LAKE WASHINGTON —
The couple of boaters pulling out of Lake Washington near Westwood Marina Friday morning did pretty comprehensive boat checks before hitting the road.
It could be common practice for them — as it should be for all boaters — to make sure their vessels are free of debris and plant life, and to pull the plug and drain all the water. It could also be that more than half a dozen officers with the Department of Natural Resources were standing 50 yards from the landing keeping an eye on things, which tends to serve as motivation to be thorough.
Conservation officers, regional watercraft inspection supervisors, invasive species staff and other DNR representatives set up a media demonstration at Lake Washington and other lakes in the state to show how to properly clean and drain a boat after use on a lake. The idea is to prevent the movement of aquatic invasive species, such as Eurasian water milfoil and flowering rush, which have been found in various area lakes.
“It’s about education,” said Scott Roemhildt, DNR information officer. “It’s spreading, and that’s what we’re trying to prevent. ... It could take just one boat.”
The event also was meant to raise awareness that fines for violating aquatic invasive species laws will double beginning Sunday. The fine for transporting a watercraft with attached aquatic plants will go from $50 to $100. The fine for possessing or transporting prohibited invasive species, such as zebra mussels, will be $500.
As of Friday, Lake Washington was not on the list of infested waters. But Joe Eisterhold, DNR invasive species specialist, said they will be testing the lake Monday for possible Eurasian water milfoil — which has been found in Lura Lake and Madison Lake in Blue Earth County; Clear Lake in Waseca County; and East and Middle Jefferson lakes, German Lake and Ray’s Lake in Le Sueur County.
Evan Freeman, DNR regional watercraft inspection supervisor, said Eurasian water milfoil chokes out other plant life. It grows to the water’s surface, creates an umbrella and spreads, preventing light penetration. No fish or animals eat it.
Waters infested with flowering rush include Tetonka and Upper Sakatah lakes in Le Sueur County, according to the DNR. The state’s biggest concern, zebra muscles, are mostly in the North and all throughout the Mississippi, Freeman said.
“We put a lot of effort into those,” Freeman said.
Roemhildt said boaters may not know their boats have collected an invasive species on an infested lake. And if not thoroughly cleaned from their boat, the species can easily be transported to the next lake.
The DNR is ramping up its boat inspections and enforcement efforts all summer, as the spread of invasive species has become more of a problem. The agency is advising people to make sure all plant life and animals are removed from the boat, all the water is drained, and all drain plugs remain open during transport, Roemhildt said.
About 140 inspectors will be stationed throughout the state, as will 23 decontamination units at high-use water bodies, including Lake Washington.
The units, which cost $15,000 each, include a pressure washer, 400-gallon water tank, containment mat (to collect debris sprayed from boats), and a vacuum to collect and reuse the water.
The units use 160-degree, high-pressure water to remove and kill aquatic invasive species.
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