Get Rid of the Weed

Fishing A Learning Experience, Pass it On.
1

Just thought some people would like to know:

Larry :smiley: —sagefisher—

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/
July 18, 2008
Contact: Sgt. Eric Anderson, (360) 902-2426

WDFW to enforce law requiring removal of aquatic plants from boats and gear

OLYMPIA - With summer in full swing, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is reminding recreational boaters that they are legally required to remove all aquatic plants from their boats and trailers before driving away from the launch ramp.

Those that fail to do so could face a $378 fine.

Washington state law makes it illegal to transport aquatic plants that may be dispersed unintentionally along roads and highways. The law, which is being enforced as of July 4 to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, especially applies to recreational boaters whose vessels and gear get entangled with plants while in the water, said Bruce Bjork, chief of WDFW’s enforcement program.

“If boaters don’t remove all plants before they leave the ramp, they can easily spread into other bodies of water when the boat is launched again or if they’re dislodged when traveling,” Bjork said. "Noxious weeds such as milfoil are typically spread to lakes on boat trailers and fishing gear.

Controlling the extensive spread of milfoil alone has cost the state millions of dollars."

Several other aquatic invasive plants such as hydrilla and Brazilian elodea are also showing up in Washington, which could cause further problems for native species and habitat, Bjork said.

“Enforcing the law is an important preventative measure in stopping their spread,” Bjork said.

To inform the boating public before the new enforcement action went into effect, WDFW officers conducted several educational patrols over the past year at boat launches throughout the state.

2

As a fishing boater I’ve always cleaned my boat in the ramp lot or ramp if not busy at the time I take out. I’ve even plugged the live well intakes for I don’t use them.
We have had several invasive weeds and Rock snot, in some small streams and river in our state and many states close to here.
I seen first hand what Zebra mussels did to Lake Michigan fishing and Lake Earie Walleye fishing. They are getting better now though and lake Eirie is Gin clear so some may say that is a good thing. We now have Zebra mussels in several of our states, a big problem for local species and water intakes for cities and power plants. I’d fish jigs and other bottom lures for small mouth on Eirie and the Zebra mussel shells were so thick on the rocks it would at times cut your lures off.
I do hope most everyone would take the time to clean the boat or waders any where they may be fishing. I doesn’t take that long.

My lines are mostly tight…sad part is it’s mostly trees and weeds… Jesse

3

Could there be ‘special spray off’ stations placed at boat launches and elsewhere(along some highways) where a boater could give his rig a shower of some herbicide to kill off stuff? Isn’t prevention cheaper than correction?
Maybe something for zebra mussels/snails etc. too? Boots and waders type places.

4

BINGO!!..But isn’t the “thing to do” being RE-active rather than PRO-active? Prevention is always cheaper than correction, BUT that would require thinking ahead & planning. How dare you suggest such a thing JC!! :wink:
Seriously, it would be nice to hear of an agency thinking ahead, but unfortunately, selling an idea for prevention before the problem becomes major is difficult at best.
Mike

5

I am not sure that we are capable of stopping things from spreading, BUT, I do feel we can do some things to help slowing it down.
Like Ohiotuber said I think some who could have made a difference but was asleep at the wheel when things could have been done. When we opened trade with Russia and some of these other countries the ships came to our sea and great lakes ports full of ballast water from where they came.
Think huge aquarium, this gave us Zebra mussel’s along with numerous other things that was present in the waters they came from. I do blame and feel like someone in our all knowing government should have seen this coming and had the ships flush there ballast before intering our waters. (Also all the oversea’s shipping containers,with bugs and whatever)
I know most people will do the right thing and do what they can given information about what to do. When we look at all the ways things spead including by birds, wind, floods and so on it seems like a mission impossible thing, but I and many of you I know will fight it anyway.
I use a spray bottle of hull cleaner that I add bleach to, to clean my boat every time I take it out. As for the Zebra mussels you have to understand that they and there eggs can survive for 10 days to 2 weeks in or on your boat, even up in the engine water jacket. This we should keep in mind when we take our boats to places we may pick these up.
I do wish our states would post at ramps or access points what invasive things are in the waters we maybe using and how best to clean or prevent it from being spread. Most states are strapped for funds and may not be able to put in cleaning stations ( a good idea) but I feel they should at least be able to at least put up a sign advising us on the matter and what we can do to keep from speading
With places like FAOL and so many other places as well as the magazines we all get, I think word is getting out how serious and wide speard an issue this is for us all. As I said it only takes a few minites of time to do our part.
This is a different issue but I’ll tell it anyway. Indiana spent over 5 million dollars draining and poisoning Boggs Creek lake a few years ago because someone released shad in it that ruined a great place to fish. 2 years after restocking and all they did to bring it back to being what it had been, someone had released shad back into the lake.(DUHH!!) The state has a several thousand dollar reward for information on who did it, I;d like to think they may find them, BUT I’d say they won’t.

It’s been said, your once a man and twice a child, and I’ve always said I wanted to live long enough to embarress my kids. I’m happy to report I’m well on the way to doing both…!! Jesse