Aquatic Invasive Species

Aquatic exotics in the Great Lakes Region that are making their way inland:

Where did they come from?

Most Aquatic Invasive Species are native to the Baltic Sea region and hitchhiked into the U.S. via ballast water or were released by pet owners into natural waters.

Zebra Mussels - Dreissena polymorpha

Zebra Mussels entered the Great Lakes through ballast water and have been transferred to inland lakes in recent years.

They clog water intakes, filter feed on vital phytoplankton, foul beaches, and encrust any stationary object…including native clams.

Adult mussels stick to vegetation, boats and just about anything. They can be easily transported from lake to lake.

Millions of dollars are spent annually to remove zebra mussels from public and industrial water systems.

Adults are fingernail size with light and dark stripes. The edges of their shells are very sharp and cause many problems even after they die.

Microscopic zebra mussel spawn (velligers) are easily transferred to other lakes in bilge water, bait water, scuba gear... A drop of water can hold a thousand velligers!

Zebra Mussels can live in moist areas out of the water for up to five days. A five day drying period is recommended for those who do not wash their boats as directed above. If it rains during those five days, the five day drying period starts over after the rain.

Lakes infested in Dickinson County: Lake Antoine.

Research is on-going regarding control methods for Zebra Mussels, but right now, the best control is to make sure Zebra Mussels don’t catch a ride with you!

Eurasian Water Milfoil - Myriophyllum spicatum

  • Delicate feather-like leaves.
  • Leaflets are mostly the same length
  • Leaves are usually limp when out of water
  • Leaves arranged in whorls (circles) of 3 to 5 around stem.
  • Usually 12 to 21 leaflet pairs per leaf.
  • Long spaghetti –like stems.
  • Stems may be pink in color.

Why is it a problem?

  • Non-native aquatic plant that grows rapidly and overtakes natural vegetation
  • Interrupts natural food chain of lake
  • Makes fishing, boating and swimming more difficult

How Eurasian Milfoil spreads…

Milfoil spreads by fragmentation. Pieces as small as 2” can grow, form roots and become a new plant. Therefore raking, harvesting and boat traffic causes new plants to grow and increases infestation. Eurasian Milfoil can live out of the water for 2 days, it may looked dried out and dead, but once wet again it will re-hydrate and can form a new plant.

Native Look-a-Like

Northern Water Milfoil - Myriophyllum sibericum

  • More rigid feather-like leaves
  • Leaflets form a Christmas shape, lower leaflets much longer than upper ones
  • Leaves usually stiff when out of the water
  • Leaves in whorls (circles) of 4 to 6 around stem
  • Usually 7 to 10 leaflet pairs per leaf (easiest characteristic used to differentiate the two)
  • Stem may be whitish or greenish-white in color.
Dickinson County Water Bodies infested with EWM:

  • Lake Antoine
  • Sawyer Lake
  • Bass Lake
  • Cowboy Lake
  • Carney Lake
  • Lake Mary
  • Hamilton Lake
  • Hanbury Lake
  • Norway Lake
  • Gene's Pond
  • Menominee River

Can Eurasian Milfoil be controlled?

Several Lakes in the County (Sawyer Lake, Bass Lake, Carney Lake, Hamilton Lakes, Lake Antoine) have treated their lakes to control Eurasian Milfoil. Biological control in the form of a tiny native aquatic weevil that prefers to eat Eurasian Milfoil works in lakes that have a serious infestation, proper water chemistry, few natural predators, and adequate natural shoreline. The Weevils are patented and available from EnviroScience, Inc. (www.enviroscienceinc.com). Chemical control is possible with herbicides such as 2,4-D and Flouridone, but requires a permit from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The MDEQ Aquatic Invasive Control Office can be contacted by phone (517) 241-7734 or email: deq-lwm-anc@michigan.gov. Herbicide treatment has averaged about $500 per acre and will likely need to be repeated in succeeding years. There is no government money available in Michigan for the treatment of individual lakes for aquatic invasive species. Money is typically raised through a lake association or special tax assessment district. For information on how to form a lake association, contact the Michigan Lakes & Streams Associations, Inc. www.mlswa.org

In Dickinson County there is now a Voluntary Boat Launch Fee. The proceeds of this boat launch fee will be used to treat the infestations of Eurasian Water Milfoil we have in our county lakes. Please look for the collection boxes at county launch sites. Your participation in this program is appreciated. The fee is $2.00 a day or an annual pass may be purchased for $25.00. Passes may be purchased at the County Court House (774-2573) or the Lake Antoine County Park Office (774-8875.)

