Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association

With growing concern for stopping the spread of zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species (AIS), Minnesota Inboard is now providing a d…

via AIS decontamination station opens in Excelsior – Savage Pacer: Southwestnews.

Zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species “aren’t waiting for us to get organized,” according to Joe Shneider, who outlined a $2.4 mill…

via Lake coalition pushes for 100 percent boat inspections – Chaska Herald: News.

On Thursday August 9th 2012, the Coalition of Minnehaha Creek Waters (CMCW of which the LMPA is a member ) will present a very broad Aquatic Invasive Species prevention proposal to the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District’s Board of Managers. The Board will be asked to support the proposal and the necessary funding for it in their 2013 budget. All concerned citizens are urged to attend this meeting to listen to the proposal and voice their opinion. The detailled proposal is attached for information.
Start Time:    6:45 p.m.
Date:August 9, 2012 Meeting will be held at the Freshwater Society at 2500 Shadywood Rd, Orono, MN 55331.

CMCW 2013 AIS Prevention Plan v1 8 1 (2)

From the Chanhassen Villager

By Richard Crawford editor@chanvillager.com | 0 comments
Boat inspectors at Lake Minnewashta Regional Park in Chanhassen have kept zebra mussels from entering Lake Minnewashta on two separate occasions in the past week.
According to reports, inspector Elizabeth Gruenhagen stopped a boat from entering the lake July 31 after identifying what was believed to be a zebra mussel on a boat trailer.
The ski/wake boat was attempting to enter the lake at the county’s public access during the afternoon shift.
“Almost immediately into the inspection (the inspector) found what she originally thought was a leaf, but upon further examination was certain it was a zebra mussel,” according to county reports.
The boater was coming from Gull Lake, which is known to be infested with zebra mussels. The boater was turned away and advised to decontaminate the boat.
The sample was collected and sent to the DNR for confirmation.
Sam Pertz, of the Carver County Parks Department, notified the County Board on Aug. 7 that a second incident occurred this week, involving a boater coming from Lake Minnetonka. Pertz said in the second incident the zebra mussel was found on the boat’s prop.
Carver County is providing funding for inspection programs at Lake Minnewashta, Lake Waconia, Lake Bavaria and Reitz and Hydes lakes.
The city of Chanhassen began an inspection program this season at Lake Ann, Lake Susan and Lotus Lake.
Zebra mussels have been identified in about 90 lakes in Minnesota, including Lake Minnetonka and Prior Lake.

NOTE: Inspection costs at the Lake Minnewashta Regional Park are being split with Carver County by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. The Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association also has provided funds and outreach/educational volunteers. …steve gunther

A boat inspector at Lake Minnewashta Regional Park in Chanhassen may have kept a boat from transporting a zebra mussel into Lake Minnewashta t…

via Zebra mussel apparently kept out of Lake Minnewashta – Chanhassen Villager: News.

According to Sam Pertz, the acting Parks Coordinator at the Minnewashta Regional Park, the boater had been out of the water for more than 5 days and had been previously in Gull Lake. The inspector and the boater handled the situation very professionally.  The parks employee gave the boater a temporary authorization to travel and directed him to a local decontamination station. DNR employees are following up with the boater to ensure that he followed the decontamination recommendation. Excellent work by everyone involved and a potential zebra mussel infestation avoided.