They invade area lakes - and sometimes later, when it’s too late - they’re discovered.

 

That is the plight of area officials, lake organizations and lake-lovers, in general.

 

It was front and center as the Big Lake Community Lakes Association held an information meeting last week about the two newest threats - Starry Stonewort and Zebra mussel, which are beginning to populate regional lakes.

 

A light crowd, comprised mainly of Big Lake and Eagle Lake organizations, learned first-hand the effects of combatting Starry Stonewart, which was introduced into the state four years ago at Lake Koronis and has now spread to 13 lakes, six of them in Wright County. Five of six surroundingcounties have reported infest of the weed.

 

Blaine Berkley, member of the Lake Sylvia (Wright County) lakes association and involved with the Lake Koronis battle against Starry Stonewort, spent 45 minutes with the crowd, explaining the devastating effects of an infestation that has largely reduced Koronis to an unusable body of water.

 

And of the disasterous effects on the budget to keep it under control.

 

“And what’s the risk assessment for Sherburne County?” he asked. “Boat movement.”

 

Based on DNR studies, Big Lakes’ lakes are fifth riskiest in the county to have Starry Stonewort (a 10% chance) by 2025. (Zebra mussells, a sixth riskiest chance, by 2025.)

 

Eagle Lake is expected to be the riskiest of 11 county lakes for Stonewort by 2025.

 

“But we shouldn’t give up trying,” said Barkley. “Boat inspections are working. We’re buying time for effective (chemical) controls.”

Barkley spoke of the Lake Koronis situation. 

 

“Koronis has a rather gigantic problem,” he said. “Boats are trapped on lifts. Stonewort grows from the bottom of the lake to the surface.

“If you take a bale of straw and put it in your bathtub for two-three days, then try to walk through it. You can’t.”

 

Paynesville lake associations have enlisted $750,000 in funding to help harvest the weed and apply chemicals. An area needs treatment every two to three years.

 

“You need to spend $170,000 a year for sustainability. It costs $10,000 a year to treat 1.6 acres.

 

“And stopping it, you need to be inspecting your (lake) accesses.

 

“It never stops. It’s a huge committment.”

 

Barkley pointed a finger at the Minnesota DNR for their refusal to help in the initial states of the Koronis battle. He said DNR officials put a gag order on lake supporters and wouldn’t let them speak with the media.

 

Recently, a DNR official attended a meeting about invasive species but refused to talk about actions combating invasive species, if there were any.

 

He asked local lake organizations to get more organized and do lobbying at the state legislature. “Ducks Unlimited is 100% stronger (in lobbying) than the lake groups.”

 

His last words. “Watch the landings. That’s where it comes from.”

 

 

Dan Cibulka of the county Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) spoke about Zebra mussels and the work ihis office is doing to keep them at bay.

 

The SWCD administrates an annual $69,000 grant from the Minnesota Legislature to help combat AIS, but there is a lot of competition for the money.

 

They do community education, help with boat inspections and have made awards for chemical use.

 

Zebra mussels are virulent because they infest a lake and draw the plankton out of the water; plankton that feeds microscopic organizations, which feed others on the way up the food chain to fish.

 

Mille Lacs has been noteworthy in recent years for its Zebra mussels, whose effect is to make the lake waters so clear. That’s because there is nothing in it.

 

Being on guard for infestations of Zebra mussels is the best defense, he said. They often attach to the lake obttom or hard surfaces and then proliferate, with millions of eggs from one specimen.

 

 

He reported the results of their first four-year boat inspection program in the county, with 4,718 inspections. 

 

The Big Lake and Briggs Lake Chains have had the most inspections. In 2018, Big Lake had 700 inspections; Eagle, 400; Ann and Briggs, 200 each.

 

In 97% of the inspections, the drain plug on the boat was out -- which is good. In incoming watercraft, 37 of 1,158 were found to have inspection faults.

 

Readers can reach his office for more information.