Hennepin County is home to more than 200 lakes, 640 miles of streams, three major rivers, 45,000 acres of wetlands and 50 public water accesses. But those same resources are vulnerable to aquatic invasive species (AIS), which can damage ecosystems, disrupt recreation, and be costly to manage.
AIS often spread with human help. A single plant fragment or organism transported on boats, docks, or gear can start an infestation. These species can also be introduced when aquarium contents are dumped into local waterways.
Preventing the spread of AIS requires help from everyone—boaters, anglers, paddlers, lakeshore residents, and aquarium owners. That’s why Hennepin County encourages residents to take the Lake Pledge, a commitment to protecting local waters.
Before leaving any body of water:
- clean your watercraft by removing plants, animals, and mud
- drain all water equipment, including bait containers and live wells
- dry everything thoroughly
- dispose of unwanted bait in the trash or a designated disposal area
- lower your boat motor or run your personal watercraft engine for a few seconds to remove any remaining water
If your boat has been in a lake for 24 hours or more, visit a decontamination station before entering another lake. Hot water decontamination stations are available in Hennepin County through the Three Rivers Park District and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
To learn more and take the Lake Pledge, visit https://lakepledge.com/.
For additional information on Golden Valley’s water resources and how you can help protect them, visit the City website.
Illustration credit: Rachel Dunlap. Species pictured include purple loostrife, goldfish, common carp, flowering rush, curly-leaf pondweed, spiny waterflea, zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, mystery snail.