AIS Annual Updates
Introduction to the Cass County AIS Report
In 2014, the state legislature passed a county tax bill that provides funds for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention. Each year, $10 million is to be provided to Minnesota counties to support AIS prevention programs where each county manages their own program.
The Cass County Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program has been in place since 2015 and funds watercraft inspections at many of the county’s lakes. In 2020 over 120,000 inspections and 54,000 inspection hours were completed throughout Cass County.
At our lakes, inspectors spent 520 hours at Little Boy and 224 hours at Wabedo. The WLBCR Lakes Association is an active partner with Cass County on AIS prevention. To learn more about the Cass County AIS Program and what’s being done to preserve the quality of the county’s lakes, click on the links below:
2021 Cass County AIS Program Report
2020 Cass County AIS Program Report
2020 Cass County AIS Program Reports specific to Little Boy and Wabedo.
2019 Cass County AIS Program Report
For more information about the WLBCR Lakes Association AIS plan: WLBCR AIS Plan 2020 v2
AIS Watercraft Inspections
2024 Notes:
We remain in the “medium” risk category.
Inspection days were down slightly with 6 fewer days in 2024.
500 fewer inspection hours available even though the inspection budget increased by $12,000.
By strategically staffing each lake access to avoid periods of low use, they were able to actually see an increase in the number of inspections over 2023 total.
Cost of inspectors increased by $2/hour due to competition for summer employees and the new Minnesota Paid Family Leave act.
2023 Note:
Wabedo & Little Boy are in the “medium” risk category for allocating inspector hours. All lakes in that category receive 300 hours.
April 2020 Update - Cass County AIS Plan Updated
The Cass County Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention and Management Plan has been approved by the county board on March 3rd, 2020. Here’s the link: Cass County AIS Management Plan (updated 2022)
November 2019 Update - AIS Infestations Near Us
The MN DNR has confirmed zebra mussel larvae (veligers) in a water sample taken from Ten Mile Lake near Hackensack. While no adult or juvenile zebra mussels have yet been reported, the number of veligers indicates a reproducing population. Consequently, Ten Mile Lake will be added to the infested waters list for zebra mussels. Earlier this summer Hand Lake was also confirmed to be infested with zebra mussels. For more information about infested waters in Minnesota: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ais/infested.html. More information is available at mndnr.gov/ais.
Your WLBCR Lakes Association will continue to promote the “Clean, Drain, Dispose” steps that are always legally required on all water bodies, and we will work with the DNR and Cass County to provide current information to our members. Let’s continue to be diligent with taking necessary precautions to prevent AIS from entering our lakes. If you think you may have found some aquatic invasive species, please contact Cindy Gackle, 612-751-7921 or Randy Noecker, 319-533-8032, and we will contact the DNR AIS Specialist for our region.
2019 Update - Prevention and Managment is Key
Good News
Our lakes are clean, and no AIS infestation has been found.
Zebra mussel genome has been identified by researchers at MAISRC (MN AIS Research Center)
2019 legislature approved an AIS fee increase on a 3-year boat registration. Effective 7/1/2016 fees increased from $5 to $10.60. This is the first increase since 1993. This will significantly enhance DNR’s
AIS Prevention and Management
Cass County Watercraft Inspection for both Little Boy and Wabedo began on fishing opener weekend, May 11th . This program is managed by Levy Bergstrom, AIS Lake Technician for Cass County Environmental Services Department (ESD)/Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Both lakes are covered on most weekends throughout this lake season. Read the Cass County Annual AIS report http://www.co.cass.mn.us/2019%20AIS%20Program%20Report_final.pdf.
Potential AIS infestation twice this season by the inspectors: curly leaf pondweed and water that hadn’t yet been drained from a boat that had just been in Lake Michigan. Considering that there are more days of the week that aren’t covered by inspectors, the potential is real.
Cass County still needs watercraft inspectors for the season. Both Level I and II positions available. If interested, contact: Penmac Staffing Services, Inc. in Brainerd – Rachel Hanson, 218-824-9675, rachel.hanson@penmac.com
AIS Detector volunteers completed training on June 7th through MAISRC (MN AIS Research Center):
Gayl and Randy Hohbein and Bob Krahn, all from Wabedo. Thank You!
Summary of 2018 Watercraft Inspections:
Cass County covered 102 days of inspections with 21,808 inspections:
LITTLE BOY WABEDO
Total inspection days 40 23
Total inspections 630 184
Total inspections hours 367.75 216.25
Inspections/day 15.75 8
AIS monies spent $7,568.70 $4,450.43
WLBCR Current Projects
Lakes Association AIS Plan was updated and approved May 2020.
AIS towels were distributed during Annual Meeting and watercraft inspectors distribute for AIS prevention reminders.
PVC Zebra Mussel “detectors” at public accesses of both Little Boy and Wabedo Lakes, Little Boy Resort and Diamond Crest Resort, and 5 private docks.
Decontamination station maps and AIS education handout are stocked at both lake access kiosks.
Funding AIS Prevention and Remediation
In 2012 we established a dedicated fund for AIS prevention and remediation. This fund will be used to prevent AIS from entering our lakes or will be used to eradicate or manage AIS if it does get into our lakes. You will be asked to donate to this fund when you renew your membership or you can send a check to WLBCR Lakes Assoc, PO Box 133, Longville, MN 56655 and indicate the check is for the AIS Fund.
2012 Update - AIS Prevention and Remediation Fund Established
In 2012 we established a dedicated fund for AIS prevention and remediation. This fund will be used to prevent AIS from entering our lakes or will be used to eradicate or manage AIS if it does get into our lakes. You will be asked to donate to this fund when you renew your membership or you can send a check to WLBCR Lakes Assoc, PO Box 133, Longville, MN 56655 and indicate the check is for the AIS Fund.
2011 Update - DNR Boat Inspectors Trained
In 2011 the AIS committee scheduled DNR training of 17 boat inspector volunteers. These people spend time at the public accesses (normally on weekends) and discuss AIS with boaters entering and leaving our lakes. They also inspect the boats for presence of AIS and talk about the new AIS laws and how they affect boaters and fisherman.
Our lake association takes the issue of invasive species very seriously. Zebra mussels appear to be the most serious threat we face today. Once they are in a lake, there is no known method to control or contain them. The only way to stop them is to not let them into our lakes.
Here are links to a couple videos that discuss the zebra mussel issue in the Great Lakes:
TV segments (produced by Wildlife Forever)
You Tube Video (created by Great Lakes Restoration Initiative)
2010 Update - WLBRC Establishes New AIS Committee
In 2010 we created a new committee headed by Randy Helland that deals with Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). This first year was very successful.
Additional signs were placed at the two public accesses on Little Boy and Wabedo Lakes as well as the resorts that instructed the boat owner on how to prepare the boat before and after putting it in the water. Signs were also placed dealing with AIS and also showing the "Sensitive Shoreline" areas.
We invited Darrin Hoverson of the Minnesota DNR to a Board meeting to discuss AIS. Dick Sternberg of Little Boy Lake and former DNR did a presentation on zebra mussels at our annual meeting. Doug Schultz of the Walker DNR came and trained our Beach Captains.
Property owners volunteered to be Beach Captains. These Captains each took a section of shoreline and looked for AIS in the near-shore areas of their assigned sections. These shoreline checks are performed in late August when the vegetation is at its peak growth.