PEQUOT LAKES — Wednesday morning in the lakes area wasn’t unlike that October day. But unlike Oct. 6, 2010, bright skies didn’t give way to dark news.
It was that news — that Gull Lake, the Brainerd area’s best-known lake, was infested with zebra mussels — that ultimately prompted this gathering Wednesday of area lake service professionals. And while the tone of the workshop was serious, the atmosphere wasn’t all gloom and doom. Rather, it was one of hope — that lake service professionals will take a leading role in helping to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species in the area.
Those lake service types appeared ready to do their part — about 65 crammed a room Wednesday morning in Grace United Methodist Church to hear about management practices and the like to prevent the spread of AIS.
Namely, zebra mussels.
“We’re going to concentrate on zebra mussels because of the area we’re in,” said Dan Swanson, DNR invasive species specialist in Brainerd. Wednesday’s workshop was sponsored by the DNR, Brainerd Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force, Whitefish Area Property Owners Association and Minnesota Waters.
A nonnative invasive species, zebra mussels pose serious ecological and economic threats to Minnesota’s lakes and streams, according to the DNR. Heavy infestations can impact vegetation, habitat and, ultimately, fish populations and interfere with recreation. They were first found in Minnesota in the late 1980s in Lake Superior and were only discovered in area waters in the last decade, including on Ossawinnamakee, Mille Lacs and Gull.
“They’re filter feeders and may disrupt the food web dynamics,” said Rich Rezanka, DNR invasive species specialist out of Grand Rapids. “They haven’t been around that long. What will be their affect on lakes like Mille Lacs? We don’t know what’s going to happen.
“They’re a huge cost to the industry and cause plugged pipes. And for recreation users, they have very sharp shells.”
The lake service professionals — boat, watercraft and dock dealers and installers and fishing guides — on hand Wednesday appeared anxious to learn what they need to do to be in compliance with DNR regulations regarding zebra mussels and AIS and what they can do to help stop their spread. In fact, it was one of those lake service companies — Nisswa Dock Co., which was on hand Wednesday — that discovered zebra mussels attached to a boat lift it pulled from Gull in October and immediately contacted Swanson and the DNR. The DNR went on to find more zebra mussels attached to several boat lifts and to aquatic vegetation.
“If you as dealers spot something like this, call us,” said Swanson, lauding Nisswa Dock for its efforts. “Be a leader. Power wash your equipment often, especially if it’s been in infested waters. Dedicate equipment for infested waters if possible.”
Swanson said that, too often, lake users don’t take the possible spread of zebra mussels and AIS as seriously as they should. He said that mindset will ultimately prove costly.
“If people don’t pay attention to what’s going on, in 20 to 30 years the lakes will be totally different than they are now,” he said. “You’re going to have to put tennis shoes on to use our lakes (because of the sharp zebra mussels shells). This is serious business. The public wants this enforced. If we don’t try to stop it, it’s going to come. It’s going to have to be the lake associations and lake professionals like you who care about our lakes. It (AIS) is going to move. But we hope to put it (the spread of AIS) off as long as possible.”
Lawmakers, too, are taking notice. On Tuesday, a bill authored by Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, to halt the spread of AIS unanimously passed the Public Safety Committee. The bill, H.F. 1162, would authorize the DNR to conduct more thorough watercraft inspections and enforcement, increase penalties for violations and require training and permitting for lake service providers.
“Every fine will be doubled when it goes through the Legislature,” said Jim Tischler, a DNR conservation officer with Water Resources in Brainerd. “You (lake service professionals) have to comply because it’s good for your business. But if not, we’ll pinch you. And the pressure is on us to pinch you. With the bill going through the Legislature, everyone thinks the No. 1 thing (that will be stressed) will be more enforcement.”
Said Courtney Kowalczak, program director at Minnesota Waters: “You’re an important force to educate your customers.”
BRIAN S. PETERSON may be reached at brian.peterson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5864. To follow him on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/brian_speterson. For his blogs, go to www.brainerddispatch.com.
