Laws and Safety Equipment

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THE ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

Exotic species, those not native to the region, have caused "biological pollution" to Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes since the 1800s. Subsequent to European settlement, well over 100 exotic aquatic organisms have become established in the Great Lakes. More than one-third of these exotic species have been introduced in the past 30 years, a major increase coinciding with the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Many exotic species pose an economic or ecological threat to Lake Michigan and other waters of Indiana and neighboring states. Harmful exotic species associated with our waters are sometimes called aquatic nuisance species. Examples of aquatic nuisance species include several fish (gobies, ruffes, sea lampreys, alewives, white perch, and common carp); mollusks and crustaceans (zebra mussels, rusty crayfish, and spiny water fleas); and plants (Eurasian water milfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, and purple loosestrife).

Zebra mussels have proven particularly costly to the natural aquatic environment of the Great Lakes and surrounding waterways. Already well established in Lake Michigan, zebra mussels colonize and clog water intakes. Millions of dollars are expended annually in an effort to remove the mussels and keep intakes open. Zebra mussels may also replace native species of mollusks and are suspected of contributing to the great decline in yellow perch populations experienced in recent years.

Boaters can play an important role in the control of the spread of zebra mussels and other aquatic nuisance species. Zebra mussels may be unintentionally transported from one lake or stream to another by the movement of boats containing a life form of the zebra mussel. Adult zebra mussels can be transported to new areas by hitchhiking on watercrafts. They can attach to boats and trailers, and survive for a week or more out of the water. The larvae will drift with the currents and can be transported in the water as well. In fact, the mussels can be found in a bilge, bait bucket, ballast water, live well, and engine cooling units.

In December 1996, the Indiana Natural Resources Commission adopted a Zebra Mussel Containment Policy. The policy promotes precautionary steps to be taken by boaters to reduce the likelihood zebra mussels will infest inland lakes and streams in Indiana and in neighboring states. Recreational boaters can slow or stop the spread of zebra mussels by taking a few simple precautions.

• Inspect your boat, trailer, or engine or any area that comes in contact with water, which is infested with zebra mussels.
• Dispose of mussels properly in the trash. Do not leave them at the water's edge because that may hasten the spread of the mussel.
• Do not transport baitfish or water from any area to other waters. You may be transporting the invisible larval stages.
• Leave your boat out of the water for at least 10 days. Mussels cannot usually live long without water.
• Because larval mussels can survive for about a month in areas that contain trapped water, it is important to flush the motor and other water-retaining areas of your boat with a chlorine solution. You should also clean your boat, motor, trailer, bait bucket and live well with a salt solution (1/2 cup of salt per gallon of water, 100 oF) or a bleach solution (one part bleach/10 parts water) if the boat has been operated in infested waters. High-pressure washing can also dislodge mussels from hidden areas.
• Keep an eye on your boat's temperature gauge. A hot-running engine may indicate your cooling system is infested. Zebra mussels can damage your boat equipment by fouling the cooling system.

LAKE & RIVER ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

The Division of Soil Conservation’s Lake and River Enhancement Program (LARE) was developed in 1989 to ensure the continued viability of public-access lakes and streams. The program’s initial goal was to utilize a watershed approach to reduce non-point source sediment and nutrient pollution of Indiana’s surface water to a level that meets or surpasses state water quality standards.

The 2003 Indiana General Assembly enacted House Enrolled Act 1336 which will increase the LARE fee paid by registered boat owners. The increase in fees will provide funding for the Division of Soil Conservation to also remove sediment and control exotic or invasive plant or animal species.

In addition, one-third of these fees will provide funding for the Law Enforcement Division to establish additional marine enforcement patrols on Indiana lakes and rivers. A portion of these funds may also be available for counties with supplemental law enforcement marine patrols.

The LARE fee is set forth by the value of the boat when new.