It's time to ask the governor, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources commissioner, our state senators and representatives: "How many more lakes can we allow to become infested with zebra mussels before we get really serious about stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species?"

Our current strategy of education, awareness, and occasional inspections of watercraft is not doing the job. The proof is that in the last three weeks the DNR announced that three more chains of lakes have become infested, including the beautiful Whitefish chain in Crow Wing County. Because "personal responsibility" isn't working, it's time for our state to make it easier for people to do the right thing.

We can't allow our legacy of great recreational lakes to be ruined for future generations by uninformed or uncaring actions, or by the lack of necessary state actions. Everyone has the right to use our public waters, but no one has the right to infest a lake or river.

Contrary to popular myth, waterfowl do not transport zebra mussels — people do. And contrary to popular belief, zebra mussels have no redeeming value and do nothing good for the water.

They make the water clearer, and weeds will grow at deeper depths, but in 15 to 20 years the fish food chain will be damaged. (The DNR doesn't like to talk about it, but there is a serious concern that the reduced walleye yields in Lake Mille Lacs may be directly linked to the zebra mussel infestation there several years ago.)

Inspecting every watercraft before launch is the only known way to stop the spread of the human-transferred aquatic invasive species. Inspections are not perfect, nor is decontamination, but this is our best option. This aggressive approach has kept new invasive species out of Lake Tahoe for the past five years. It's time to stop saying it can't work in Minnesota.

Our legacy of great recreational waters is screaming to be heard and protected by our state leaders. They need to listen and take aggressive actions, or they will be responsible for destroying our recreational legacy. The DNR must be responsible for results, not just for making an effort. Future generations are counting on state leaders to do the right thing.

* * *

Joe Shneider is chair of the Coalition of Minnehaha Creek Waters.