With invasives, non-compliance is not an option

When hitting the water through a public lake access, you may have noticed someone in a khaki-colored uniform inspecting watercraft being launched at boat landings around here. While their chief assignment is to closely check watercraft, anchors and live wells/bait buckets for invasive species-- these inspectors describe themselves primarily as educators. The state is trying to slow the ability of non-native weeds and species to inundate state waters. The major way the unwanted creatures and plants are spread is through boating. The best defense right now is to educate watercraft owners on some new habits. Inspector Joe Rogers has been hired by the Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District and is paid to keep watch on watercraft entering and exiting LID lakes. The smaller lakes; Kroon, Spider, Little Lake, are solely the responsibility of the LID.

The Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources will rotate staff at accesses into the larger, busier bodies of water. The other day Rogers, who is a retired police officer, was stationed at North Center Lake with DNR access inspector, Zak Knight. The two teamed up because the North Center landing is usually very busy around the pre-Fourth Holiday weekend. The main thing to keep foremost in their contact with the public, they explained, is spreading the word not to move any amount of water from one lake to another, and to pick your boat and trailer clean of weeds. This means you drain your boat when you exit a lake and you keep the drain plug out of the boat until you are okayed for lowering your watercraft into the next lake you visit. This means you dump your bait bucket at the lake you just fished in.

If you’re planning on fishing more than one lake, put leftover minnows, etc. in clean water in a spare container in your truck or car. You must avoid hauling bait from one lake to another in the same water supply. Rogers said most boaters he’s had contact with are easy to work with. They understand that the natural resources have to to be protected. Rogers can give a boat the once-over coming into or exiting an access, while the boater is still untying straps and stowing gear. He’s not out to delay anybody eager to get on the water but he also needs to be thorough. He explained that he doesn’t put on “officious” airs but he is firm about inspections. “You show in how you approach them that you are going to check their boat and that it’ll only take about three minutes,” he said. Watercraft displaying recent annual registration stickers are generally owned by frequent boaters, and they’ve most likely already heard about the laws fighting invasive species, he added. Rogers also asks about prior lakes the watercraft has been in and makes friendly small talk as he goes over the equipment. DNR Inspector Knight, who recently graduated from UMD and is a Wyoming, MN native, is pleased to be posted in an area where he grew up. He is getting experience in his field enforcement skills which could come in handy later. Knight is considering being a Conservation Officer or he’ll continue to work in wildlife biology, where his degree is focused. He too says most people support why inspection is necessary.

And, if people get belligerent a deputy or state Conservation Officer can be summoned to their landing pretty easily. The state is serious about cracking down on transporting aquatic invasive species. As of July 1 the civil fines for violating invasive species laws doubled from previous levels. A springtime survey of compliance showed what DNR officials termed in a statewide news release, as an “unacceptable” rate of 20 percent of boaters and anglers violating the law. ~ Failing to remove a drain plug can result in a $150 fine. ~ Possessing or unlawfully transporting aquatic invasive species is a $500 fine. Aquatic Invasive Species include zebra mussels, Eurasian water milfoil and spiny waterfleas. They destroy native populations and wreak havoc on lake ecosystems.