Aquatic
invasive species specialists have
been conducting interviews of boaters and providing educational materials at
this popular Lake Whatcom boat launch for the past six weeks. The information
collected from these interactions provides a factual base for staff to develop
a more comprehensive aquatic invasive species prevention program for the
lake. A more detailed report of their findings will be available later
this year.
"We really appreciate the cooperation and support that
we have received from the majority of boaters launching at Bloedel
Donovan," said Teagan Ward, the City's Aquatic Invasive Species
Coordinator. "We have surveyed several boaters that have stopped at
similar check stations in Idaho and Montana and are glad to see that we are
engaging in similar efforts for Lake Whatcom."
The visual inspections have also been valuable in preventing
the introduction of a new aquatic invasive plant, Brazilian elodea, to Lake
Whatcom, confirmed Laurel Baldwin, the Whatcom County Noxious Weed Board
Coordinator. She found the weed attached to a boat that pulled up to the
Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station. "This example should serve
as a reminder to boaters of the importance of cleaning, draining, and drying
their boats between launches - especially when going from one freshwater body
to another, " she said.
While a number of the boaters surveyed are repeat users of
Lake Whatcom, Ward said that even if boaters have already been through the
survey once, they still need to stop at the check point and answer some very
brief questions. "This data will help to give us an idea of how many
repeat boaters we have using the Bloedel Donovan boat launch and whether they
are launching elsewhere before returning to Lake Whatcom."
The Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program focus has
been primarily on collecting data at the Bloedel Donovan boat launch but is
expected to expand to the other boat launches before the end of the
season.
As part of the continued education effort, Teagan Ward and
Laurel Baldwin will be giving a presentation on Aquatic Invasive Species in the
Lake Whatcom Watershed 6 -7 p.m., Thursday, September 20, at Sudden Valley
Dance Barn. For more information regarding this event, go to http://cob.org/.
Contact:
Teagan Ward, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator
Public Works Department
(360) 778-7972
teward@cob.org
Teagan Ward, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator
Public Works Department
(360) 778-7972
teward@cob.org
