An ordinance that would help control the spread of invasive species in the Glen lakes is being proposed by the Glen Lake Association..

The Glen Arbor Township Board has supported the proposal which would make it illegal to transport any non-native invasive species of aquatic plants or organism on or in watercraft entering the Glen Lake/Crystal River Watershed.

“Last summer, we had some boaters who were adamant that their boats didn’t need to be washed,” lake association President Sarah Litch said. “An ordinance would put some teeth in our program.”

Glen Lake and nearby lakes in the watershed are still relatively free of most invasive non-native species. The exception to this is the zebra mussel, which was first discovered in the lake in 2003. Zebra mussels attach to most hard submerged surfaces, including boats and reproduce. The mussels consume much of the plant plankton on which other species feed, reducing it as a food source.

In reaction to the discovery, the association established a boat washing station at the Department of Natural Resources launch site off Day Forest Road. There, attendants ask permission to spray the exterior of vessels; blow out the motor and empty bilge and live wells, to prevent the spread of non-native species.

The ordinance would take this effort one step further by requiring all boats entering bodies of water within the watershed (Big and Little Glen, Brooks and Fisher Lakes as well as the Crystal River, to go through the inspection process before launching. This would apply to all vessels which have been out of the water for less than 10 days.

“This involves about 10 road ends and three marinas,” Litch said.

Although hopeful that the ordinance could be approved and implemented for the upcoming boating season, Litch is realistic.

“It still has to be reviewed by Empire Township, and Dick Figura, attorney for both Empire and Glen Arbor Townships,” she said.

The DNR has expressed interest in the proposal, but no formal action — in support or opposition — has been taken. Litch is scheduled to appear before the County Road Commission next month to present the proposal which includes placement of signs at road ending at the public roads which are often used to access the water by boat. The signs would explain the ordinance, the importance of keeping invasive species (plant and animal) out of the lakes and direct boaters to use the Day Forest Road launch site. Placement of portable “wash” system at specific sites is also being investigated.

If adopted, the Glen Lake regulations could be used as a model for the entire state, which is surrounded by the Great Lakes and has some `11,000 inland lakes. Similar ordinances have been adopted in Iowa and Maine

“We’re relatively free on invasive, non-native species,” said Fitch, adding that the lake association hires a water ecologist to monitor 250 sites on the Glen Lakes. “But, all it takes is one (exposure) to bring devastation to the lake and the watershed.”

For example, she pointed to Lake Manitou, in northern Indiana, where the quick-growing hydrilla has created thick dense vegetation and choked off boating and swimming. Now lake use is limited to only those who own or rent pier space. Boats launch on Lake Manitou must remain for the season unless they’re sold or in need of repair.

One only need look to the shoreline of Lake Michigan to see the affects of invasive species in northern Michigan. Not only are zebra mussels sharp and potentially hazardous to swimmers and young children playing in the water, their feces feeds aquatic plants and the algae “Cladophora”.

“As the masses of this increase and form mats of growth near the shoreline of the lake, they can harbor e.botulism which can cause dead in sea birds,” Litch said. “These were the gulls discovered dead on the shore last fall within the National Park.”

Likewise, the regulation prohibits the dumping of bait and/or water from other lakes as well as aquariums.

Violation of the proposed ordinance is considered a civil infraction and can result in fines from $500 to $1,000.

“It only takes a small piece of just one plant or one microscopic organism to infest our entire lake,” Litch said.