AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES SPRING 2018

Steve Lindow

Invasive species boat inspectors are hired by Becker County Soil and Water Conservation District. Most of the funding is provided by the state legislature based on the number of lakes in the county, number of accesses, and the number of access parking spots. Becker county qualified for about $320,000 to hire inspectors (35).Forest Township added an additional $2500 and the Bad Medicine Lake Area Association added another $2300 for inspections on Bad Medicine Lake. Thank you everyone who has donated to the AIS fund with your membership to BMLAA.

The boat inspectors have been checking boats from fishing opener and will continue through Labor Day. Weekends are covered from 6:00 am friday mornings to about 4pm each week-end day. During the week most mornings are covered for 2-3 hours. This year we do not have a decontamination unit at the access. For issues related to invasive species we will have to deny access and send the boats away.

A new invasive plant called Starry Stonwort has shown up in 8 Minnesota lakes over the past two years, mostly around accesses. Stonewort is a stringy, coarse-like algae that grows in thick mats that makes watercraft travel near shallow water nearly impossible! It is very tuff to remove from boat trailers because it gets smashed between the boat and the bunk of the trailer and will survive there a number of days. To kill Stonewort requires water at least 120 degrees for two minutes. I would strongly recommend not going into any lake known to be infested with Stonewort before coming here.

Inspectors can only do so much. As residents and boat owners, we are responsible for checking our own boats for invasive species before launching at the access or at your private launch site. The inspection needs to be done every time and be especially thorough when you are coming from a known infested water. Please be diligent with your boats.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO KEEP OUR LAKE FREE OF INVASIVES SPECIES.

CLEAN- DRAIN- DRY EVERY TIME !!!!!!