News Release

Aquatic Invasive Species Boat Inspections to Begin in May

Date: May 26, 2020
Contact: Tawnya Schoewe

Spiny water fleas can be found in many Minnesota lakes including the 4 main lakes of Voyageurs National Park.

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN: Starting the week of May 18, 2020, and continuing through the open-water season, Koochiching County Environmental Services and Koochiching and North St. Louis County Soil and Water Conservation Districts will have Aquatic Invasive Species inspectors checking boats and trailers at various public boat ramps on Rainy, Kabetogama, and Crane Lakes. Voyageurs National Park and Voyageurs National Park Association are partnering with Koochiching and St. Louis Counties and other public agencies on Aquatic Invasive Species prevention efforts. Agencies request visitors to park lakes follow Aquatic Invasive Species regulations and Clean, Drain, Dry recommendations to help keep these wonderful lakes free of additional aquatic invasive species.

For more information, please visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Invasive Species regulations webpage (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/laws.html) and the Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers Clean, Drain, Dry webpage (https://stopaquatichitchhikers.org/aboutus/#cleandraindry). For invasive species regulations specific to Voyageurs National Park’s smaller backcountry interior lakes (not including Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, Sand Point), please visit the park’s aquatic invasive species webpage (https://www.nps.gov/voya/learn/nature/aquatic-invasive-species.htm).