(Wahpeton)– Concern is mounting over invasive species and keeping them out of the Iowa Great Lakes.
Eurasian Milfoil has infested a number of lakes in Minnesota, including some as close as the Twin Cities. Zebra Mussels have been found as close as Clear Lake. That’s causing alarm among local officials who are trying to keep those things from infesting the Iowa Great Lakes.
Phil Petersen of the Iowa Great Lakes Water Safety Council says educating the public on the dangers remains at the top of their agenda. To that end, Petersen says they’ll be holding a special program later this month in the Waitt Building at Lakeside Lab on West Lake Okoboji. Kim Bogenschutz, DNR aquatic invasive species coordinator, will be the guest speaker at the May 23rd program. It begins at 7:00 p.m. and the public is urged to attend.
When it comes to keeping unwanted plants and critters out of the Iowa Great Lakes, Petersen says they’ll have some additional resources available this summer. He says there will be twice as many DNR Lake Patrol officers as in the past. Historically there have been five officers. Petersen says the DNR will add three more officers with another three officers coming from the agency’s Invasive Species Program, for a total of 11 officers.
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