be contaminated, so why bother? That’s like saying all of us will get sick someday, so why bother going to see a doctor? Fighting Aquatic Invasive Species makes sense. It’s environmentally-wise, it’s fiscally-wise, and it’s economically and job-wise. I’ll continue doing all that I can to reverse the spreading of Aquatic Invasive Species.

Rep. John Ward

DFL-Brainerd

District 12A

http://brainerddispatch.com/opinion/open-forum/2011-10-12/open-forum-halting-spread-invasive-species