Boat Checks for Invasive Species
Lake Vermilion Boat Check Program Began in 2005
In May 2005, the Sportsmen's Club hosted invasive species boat inspection training for 50 people in the parking lot of the Tower DNR facility. Ms. Heidi Wolf, DNR representative from St. Paul, using a boat on a trailer, explained how to look for invasive species in a manner that would not be threatening to the owner/operator. That was the start of our aggressive boat inspection program.
Since that time, the club volunteers have inspected boats at public ramps on each major holiday. Only once have we found a sprig of Eurasian watermilfoil on a boat trailer. We have been fortunate, since many boats visiting Lake Vermilion have come from Minnetonka, Mille Lacs, Superior, the Mississippi and several other Twin Cities lakes where Eurasian watermilfoil is abundant.
Summary of 2007 - 2010 "Invasive Species" Boat Check Results
A total of 1114 boats (and their trailers) were checked as they were entering or exiting Lake Vermilion during the busy weekends shown below. Never did we run into a boat captain who was too busy to chat or didn't share our concern for the invasive species threat to our lake.
We are pleased to report that no invasive species
were found on any boat or trailer in 2007 - 2010. The Sportsmen's Club
expresses thanks to our Lake Vermilion visitors for being so diligent.
| Boat Ramp | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Hoodoo Point | 147 | 107 | 88 | 76 |
| Moccasin Point & Black Duck Bay | 113 | 53 | 42 | 76 |
| The Landing | 81 | 46 | 94 | 42 |
| Timbuktu | 48 | 36 | 65 | |
| Total - All Ramps | 389 | 242 | 289 | 194 |
| Boat Ramp | Fishing Opener Weekend | Memorial Day Weekend | July 4th Holiday Period | Labor Day Weekend |
| Hoodoo Point | 34 | 22 | ||
| Moccasin Point & Black Duck Bay | 42 | 23 | ||
| Everett Bay | ||||
| The Landing | 42 | 9 | ||
| Timbuktu | 15 | 21 | ||
| Peterson's Landing | ||||
| Total - All Ramps | 133 | 75 |
Boat Check Ramp Coordinators and Volunteers
Over 75 volunteers staffed boat ramps in the last four
years.
We appreciate their assistance. If you'd like to help us do even more in 2011, please contact the
Ramp Captain of the boat ramp nearest you or overall
activity coordinator
Bob Wilson [contact
info].
| Ramp Captain | Boat Ramps |
| Bob Wilson [contact info] | Hoodoo Point, Moccasin Point, Black Duck Bay, Everett Bay |
| Gary Whitenack [contact info] | The Landing, Peterson's Landing |
| John Zwieg [contact info] | Timbuktu |