4. Information from watershed district re aquatic invasive species boat inspections
Supervisors: Louise Smallidge ▫ Bob Rosenquist ▫ Diane Blake ▫ John Rheinberger ▫ Jim Levitt
MEMORANDUM
TO: CMSCWD Board of Managers
FROM: Matt Downing, Washington Conservation District
DATE: 11/20/2017
RE: Countywide Watercraft Inspection Program
Thank you for your support of the 2017 AIS Watercraft Inspection Program. Because of your commitment
to the resources of your watershed, those of the county and state an additional 144 hours of inspections were
performed that otherwise would not have. In CMSCWD alone, 1,769 watercraft inspections were performed.
Through the inspection process, boaters were educated on how to better protect the lakes that they are using,
and steps were taken each time to ensure that invasive species were not introduced into each lake at the time
of that launch/transported away from the lake.
Attached you will find the summary of the 2017 season that was prepared for Washington County. Please
contact me if you have any questions about this or any other aspect of watercraft inspections. I look forward
to working with you in the future on prevention and management of invasive species.
Supervisors: Louise Smallidge ▫ Bob Rosenquist ▫ Diane Blake ▫ Jo hn Rheinberger ▫ Jim Levitt
AIS Inspection Summary Points 2017
The WCD supervised 6 DNR authorized Watercraft Inspectors for the 2017 season with funding from
Washington County, Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District (CMSCWD) and Valley Branch
Watershed District (VBWD). These inspectors were present at 13 county water access locations starting
May 6th through October 18th. During the inspection season 2,020 hours of inspections occurred,
resulting in 3,042 inspections occurring during this time period. Compared to 2016, roughly 200 hours
less of inspections occurred, but 200 more actual inspections were performed. The reduction in hours
performed was due to constraints with staffing and weather concerns, funding was only slightly less in
2017 than in 2016.
The number of inspections performed in 2017 was very comparable to 2016. Entering versus exiting
inspections were distributed similar to 2016 results, and were still in line with the statewide average of
60/40 towards entering. Conducting more evening inspections may move this closer to a 50/50
distribution. While steps were taken in 2017 to encourage this approach with some success, further
modifications to the program are planned in the future to achieve more exiting inspections. While there
has been more of an emphasis statewide lately on entering inspections to prevent new infestations, the
high proportion of already infested waters in close proximity or within Washington County makes exiting
inspections just as important.
Supervisors: Louise Smallidge ▫ Bob Rosenquist ▫ Diane Blake ▫ Jo hn Rheinberger ▫ Jim Levitt
The number of total drain plug violations observed in 2017 dropped again from the prior year, both in
actual number and as a percentage. On incoming inspections the rate of violation has dropped each year
of the program from 9% (2015) to 7% (2016) to 5% (2017). After three years of data collection it does
appear that this is a trend, and indicates that increased inspections and education are having a positive
impact on the behaviors of boaters in Washington County. While these data are encouraging, efforts
should continue to get results in Washington County closer to the statewide average of 4%, or perhaps
better than that average.
Of the violations where the last lake the watercraft was in was reported, 18% of them had come from
water infested with Zebra Mussels, Spiny Water Flea or Eurasian Water Milfoil. 20% of those violations
listed Big Marine as the last lake visited; greater effort should be made to increase both the number of
inspections and education of the users of that lake to reduce the likelihood of spread of AIS from that
source.
Supervisors: Louise Smallidge ▫ Bob Rosenquist ▫ Diane Blake ▫ Jo hn Rheinberger ▫ Jim Levitt
Of the 1,730 incoming inspections performed in 2017, 71 AIS violations were observed. This is a rather
drastic increase from 2016, the cause of which is not immediately apparent. However, the variability in
the people performing the inspections each year could play into this, as well as improved training
occurring in 2017 versus prior years. 60 of the 2017 violations were plants attached to the boat or
trailer attempting to launch, and were successfully removed by hand and did not enter the lake in
question. The remaining 11 violations were water present in the watercraft; all of which were directed
to completely drain before launch was allowed. These results are slightly lower than the statewide
trend for violation.
