Protect our Lake




On this page you will find information about Aquatic Invasive Species and efforts to keep them out of Long Lake including information on our watercraft inspection program and where to find the Hubbard County Decontamination Station. You can all ahead for an appointment at the Decontamination Station by dialing 218-252-6738.

We hope you will check out all of the links; they contain a wealth of information.

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Click on this link to listen to the Q & A with Nicole Kovar about Zebra Mussels in Long Lake


√  Help Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers

If you are a water recreationist (boater, angler, water-skier, sailor, jet ski user or canoeist) there are some important things you can do to prevent the transport of harmful invasive species from one lake or river to another.  In Minnesota it is illegal to transport aquatic invasive species.

Tips for Water Recreationists to Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers
  • Inspect and remove aquatic plants and animals before entering/leaving access and drain water before leaving access.
  • Dispose of unwanted live bait in the trash, not in the water or on land, then spray, rinse or dry boats.
  • Learn to Identify Aquatic Invasive Species. (Zebra mussels, Spiny waterfleas, and Invasive plants such as Purple loosestrife)
  • Save a suspected invasive plant or animal in a sealed plastic bag.
  • Report location of suspected invasive species to the MN DNR Invasive Species Specialist Nicole Kovar at 218-616-8102.
  • Visit:  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/index.html
Know the Rules
  • Do not transport aquatic plants, zebra mussels, other prohibited invasive species.
  • Do not launch a boat or place a trailer in the water if it has aquatic plants, zebra mussels or other prohibited invasive species attached.
  • Do not transport water from infested waters (bilge, live well, bait buckets, etc.)
  • Use TIP line to report violations:  1-800-652-9093.
  • Transporting invasive species in Minnesota is subject to a $250 civil penalty, launching is subject to $500 to $1000 civil penalties.
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√  AIS Slide Presentation

To view the slide presentation from the 2014 annual meeting click on this link and scroll:
Jeff Bjorkman's 2014 AIS Slideshow
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√  Three Excellent Videos on Impact and Concerns about Zebra & Quagga Mussels
  1. Minnesota Waters at Risk
  2. Don't Move a Mussel 2011
  3. Inspection and Decontamination 2011
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√  Looking for Microscopic Larvae (Veliger Monitoring)

Female zebra mussels can produce up to 1 million eggs per year.  Fertilized eggs develop into microscopic, free-living larvae (called veligers) after about 3 to 5 days and are free-swimming for up to a month.  Optimal temperature for larval development is 68-72 F.  Dispersal of larvae is normally passive by being carried downstream with the flow.  Zebra mussel veligers are microscopic and are not visible to the naked eye.  Veliger monitoring involves field collection from a boat using a plankton net and then laboratory identification by a trained professional.

The LLAA Water Quality Monitoring Team has been testing for the presence of zebra mussel veligers (larvae) the past two years typically in July and August and sometimes September depending on the water temperature.  NO zebra mussel veligers have been present in our Long Lake samples.  Monitoring a non-infested lake allows for early detection if the lake becomes infested.  This early detection of zebra mussel veligers can prevent spread to other water bodies.

On each sampling date, lake water which has been filtered through the special plankton net and may contain veliger samples is collected in one composite sample bottle from 3 specific locations on the lake.  A special plankton net purchased by LLAA is used which is very fine mesh (64-micron).  The preservative 91% Isopropyl Alcohol is used for the composite sample.  The RMB Environmental Laboratories has helped determine the best 3 sampling locations on Long Lake taking into account prevailing winds and lake topography.  The sampling protocol was determined by RMBEL and MN DNR and other resources.  Training on the testing protocol was provided by RMBEL and coordinated by the Hubbard County Soil and Water Conservation District for the interested Hubbard County Coalition of Lake Associations Water Quality Monitoring teams the past 2 summers.  The analysis of the composite bottle for LLAA by RMBEL currently costs $90.
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√  Watercraft Inspection Statistics for 2017 and Forward
    (Watercraft Inspection Reports, provided by Hubbard County Environmental Services, are located online by year.  Both Long Lake North Access and South Access detailed statistics are contained within these reports.)
√  2016 Watercraft Inspection Statistics
√  2015 Watercraft Inspection Statistics
√  2014 Watercraft Inspection Statistics

This information is provided by program manager, Nate Sitz, (Hubbard County Soil and Water Conservation District) and includes the year's charts/statistics.
√  2013 Watercraft Inspection Program Statistics

This is a summary of information from program manager, Nate Sitz, Water Quality/Resource Specialist at the Hubbard County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), for the Long Lake 2013 Watercraft Inspection/Education Program.  Statistics are combined from both the north and the south accesses.

In the 2013 season we conducted 1468 inspections with 1039 hours of inspections.  Our inspection rate was 1.41 inspections per hour.  Our first day was 5/11/13 and we conducted inspections through 9/29/13.  Of our 1468 inspections 793 were entering and 671 were exiting.  Of the 793 entering boats 13 had vegetation attached, 49 had the drain plug in, and 22 had water in the boat.

Follow this link to review the 2013 details and charts for Boats Enter from Infested Waters, Boats Entering from Out of State, Inspections by Time of Day, Inspections per Week, Watercraft Type, Half Hourly Inspection Rate, Daily Inspection Rate, and Monthly Inspection Rate:
√  2012 Inspection Program Statistics

Here are some highlights from the Hubbard SWCD statistics for the Long Lake AIS Watercraft Inspection Program at the two primary accesses for the Summer Season of 2012. The total number of boats inspected was 1310 representing 19 different states.  These inspections are really meant to be training opportunities for boaters.  We touched over 1300 boaters and trained them on best practices to prevent the spread of AIS.  For example, the individuals were coached to use a sponge where water in the boat was evident and then to later bleach the sponge.  This will prevent zebra mussel veligers in standing water from entering the lake.  Hopefully, the educational inspection process helped these boaters and their guests to understand even better the MN Aquatic Invasive Species Laws and why they are so important for our healthy Long Lake.  

Long - North Access:
  • Vehicles from 9 different States used the Long - North access
  • For the notation "Check Drain Plug, Water in Boat = Yes", there were 3 MN on Exit and 2 MN on Enter
  • For the notation "Drain Plug Out When Arrived = No", there were 2 MN
  • 517 boats on Long N in total were examined in 461 hours.  17 had attached vegetation:  7 on Entering (non-AIS) and 10 on Exiting
Long - South Access:
  • Vehicles from 19 different States used the Long - South access
  • For the notation "Check Drain Plug, Water in Boat = Yes", there were 3 MN on Exit and 5 MN, 1 AZ, 1 IL on Enter
  • For the notation "Drain Plug Out When Arrived = No", there were 18 MN, 1 WI, 1 IL
  • 793 boats on Long S in total were examined in 477 hours.  8 had attached vegetation:  2 on Entering (non-AIS) and 6 on Exiting