A tent was set up by the basin’s East End Boat Launch to educate visitors on ways they can help stop the introduction and spread of the destructive non-native plants and animals.

Certain species crowd out native ones, disrupt lake ecosystems and interfere with fishing, boating and other types of recreation.

And their presence isn’t always obvious.

Take Eurasian watermilfoil, for example. The state of Michigan website mentions the emergent plant, noting it has yellow or reddish flowers on a spike and sits only from 2 to 4 inches above the water line. However, it forms large mats of floating vegetation that shade out native plants and hinder recreational activities.

George Sedlacek, of Negaunee, brings in his boat from the Dead River Basin East End Boat Launch in Negaunee Township, the site of this year's Landing Blitz. The July 7 event was hosted by the Upper Peninsula Power Co. and the Central Upper Peninsula Cooperative Weed Management Area to bring awareness to boaters, anglers and others about stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species. (Journal photo by Christie Bleck)

Eurasian watermilfoil also isn’t a valuable waterfowl food source and could interfere with fish predation, plus it can clog residential or industrial water intakes.

Not exactly the type of aquatic plant you want flourishing.

Eradicating species like this from the Great Lakes and their waterways was the reason behind the event, which was hosted by the Upper Peninsula Power Co. and the Central Upper Peninsula Cooperative Weed Management Area.

UPPCO Chief Executive Officer Jim Larsen explained why the company was part of Landing Blitz.

“We have seven hydro facilities through the U.P., and as part of our license, and really just our environmental stewardship, we work with the DNR and other government agencies to really protect the environment and maintain the environment to its best state,” Larsen said.

UPPCO operates a hydroelectric reservoir connected with the Hoist Project on the Dead River system. That area was the site of the Landing Blitz.

Is this reservoir plagued with invasives?

“No, but that’s the point, why we’re getting the word out — is to prevent that from happening here,” Larsen said. “As part of our normal routine, we actually perform monitoring and testing out there to make sure it doesn’t come.

“And when it does come, then we can take some action. We’ll get the proper agencies involved.”

---

UPPCO aquatic invasive species monitoring efforts for Eurasian watermilfoil include:

• a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license requirement to monitor;

• monitoring all project basins on a three-year rotation;

• using existing defined monitoring transects, which are 36 feet long and are monitored in four 12-foot intervals;

• monitoring in half-meter depth intervals down to 3 meters, or about 15 feet; and

• submitting reports to stakeholder agencies and FERC.

Purple loosestrife is another problematic invasive. Although it’s an attractive wildflower, it can choke out wetlands like marshes.

UPPCO’s monitoring effects for this plant include:

• a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license requirement to monitor;

• monitoring at all basins annually;

• monitoring via meandering shoreline surveys; and

• submitting annual reports to stakeholder agencies and FERC.

---

Katie Holm, CUPCWMA area leader, stressed the importance of cleaning, draining and drying a boat after it leaves the water.

That applies even to areas like the U.P., which is far from major population centers. Although the U.P. is more rural than many regions, it still isn’t immune from invasive species.

“They think because we’re so far up in the United States we don’t have that problem, but we do,” Holm said.

Funding for combating aquatic invasive species is being provided in part with funds from the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program through the Michigan Departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, and Agriculture and Rural Development.

Funding also comes from the Environmental Protection Agency through Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants to the Marquette County and Alger conservation districts.

The Landing Blitz in Negaunee Township was one of many such events held at boat landings throughout Michigan July 1-10 as part of Michigan’s annual Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.

---

What you can do

MARQUETTE — Michigan boaters and anglers can help stop the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species like water hyacinth and European frogbit.

Once established in a body of water, it can be difficult and expensive to eradicate species like zebra mussels.

Here are a few recommendations:

• clean boats, trailers and equipment, using a hose or power washer when available;

• drain live wells, bilges and all water, and disinfect live wells and bilges with a solution consisting of ¢ cup bleach to 5 gallons of water when possible;

• dry boats and equipment; and

• dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.

Follow the law to avoid a state civil infraction and being fined by:

• not launching a watercraft or placing trailer in the water if aquatic plants are attached;

• not releasing unused bait into the water; and

• not transporting water over land in live wells and bilges.

For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/invasivespecies.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

• Daily Newsletter
• Breaking News
• Obituaries

Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper *

• Yes
• No