Supervisors: Louise Smallidge ▫ Bob Rosenquist ▫ Diane Blake ▫ Jo hn Rheinberger ▫ Jim Levitt
Every access scheduled had inspections performed, except for Oneka due to staffing issues once
waterfowl hunting started. Lakes in the CMSCWD received the highest proportion of inspection hours,
followed by those in the VBWD. This was both because of additional funding provided by those
organizations as well as dictated by use. Big Marine was the most inspected lake in 2017 as in years
prior. Big Carnelian was the second highest, and would have likely had even more inspections if the
landing had not been closed in September for repairs. Average number of inspections per hour of
staffing also shows that CMSCWD and VBWD lakes tend to be the highest use landings in the county.
Please note, although this summary addresses trends and data for Washington County lakes it
references only those that are serviced by the Washington Conservation District. All the lakes located in
CLFLWD have inspections performed by CLFLWD or Chisago County staff. Also, the MNDNR performs
inspections on many of the high use landings in the county, as well as being primarily responsible for the
access points on the Saint Croix River.
End-of-season Watercraft Inspection Program Report
Completing this Watercraft Inspection Program report fulfills the requirements of section 2.J of the Delegation
Agreement. Please submit an end of season report by December 31st of the current year. Please add additional
sheets if necessary.
1.When did your season run?Start Date__________ End Date_________
2.How many inspectors did you use for inspections?____________
3.If applicable, how many decontamination units did you have in operation?
4.Please record the number of hours your staff logged at each lake and access. This information can be
used to help understand inspections per hour for the state. Indicate “hours not available” if you do not
have this information. Attach a separate sheet if necessary.
Lake Name Access Name WIP Case Number Total Hours
5.Did your program encounter any unexpected issues this season? If yes, please provide a description
below. Examples include, but are not limited to: hiring, training, enforcement support, conflicts at the
access, injuries, damage, etc.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources • Ecological and Water Resources
500 Lafayette Road, Saint Paul, MN 55155
6.Do you have suggestions for improving the statewide inspection program for the future? If yes, please
provide a description below. This information may be used at annual off-season inspection meetings.
7.Are you planning on piloting any new inspection protocols or procedures next year? If yes, please
provide a description below. DNR will need to review and approve any proposed new procedures.
3/26/2018 Mail - jimshaver1@hotmail.com
https://outlook.live.com/owa/?path=/mail/inbox/rp 1/1
RE: 2017 Inspection Hours allocated per Washington County landing
Jim,
A ached is the final report to the DNR showing the approximate # of hours spent at each landing in the county in 2017. Alloca ons per
watershed/landing were as follows:
Washington Co/State
Aid(hours)
Watershed
(hours)
Washington Co/State
Aid(Dollars)
Watershed
(Dollars)
Total
(hours/Dollars)
CMSCWD 1080 144 $27,000.00 $3,600.00 1224/30600
RCWD 280 $7,000.00 280/7000
VBWD 460 200 $11,500.00 $5,000.00 660/16500
RWMWD 48 $1,200.00 48/1200
SWWD 48 $1,200.00 48/1200
The above values go to watercra inspec on costs (hourly pay and mileage). In addi on to these values, WCD allocates staff me for coordina on of
this and the other countywide AIS preven on ac vi es (WIP, EDRR, Educa on and outreach)
Let me know if you need anything else.
Ma Downing | Senior Water Resource Specialist
Washington Conserva on District
455 Hayward Avenue
Oakdale, Minnesota 55128
(651) 330-8220 ext. 29
(651) 330-7747 Fax
Ma .downing@mnwcd.org
www.mnwcd.org
From: jshaver@cmscwd.org [mailto:jshaver@cmscwd.org]
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2018 9:41 AM
To: Matt Downing
Subject: 2017 Inspection Hours allocated per Washington County landing
Ma - Can you send me some addi onal informa on showing the above with Washington County paid, WD paid, and other? Thanks. Jim
Jim Shaver, Administrator
Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix
Watershed District
office 651-433-2150 cell 651-528-3463
21150 Ozark Ave. N., Scandia, MN 55073
cmscwd.org
Matt Downing <MDowning@mnwcd.org>
Mon 3/26/2018 10:07 AM
To:jshaver@cmscwd.org <jshaver@cmscwd.org>;
Categories:jshaver@cmscwd.org
1 attachments (111 KB)
End of Season Inspection Report FINAL.pdf;