HELP! INVASIVE SPECIES, ANS ARE HERE!

[John Mickish]

Milfoil is a very minor player in this situation. Rusty crayfish, Zebra muscles, Spiney water fleas and that pretty purple flower are lake changers and that is why there is the talk out there now. You guys have to realize that nobody out there wants to make boating/fishing a pain in the ***, but we have to do our part. For those that don't understand what Zebra muscles can do to a lake, do some research on what they have done to some of the eastern waterways and how they negatively effected the fishing there.

Just pick the weeds off, drain the water and wash your boat when you get home. Is it really that hard to do?

[harvey lee]

This is so easy to comply and save us all alot of extra [PoorWordUsage].

You are correct John, very easy to do. I have been doing this for a long time already and it takes minutes to do.

[flippenstick]

Invasive species are not new to Minnesota lakes. We were deluged with similar panic attack approaches when Eurasion milfoil was the hot topic. The milfoil has spread to some extent, just like the zebra mussel will.

Awareness is a key factor in stopping the spread, not extensive fines and boat confiscations. Laws and fines don't stop people from driving while under the influence, yet we think we can stop the spread of an invasive transported to our area in the hulls of cargo ships through the Great Lakes. There is not much common sense coming into play in many of these decisions. We can increase fines, restrict usage, and ad more regulations but it will not eliminate the spread. It's like putting a band aid on a gaping wound. We need some deterents and education to help prevent the spread but we don't need outrageous fines and restrictions targeting specific groups without a proven basis for the restrictions.

Brown signage used by the DNR at public accesses blends in nice with the environment, but is ineffective at getting peoples attention. We need signs that get peoples attention. This is not the time to blend in with the environment. The signage needs to be bold and grab your eye when you drive into an access. I don't know how many times I personally have informed someone at the access that this lake has special regulations while the signs were less than 10ft away.

We are all in this thing together. Rather than pointing fingers and taking sides we need to rally together if we want to limit the spread of invasives. It could start with licensing, maybe a statement signed when licenses are purchased and boats are registered that states you understand the steps that need to be taken to prevent the spread of invasives. People need to understand what invasives are and how important it is to follow guidlines to prevent the spread. A pamphlet handed out just doesn't work. Bait shops, and convenience stores need signage. Resorts need to make guests aware of invasives. It's not just fisherman spreading invasives, even though we are being targeted.

I believe the majority of avid boaters and fisherman are aware and take precautions. It's the minority that we need to reach. The family who uses their boat once or twice during the summer. Boaters who store their boat on a lift in infested water, load it up to take a family vacation on unifested water. Maybe a campaign to all lake propery owners, especially those who are on infested waters. Making sure they and their guests are aware. We need to reach the casual and out of state users of our lakes and rivers.

I am not a biologist or a professional when it comes to exotic species, but I am a tax paying fisherman in Minnesota who is concerned about the spread of exotics, and believe that special interest groups should not control our PUBLIC waters. You purchase property and live on a lake by your choice, it's not your lake!!

Awareness is the key to helping the control of exotics