Weed Worries Grow as Odds of Johnson Lake Infestation Increase


You've probably heard of Eurasian Water Milfoil and may even know about efforts to educate boaters and keep the weed out of Johnson Lake. What you may not know is just how significant the threat may be to our lake. JLPOA President Dan Young says, "this information only gives additional urgency for the work that the
Association does for the lake."

We have two items to share on this important environmental topic. The first is a recent article from the Burnett County Sentinel. Click here to read about the Eurasian Water Milfoil risk. You can be part of the solution. Simply be sure that all boats and trailers which have in other bodies of water are free from any weeds, clean and dry. Bait and fish wells should also be cleaned between outings and bilge water from one lake not dumped into another. Just a small piece of EWM can contaminate a whole body of water.

Confirming the importance of the imported environmental hazards is this information from Congress Watch in December:

A national conservation coalition today urged the federal government to take steps to help prevent the introduction and spread of "invasive" species of outside plants and insects in the United States. "(Invasive species) are among the most severe environmental problems our country faces and unfortunately our country's response has been slow and painfully inadequate," said Phyllis Windle, senior scientist for the Union of Concerned Scientists' Global Environment Program. The National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species called on Congress to speed discussion on the "National Aquatic Species Act," which proponents said would increase the ability to prevent and control damaging aquatic introductions. The bill, with a price tag of more than $160 million a year, stalled in House and Senate committees earlier this year. The group also urged President Bush to issue an executive order to allow the National Invasive Species Council to better integrate the actions of federal agencies that deal with biological invaders. Non-native species are considered the second largest threat to global biodiversity and cost the United States an estimated $137 billion each year.

Posted: Thu - January 22, 2004 at 06:57 PM      

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