(Okoboji)– Informational kiosks at lakes area boat ramps have some new posters in them warning boaters of the dangers of aquatic invasive species.
The larger posters went up just in time for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend–one of the busier weekends of the season for the lakes area.
Phil Petersen of the Okoboji Protective Association and the Iowa Great Lakes Water Safety Council says the new, larger posters replace smaller ones previously on display. He says they also plan to install some permanent signs later in the summer so other messages can be rotated in the kiosks.
Petersen says the posters and signs are intended to supplement volunteer boat inspectors that will be at various boat ramps during busier weekends this summer. They’ll be checking over boats to make sure they don’t have traces of aquatic invasive species on them–things such as zebra mussels and milfoil.
Petersen adds they’ve appointed various coordinators on each of the major lakes to help schedule volunteer inspectors. More information on that is available at the Water Safety Council’s website at www.watersafetycouncil.org/aquaticinvasivespecies.
One session to train those interested in becoming volunteer AIS boat inspectors was held May 10th. Another is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Saturday, May 31st at the Arnolds Park city hall.
