Download Aquatic Nuisances

Aquatic Nuisances
"Slowing the Spread…Aquatic Nuisance
Species Education in Dickinson County,
MI"
Boat Launch Education Targeting
Aquatic Nuisance Species In Dickinson
County
Dickinson county’s economy thrives on
tourism brought in by fishing, boating and
other recreational activities on our local
lakes. Residents of the county also benefit
from the abundance of waterways for
leisure activities and the natural beauty they provide.
Our lakes are increasingly threatened by non-native aquatic nuisance species that have been
introduced into our lakes. These species displace natural species and diversity, interrupt the food
chain for fish and animals, and make boating, swimming and fishing difficult.
The Dickinson County Lakes and Streams Coalition and the Dickinson Conservation District
realized that the level of impact was significant in several county lakes and that while complete
control might never be possible, public education might help slow the spread of aquatic nuisance
species. A Boat Launch Education Program was introduced to help inform boaters and lake users
about the dangers of aquatic nuisance species and the things they can do to stop the spread
further. We found that most boaters could not identify Eurasian Milfoil and Zebra Mussels when
the education program began.
Grants from WE Energies and the Great Lake Habitat Network helped support this program in
2004.
Aquatic exotics in the Great Lakes that are making their way inland:
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Purple Loosestrife
Zebra Mussel
Rainbow Smelt
Tubenose Goby
Fishhook Waterflea
Sea Lamprey
Spiny Waterflea
Eurasian Watermilfoil
Alewife
Lumholtzi waterflea
Round Goby
Echinogammarus
Where did they come from?
Most Aquatic Invasive Species are native to the Baltic Sea region and hitchhiked into the U.S. via
ballast water or were released by pet owners into natural waters.
Zebra Mussels - Dreissena polymorpha
Zebra Mussels entered the Great Lakes through ballast water and have
been transferred to inland lakes in recent years.
They clog water intakes, filter feed on vital phytoplankton, foul beaches,
encrust any stationary object…including native clams.
Millions of dollars are spent annually to remove zebra mussels from
public and industrial water systems.
Adults are fingernail size with light and dark stripes.
Microscopic zebra mussel spawn (velligers) are easily transferred to other lakes in bilge water,
bait water, scuba gear... A drop of water can hold a thousand velligers!
Adult mussels stick to vegetation, boats and just about anything. They can be easily transported
from lake to lake.
Lakes infested in Dickinson County: Lake Antoine.
Research is on-going regarding control methods for Zebra Mussels, but right now, the best
control is to make sure Zebra Mussels don’t catch a ride with you!
What YOU Can Do to Slow the Spread:
INSPECT your boat and equipment and remove all aquatic plants from your trailer, boat—
anywhere they might be.
DRAIN all water from the boat, motor, bilge, live well and bait wells.
DISPOSE of leftover bait in a trash bin, not back into the water.
RINSE the boat and fishing equipment with hot (at least 104 degrees or higher) water, OR
thoroughly dry your boat and your fishing equipment— leave them in the sun for at least five days
before heading back out on the water.
Eurasian Watermilfoil - Myriophyllum spicatum
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Delicate feather-like leaves.
Leaflets are mostly the same length
Leaves are usually limp when out of water
Leaves arranged in whorls (circles) of 3 to 5 around
stem.
Usually 12 to 21 leaflet pairs per leaf.
Long spaghetti –like stems.
Stems pink in color.
Why is it a problem?
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Non-native aquatic plant that grows rapidly and overtakes natural vegetation
Interrupts natural food chain of lake
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Makes fishing, boating and swimming more difficult
How Eurasian Milfoil spreads…
Milfoil spreads by fragmentation. Pieces as small as 2” can grow, from roots and become a new
plant. Therefore raking, harvesting and boat traffic causes new plants to grow and increases
infestation.
Dickinson County Lakes infested with EWM:
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Lake Antoine
Sawyer Lake
Bass Lake
Cowboy Lake
Carney Lake
Lake Mary
Hamilton Lake
Hanbury Lake
Norway Lake
Can Eurasian Milfoil be controlled?
Several Lakes in the County (Sawyer Lake, Bass Lake, Carney Lake, Hamilton Lakes) have
treated their lakes to control Eurasian Milfoil. Biological control in the form of a tiny native aquatic
weevil that prefers to eat Eurasian Milfoil works in lakes that have a serious infestation, proper
water chemistry, and adequate natural shoreline. The Weevils are patented and available from
EnviroScience, Inc. (www.enviroscienceinc.com). Chemical control is possible with herbicides
such as 2,4-D and Flouridone, but requires a permit from the Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality. The MDEQ Aquatic Nuisance Control Office can be contacted by phone
(517) 241-7734 or email: [email protected]. Herbicide treatment has averaged about
$500 per acre and will likely need to be repeated in succeeding years. There is no government
money available for the treatment of individual lakes for aquatic nuisance species. Money is
typically raised through a lake association or special tax assessment district. For information on
how to form a lake association, contact the Michigan Lakes & Streams Associations, Inc.
www.mlswa.org
Boat Launch Education
In 2004, the Dickinson Conservation District and the Dickinson County Lakes & Streams
Coalition, with the help of grants from WE Energies and the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat
Network, organized summer students and lake residents for a Boat Launch Education Program.
Educators were present at boat launches to inform boaters about aquatic nuisance species and
assist with cleaning boats. Controlling the transport of these species is key to preventing further
infestation and preventing re-introduction to lakes that have been treated for Eurasian Milfoil.
Summer 2004 Totals
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Total hours spent at Boat Launches- 233.35
Total Number of Boats Contacted- 392
Total Number of People Contacted- 901
To report a new sighting of Eurasian Water Milfoil or Zebra Mussels in Dickinson County, Call or
bring a specimen to Dickinson Conservation District: 102 N. Hooper Street, Kingsford (906) 7748441
Please be on the lookout for these other exotic species…
Purple Loosestrife - Lythrum salicaria
Invades ditches and wetlands. Violet-purple flower spikes in late summer can release thousands
of seeds each.
Control within first 2 years is easiest. Manually digging roots, removing flower heads, and
herbicide are control options.
Waterfleas - These organisms encrust fishing line.
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Bythotrephes cederstroemi (BC)
Daphnia lumholtzi (Lumholtzi waterflea)
Cercopagis pengoi (Fishhook waterflea)
Rusty Crayfish
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Can grow to 6+” long, have red spot on carapice
Have replaced most native crayfish
Reproduce at a higher rate than native crayfish
Over-eat certain plants
Exotic fish species…
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Roughy
Round Goby
Hydrilla verticillata
Additional Sites for Information
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Michigan Sea Grant
Great Lakes Information Network
The National Protect Your Waters Program