A barrier to invasive species: Full-time landing inspection

A few lake groups have taken full charge of boat inspection at landings, leaving almost nothing to chance. In Wisconsin, for example, the Black Oak Lake Preservation Foundation posts paid boat inspectors at the lake’s only landing from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, from the fishing season opener on the first Saturday in May through mid- to late October. Black Oak, a 564-acre clear-water lake in Vilas County, just a few miles south of the Michigan border, is home to many multi-generation families with deep connections to the resource.

About 15 years ago, the lake began staffing the landing nearly full-time with volunteers, but in time they began to burn out. The group’s board then looked at the cost to remediate an invasion of a plant such as Eurasian water milfoil and decided that a full-time paid landing inspection program would be a prudent investment. The program costs about $32,000 a year on top of a $4,000 annual DNR grant.

Landing staff members are trained in boat inspection techniques and human relations skills by the Vilas County invasive species coordinator. They are paid $15 per hour plus Social Security and unemployment and workers’ compensation insurance; the payroll is managed by a private accountant. Under a program called Dollars for Hours, every property owner can choose to volunteer ten hours per season as a landing inspector or donate $100; the vast majority opt for the donation. Inspectors have a list of area lakes that have any invasive species.

The first question inspectors ask is: Where was this boat last? If it came from a lake that has no invasives, then it receives a light scan. But if it just came from a lake known to be infested, it gets a thorough inspection. For example, if the previous lake has zebra mussels or spiny water fleas, the inspectors check the live well, the bilge, the fishing lines, the anchor rope, the propeller, and any other place where those species might be sequestered. (Photo by Sandi Bates)

You can learn more about exemplary programs to control invasive species in my book, “Ripple Effects.” Find out more on the Books tab in this website.