NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/644631
MARCH 2016 • NEBRASKAland 43 mussel eradication. Thus, if they did become infested, there is no proven treatment that is effective but not cost prohibitive. Extensive research is underway to find control and management options for zebra and quagga mussels in open lake systems. Education and New Stamp Ultimately, it comes down to preparation. The Commission and the Nebraska Invasive Species Program have come to know their opponent and realize that the best way to fight these invasives is to keep them out of the ring altogether. According to Zach, part of this means teaming up. Invasive mussels are easily spread by watercrafts; therefore, prevention programs working across state lines to educate the public and inspect watercrafts to prevent new infestations is imperative. Furthermore, when out-of-state boats from infested waters are destined for one of Nebraska's many water bodies, "I'll actually get an e-mail telling me that from some states with established boat inspection programs," Zach said. Instead of isolating themselves, states are working together to increase public outreach and boat inspection efforts. Fortunately for Nebraska, a formal AIS program is just what the state legislature ordered. This past March, Nebraska instituted a triennial fee for resident motorboat registration and an annual AIS Program sticker for non-resident motorboats launching in Nebraska waters. The sticker can be purchased on the Commission's website, Outdoornebraska.gov. The income raised by these fees fund an AIS program at the Commission. This is an important step which provides a permanent funding source for waterbody inspections, management, treatment and prevention efforts to protect Nebraska's waterbodies from all invasive species. The Nebraska Invasive Species Program has been conducting public outreach and boater surveys since 2010. It will continue AIS outreach and coordinate with the Commission and their new Aquatic Invasive Species Program. Public outreach is where the shoe comes in. Cramer's biggest mussel defense is education. She attends community fishing events, hands out tattoos and bobbers to kids, and conducts surveys to ascertain how to best tailor future outreach efforts. Cramer and her fellow technicians also conduct voluntary boat checks, which serve as another opportunity to spread preventative information. Protect our waterbodies by being proactive and drying watercrafts. Prior to leaving a boat ramp, drain all water out of the boat, towel dry live wells and other areas that contain water and spray with vinegar, pull boat plugs and dry the entire boat for at least 5 days between uses to kill AIS. Inspect your boat to find attached mussels or vegetation to prevent the spread of AIS. The key is to not move any water or material from one waterbody to another as it can contain organisms that no one wants moved. By preventing new waterbodies from becoming infested by AIS we are buying ourselves time to find effective treatments to eradicate and manage infestations. Learn more at the Nebraska Invasive Species Program website (www.neinvasies.com). ■ "To prevent the spread of zebra and quagga mussels, we must be proactive rather than reactive." – Allison Zach, Nebraska Invasive Species Program Coordinator