Dennis Anderson: Lake group seeing red over Green

SPICER, MINN.

Ann Latham is the second generation of her family to live on Green Lake, which on most summer days ripples alongside this small west-central Minnesota town like a sparkling jewel. Long popular for its clear water and park-like surroundings, Green is a prime destination in this part of Minnesota for all things fun on the water -- wakeboarding to sunset cruising, walleye trolling to swimming.

But the lake's serene ambiance belies an agitation that is boiling over among many of its property owners, not the least Latham, who worry that Green might someday become infested with zebra mussels or other aquatic invasive species.

"We're doing what we can locally to fight that possibility, and we won't give up," Latham said. "But we're stuck with a statewide invasive-species prevention program that doesn't work, and until it does, what we do here won't be enough."

Latham's anger -- and it is that -- is being echoed throughout Minnesota, from fellow lakeshore owners on Green Lake to those up north, on Leech Lake, Detroit Lakes and elsewhere. Those in and around the Twin Cities also are fighting the possible spread of zebra mussels from Lake Minnetonka and other waters.

An obvious fear is that properties might lose value if zebra mussels are found in a lake. Equally worrisome is the prospect that hundreds, if not thousands, of zebra mussels will attach themselves to docks, rafts and outboard motors, diminishing the "at the lake" experience.

"Most important is the ecological damage to the lake that zebra mussels do," Latham said. "The fishery changes, the recreational use is shot, everything changes."

Frustrated by what some around Green Lake describe as the too-slow pace of the Department of Natural Resources in battling invasive species, an advocacy group here has spent tens of thousands of dollars in recent years to slow the spread of Eurasian water milfoil in the lake and to argue in the Legislature for tougher invasive species laws.

"This year we spent nearly $25,000 to hire a lobbyist at the Legislature and $16,000 to fight milfoil," said Terry Frazee, a retired school superintendent who is executive secretary of the Green Lake Property Owners Association.

So intent are Green Lake residents on preserving the lake that 620 of 850 property owners belong to the group Frazee leads.

"Generally, we think the law that was passed by the Legislature this year is good, and one that gives the DNR authority to do much more than it has," Latham said. "But so far we're not seeing implementation of the law."

Minnesota's primary aquatic nuisance until recently was water milfoil, which is widespread throughout the state. Though zebra mussels are well established in Mille Lacs and some other popular lakes, it wasn't until former DNR fisheries biologist Dick Sternberg gave a PowerPoint presentation at the DNR Roundtable in January about the threat these and another invasive species -- quagga mussels -- pose to Minnesota lakes that demands for action intensified.

"We're the ones who contracted with Dick [Sternberg] to give us research about zebra mussels and tell us what has happened to lakes in the eastern U.S. that became infested," Latham said. "We wanted a source of information other than what we were getting from the DNR. We thought it was important and were glad that Dick presented it to the roundtable."

Officials in the DNR charged with leading the state's invasive species program say they've been hamstrung until recently by too little money, too few people and a lack of legislative support for a more aggressive effort. That changed somewhat this past session, when lawmakers -- some prodded to action by Sternberg's presentation, as well as intense citizen pressure statewide -- passed a bill signed by Gov. Mark Dayton that increases penalties for boaters who transport invasive species, increases the number of inspectors at boat landings and provides funding for equipment purchases, such as portable boat-decontamination machines.

Latham and Frazee say far more is required, and unless much more aggressive actions are taken by the DNR, the invasive species fight is doomed.

Latham argues, with Frazee and others, that because "only" 54 Minnesota lakes and rivers are infested with zebra mussels, a containment strategy requiring decontamination of high-risk boats on those waters should be implemented.

Additionally, decontamination should be required of tournament fishing boats before they're launched in noninfested lakes, Frazee said.

"We already do that with our own [property owners association] power washers, working with local fishing clubs," Frazee said. "We're not against other people coming to Green Lake. But we want to do everything we can to make sure boats that come here aren't carrying invasive species."

Minnesota has about 800,000 boats, many of which are trailered regularly from lake to lake. Nonresidents also bring boats to Minnesota. Such mobility, some in the DNR believe, argues against the possibility that the spread of invasive species can be checked completely.

Green Lake alone, for example, has six public accesses at which boat owners can come and go freely.

Latham is undeterred.

"We can stop the spread of zebra mussels," she said. "They've stopped them in some western states, and we can do it here, too.

"It's imperative that the DNR and citizens establish the resolve and the programs to get it done. If not, our water resources will be decimated."

Dennis Anderson • danderson@startribune.com