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Minnesota Invasive Species
What is new in the invasive species world you ask??? A conference was held Oct 26, 2008 in Duluth, conducted by University of Minnesota Sea Grant, Mn DNR & Mn Dept of Ag to discuss just those issues. It was a day filled with more information than I can write about here but will try to hit the high points. We all know about Eurasian milfoil and how it spreads, but there seems to be a disconnect between knowing how to prevent it and changing human habits. Mn Sea Grant will again this year be spending a great deal of money and time on educating the water users that THEY can make a difference by cleaning off their water craft and trailers after exiting a lake. We all need to become vigilant about this. We need to be stewards of OUR water. There are 9 more enforcement officers as of May 08. If you see someone not protecting our lakes please say something! Another invasive specie is curlyleaf pondweed. This pest has been found in 750 lakes state wide. In Douglas County there are only a few lakes (Ida& Smith for sure) that are have been identified as having this weed. This weed can be eradicated but because it has different growing habits, over winters and grows early spring, going dormant by July, it is harder to spot. It looks like what is commonly called "cabbage" weed but the leaves edges are serrated not smooth. http://www.files.dnr.state.mn.us/natural/resources/invasives The newest pest is flowering rush. There have been 16 sightings in Mn none in Douglas county. It has been found it in the Detroit Lakes area, which is a concern to all. It blooms in July and of course is quite attractive but still invasive.
On the horizon is a new weed hydrilla. It is not yet here but could be because is spreads like milfoil in fragments, grows in low light, forms dense stands and mimics Canada waterweed. aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu is the web site to view these weeds.
Now the good news. We have additional help via the DNR. Jay Wendland is the Invasive Species Prevention Coordinator at the DNR. He was given additional funding to hire 6 Invasive Species Specialists. Howard Fullhart is our contact person. He offices out of Fergus is ready to help identify problems. We will try to engage him for our annual meeting speaker.
The workshop encouraged all lake associations to start a Lake Vegetation Management Plan (LVMP) to identify what we have and how to prevent invasives. Unfortunately the cost is about $5000 to hire a consultant do it for us. However we can put together our own group to work on this and invest much less money. Time is the biggest hurdle. The main reason to have a LVMP is to be able to receive grant monies. If an association has a plan in place they are more likely to receive monies when as they become available for purposes of prevention and eradication. With the new dedicated funding sales tax money as will start being accumulated in July 2009 more funds will become available. Scheduled for 2009 is $55K for prevention grants. These are to be given out to 12 organizations to assist with costs associated with the technical assistance needed to formulate a LVMP. Invasive Management Grants are to be funded 50% by the sales tax surcharge and 50% by the state's general fund providing there is anything actually made available for lake weed pilot prevention projects. The DCLA and it's member lakes need to be ready to apply for those grants. INVASIVE TIDBIT: Did you know earthworms are not native to the MN?? And it is illegal to discard bait at accesses or into the lake. Just knew you wanted to know these things!!! Did you know earthworms are not native to the MN?? It is illegal to discard bait at accesses. Just knew you wanted to know!!! - Bonnie Huettl |