Slowing the Spread – Our AIS Efforts are Working

In 2014 Minnesota started allocating funds to Counties for efforts to control Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). That funding has made a major contribution to reducing the spread of AIS across Minnesota. Since the County AIS funding came online the rate of new infestations in Minnesota has declined by almost 50%. 

Looking at AIS of all types the peak of new infestations was 2012 through 2014 with an average of 93 lakes being listed as infested in each of those years. In the most recent three years of 2021 through 2023 we saw an average of only 56 lakes listed as newly infested in each of those years. There has been a trend of fewer infestations each year for the past five years and in 2023 only 42 lakes were listed down from the peak of 118 new infestations in 2012.
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Looking specifically at zebra mussels the story is even better. The peak of zebra mussel infestations in Minnesota was 2014 with 67 lakes listed that year as newly infested. Since then the rate of new zebra mussel infestations has dramatically dropped with only 28 lakes being listed in 2023. In Cass County only 13 lakes with public accesses have been listed as zebra mussel infested out of the 103 lakes with public accesses. Only 12.6% of publicly accessible lakes in Cass County are infested with zebra mussels.   
Through the efforts of local groups and individual water users we have made a dramatic change in the spread of AIS across Minnesota. We have shown that by working together to implement AIS inspections, education, and outreach we can reduce the spread of AIS across Minnesota. The rate of AIS spread across Minnesota is a function of the behavior of each of us individually. Let’s all commit to continue reducing the spread of AIS and redouble our efforts to preserve Minnesota’s lakes for future generations.