How Many More?

It's time to ask our Governor, our Commissioner of the DNR, our State Senators and State Representatives, "How many more lakes can we allow to become infested with zebra mussels before we get really serious about stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species?"

Our current strategy of education, awareness, and occasional inspections of watercraft is not doing the job. The proof is that in the last three weeks the DNR announced that three more chains of lakes have become infested, including the beautiful Whitefish chain in Crow Wing County. As "personal responsibility" to stop the spread of AIS is not working sufficiently, it's time for our State to make it easier for people to do the right thing.   We can't allow our legacy of great recreational lakes to ruined for future generations by uninformed or uncaring actions, or the lack of necessary State actions.

Everyone has the right to use our public waters, BUT NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO INFEST A LAKE OR RIVER. It is time for the State to get serious about stopping the spread of AIS. 

Contrary to popular myth, waterfowl do not transport zebra mussels, but people do. And contrary to popular belief, zebra mussels have no redeeming value and do nothing good for the water.  They make the water clearer and weeds will grow at deeper depths, but in fifteen to twenty years the fish food chain will be damaged. These ecological impacts cannot be exactly predicted, but one only needs to look at the devastating effects to the fishing in Lake Michigan to see our potential future. The DNR doesn't like to talk about it, but there is a serious concern that the reduced walleye yields in Lake Mille Lacs may be directly linked to its zebra mussel infestation several years ago.

Inspecting every watercraft prior to launch is the only known way to stop the spread of the human transferred aquatic invasive species.  Inspections are not perfect nor is decontamination, but this is our best option. This aggressive approach has kept new invasive species out of Lake Tahoe for the past 5 years.  It's time to stop saying it can't work in Minnesota.  If we want to protect our waters, we can find a way to make some version of that model work in Minnesota.  But it takes a wake up call that our leaders have not heard yet.

Our legacy of great recreational waters is screaming to be heard and protected by our State leaders.  Please listen and take aggressive actions or YOU will be responsible for the destroying our recreational legacy. It's time to hold the DNR responsible for results, not just for making an effort.  Our future generations are counting on you to do the right thing.

Submitted by Joe Shneider
Chair, Coalition of Minnehaha Creek Waters