Aquatic
Invasive Species have no natural enemies and they multiply very rapidly.
Eurasian milfoil creates a thick mat of weeds that makes it impossible to boat,
swim or fish. Zebra mussels clog water systems and cut swimmers’ feet. Milfoil
has infested lakes around the Twin Cities while zebra mussels have been found in
Clear Lake. The best protection is to keep them from gaining a foothold; because
once they have established themselves it is virtually impossible to eliminate
them.Zebra mussels are the size of an air-rifle BB when they first form shells and attach to a surface, then they grow to thumb size. A mussel born in the spring can reproduce by fall. One female can produce more than 1 million eggs, and a male more than 1 billion sperm.
An article by Bill Graham in the Kansas City Star states that mussels have infested Ed Dorado Reservoir near Wichita. One liter of water from the reservoir averages 300 of the mussel’s larval stage, called veligers. Biologists are finding an average of 65,000 mature mussels per square meter. It is estimated that 2,175 mussels per meter per day are dropping onto bottom surfaces to grow shells and develop into adulthood.
What can anglers, boaters, scuba divers, personal watercraft operators, sailors and waterfowl hunters do to battle invasive species?
People who shore and fly-fish should remove aquatic plants, animals and mud from waders and hip boots and drain water from bait containers. Anglers should throw away unwanted bait by putting it in the trash rather than throwing it in the water.
Personal watercraft users should avoid running the engine through aquatic plants. When they are finished riding, they should run the engine for 5-10 seconds on the trailer to blow out excess water and vegetation from the internal drive, then turn off the engine.
Sailboaters should remove aquatic plants and animals from the hull, centerboard or bilge board wells, rudder post area and trailer.
All boaters should inspect their boats after taking them out of the lake and remove any vegetation caught on the boat, motor or trailer or anything attached to the boat. Drain all water from the boat, rinse the boat and trailer with a high-pressure washer or hot tap water above 104 degrees, or allow the boat to dry for 12 days before the boat is used again.
Waterfowl hunters should remove all plant and animal material and mud from their boats, motors, trailers, waders or hip boots, decoy lines and anchors, and cut cattails above the waterline when they are used for camouflage or blinds.
All the lake protective associations have organized volunteers for the boat ramps on their respective lakes to educate boaters about how invasive species can be transported on their boats and trailers. Each lake protective association has a Lake Coordinator to organize the volunteer work schedule on their lake (s).
Big Spirit Lake
Spirit Lake Protective Association
Dick Ramsay –712-336-5336 – e-mail rramsay@mchsi.com