To report a new sighting of Eurasian Water Milfoil or Zebra Mussels in Dickinson County, Call or bring a specimen to Dickinson Conservation District: 102 N. Hooper Street, Kingsford (906) 774-8441

Please be on the lookout for these other exotic species…

Purple Loosestrife - Lythrum salicaria

Invades ditches and wetlands. Violet-purple flower spikes in late summer can release thousands of seeds each.

Control within first 2 years is easiest. Manually digging roots, removing flower heads, and herbicide are control options.

Purple Loosestrife spotted in Dickinson County: Along M-95 North of Channing, MI. Also near Hamilton Lakes Chain in Waucedah Township. A biological control program was begun in the summer of 2007 using Galerucella Beetles. Some 1500 beetles were released at the Channing site this year in hopes that they will reproduce there and become a long-term solution.

To report a new sighting of Purple Loosestrife in Dickinson County, call or bring a specimen to the Dickinson Conservation District: 102 N. Hooper Street, Kingsford (906) 774-8441.


Waterfleas - These organisms encrust fishing line.

  • Bythotrephes cederstroemi (BC)
  • Daphnia lumholtzi (Lumholtzi waterflea)
  • Cercopagis pengoi (Fishhook waterflea)
    •

Common Characteristics

  • 1/4 to 5/8 inch in total length
  • Prominent dark tiny eye spot
  • Clumps look and feel like gelatin or cotton batting with dark spots
  • Prefer deep lakes, but may establish in shallow water bodies as well
Rusty Crayfish - Orconectes rusticus

  • Can grow to 6+” long, have two red spots on carapace
  • Can replace most native crayfish
  • Reproduce at a higher rate than native crayfish
  • Over-eat certain plants

Exotic fish species…

  • Eurasian Ruffe - Gymnocephalus cernuus
    • Sharp spiny fin with rows of dark spots
    • Gill covered with many spines
    • Very slimy when handled
    • Usually less than 6 inches long
  • Round Goby - Neogobius melanostomus
    • Body molted with black to brown spots
    • Single scallop-shaped pelvic fin
    • Thick lips and raised frog-like eyes
    • Usually 3-6 inches long, may be as great as 10 inches
Click to enlarge
  • Tubenose Goby - Proterorhinus marmoratus
    • Body molted with black to brown spots
    • Long anterior nostrils
    • Yet to become as widespread as the Round Goby
    • Rarely exceed 4-1/5 inches in length
  • Rainbow Smelt - Osmerus mordax
    • Silvery with pale green back; iridescent purple, blue and pink on sides
    • 7-9 inches in length
    • Prefer cool dark waters
    • Initially introduced as food for stocked salmon and quickly spread throughout the great lakes


Curly-Leaf Pondweed - Potamogeto crispus

  • Usually grows in lake water 3-10 feet deep
  • Wavy leaves with fine-toothed edges
  • Usually peaks near Memorial Day and dies back by the Fourth of July



Hydrilla verticillata

  • 4-5 leaves per node (a)
  • Leaves have visible teeth (b)
  • Leaf vein has small spines (c)





Native Look-a-Like

Elodea

  • Only three leaves at each node (a)
  • Leaf edges appear smooth (b)
  • Leaf vein is smooth underneath (c)







Sea Lamprey - Petromyzon marinus

  • 12-20 inches in length
  • Aggressive parasite that latch onto prey and feed on blood
  • Eel-like body





Quagga Mussels - Dreissena bugensis

  • A cousin to the zebra mussel
  • Light tan to white, with stripes or blotches
  • Prefers sandy and silt covered bottoms
  • Has the potential to invade inland lakes just like the zebra mussel did





Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia

  • Disease that effects fish and has recently been found in the Great lakes Region
  • Can be transmitted through urine, feces and reproductive fluids if fish
  • Not hazardous to humans, humans cannot contract this disease from eating fish or swimming in water where the disease is present
  • Some signs are bleeding, bulging eyes, bloated abdomens and unusual behavior - these symptoms of multiple diseases and VHS must be confirmed through laboratory tests
  • To stop the spread you should: 1) not move live fish from one location to another; 2) drain all water from your boat, trailer, containers, and fishing equipment including bait buckets and collers; and 3) report fish kills to your local fisheries biologist or conservation district (note date, lake, and location, but do not collect a sample)
  • If you catch a suspicious fish, put it in a plastic bag and on ice in a cooler, contact your local fisheries biologist, DNR office or conservation district for further instructions



MI DNR Breifing on VHS

MI increases bait regulation in response to VHS

WI DNR VHS Information

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