AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES  (AIS) 

                            PAUL LUNDQUIST and STEVE LINDOW

 

A variety of invasive species continue to threaten our lakes and streams. We need to be vigilant at inspecting our boats and trailers to make sure these invasive species don’t hitch a ride into Bad Medicine. Inspection includes private and public launch sites.

     If you have your own private launch area into the lake, thoroughly check your boat and trailer for attached plants. Trailer wires, rollers, and carpeting are all places where invasive plants and animals can hide.

     Drain all water from live wells by removing the plug from the transom and leave it out while transporting the boat (law).  Also, drop your motor down to drain water out of the lower unit.  If you have been in an infested water  (zebra muscle larva are invisible), decontaminate your boat and trailer before putting it into another lake by spraying or washing them inside and out with water at 140 degrees or mild disinfectant. Live well and bilge pump systems need extra effort. Any boat or pontoon aircraft sitting in infested waters for more than a day is enough time for mussels to attach. Pilots, please check the pontoons thoroughly before taking off to land in Bad Medicine.

    Fisherman, special rules apply to you once you launch into a lake with minnows or leeches. When leaving that lake, the law requires you to drain all water from your minnow and leech containers and take the dead bait with you. It is o.k. to bring cold tap water from home to replace the lake water in your bait containers. Be sure to leave the tap water in your towing vehicle so you have clear evidence you are not using lake water.

    This year, the Bad Medicine Lake Association ($2500) and Forest Township ($5000) will be contributing funds to Becker County to hire Access Educators. Educators have taken the DNR Invasive Training so they carry out the same functions as volunteers did last year. Depending on availability, educators will monitor weekends on both Bad Medicine and Bass lake accesses and Saturday mornings at resorts if requested. In addition, the county has hired two part time deputies to assist educators and patrol other county lakes. This action by the county is significant in heading off infestation of county lakes. Once infested, lake property values have decreased 10% – 30%. Educators monitoring accesses aren’t a guarantee infestation will not happen, but they are the front line in preventing infestation.