Reports about "alien sightings" began filtering out of Minnesota in the late 1980's. However, these "aliens," while little and green, were not visitors from another planet. The sightings concerned an aquatic plant showing up in lakes in the Twin Cities area. The initial response to these reports was one of guarded optimism. Sometimes it is the case with exotic species that original fears never fully materialize. This was not to be the case however, with this new arrival. Within several years, the plant had rapidly spread to many of the lakes in the metropolitan area. Even more bothersome was the fact that it had begun to spread to areas outside of the Twin Cities. As the number of reports of new infestations continued to increase, concern began to grow in Iowa.

The focus of the concern was Eurasian watermilfoil, an exotic aquatic weed native to Europe and Asia. Since its arrival in the United States almost 50 years ago in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay area, the plant has now moved steadily westward and is now found in forty states and three Canadian provinces. It presently exists Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri nd is also common in the Mississippi River including the portion bordering Iowa. Eurasian watermilfoil was first discovered in Iowa in 1993 in Crystal Lake in Hancock county.

After introduction into waterbodies, Eurasian watermilfoil typically establishes Dense stands which by midsummer reach the surface of the water and create heavy mats of vegetation. These mats severely restrict boating, water-skiing, sailing, fishing, and other forms of aquatic recreation. Eurasian watermilfoil also displaces native aquatic vegetation, thereby reducing species diversity and the ecological stability of a body of water. While milfoil may provide good fish habitat in certain instances, its dense growth habits generally have a negative impact on fisheries.

As word spread about milfoil, worry began to spread among Iowans. This was especially true in northwest Iowa, where lakeshore homeowners and members of the local lake protective associations began to ask what could be done to protect the Iowa Great Lakes.

What started out as a general concern about this potential problem became a focused effort to take action. In 1996, legislation was passed making it illegal to transport milfoil on a public road, place a trailer or launch a watercraft with milfoil attached in public waters, or operate a watercraft in a marked milfoil area. Violators are fined a $100 penalty.

The law requires the DNR to idenitfy bodies of water with infestations and post signs alerting boaters. According to the law, the DNR may prohibit boating, fishing, swimming, and trapping in infested bodies of water.

The legislation also requires the DNR to prepare a long-term statewide Eurasian watermilfoil plan. Consequently, on July 1, 1996 the Iowa Eurasian Watermilfoil program began. Since then, an number of activities and projects have been implemented in three primary areas -- public awareness and education, boat access monitoring, and aquatic vegetation monitoring.

Public awareness and educational activities have included presentation to lake associations and civic groups, signage of boat ramps in the northwestern Iowa lakes, development and distribution of information brochures, billboards to be displayed throughout the state during the 1997 boating season, and preparation of numberous press releases and news articles.

A total of 340 hours resulted in the inspection of 3206 boats and 7835 personal contacts with boaters in 1996. Boat accesses were monitored between the 4th of July and Labor Day weekends in the Iowa Great Lakes area as well as at Clear Lake, Storm Lake, and Lost Island Lake. During that time, three boats were found to be infected with Eurasian watermilfoil. These included a Wisconsin sailboat inspected at Clear Lake, an Iowa boat inspected at West Okoboji Lake, and a wave runner inspected at Storm Lake. Both Iowa watercraft had been used on infested lakes in Minnesota.

Between July 1 and October 31 last year, 91 lakes were surveyed for milfoil. Species lists of existing aquatic vegeation were prepared which will serve as a baseline data for future monitoring activities. During these monitoring activities, milfoil was discovered in Snyder Bend Lake in Woodbury county.

Herbicide application equipment to treat new infestations has been purchased, a priority ranking system for Iowa lakes has been completed and a comprehensive management plan has been prepared. Future activities include posting more signs, developing an informational slide program for the pblic and preparing reference manuals for individuals interested in this exotic species.

While these activities represent a starting point, much remains to be done. Results of boat access and aquatic vegetation monitoring during last year's boating season suggests milfoil will continue to be a problem in Iowa. Only through the cooperation of all Iowa boaters and anglers can the DNR effectively manage and control the spread of the plant.

--article by Gary Phillips, from the Iowa Conservationist