Zeebs, milfoil…..who’s to blame

I see on the news at 10 last night that Minnetonka has an advisory against swimming and in-water activities because of a water-borne disease. Several people have fallen ill after swimming in one general area of the lake. Some of the comments leaned towards getting infection if the nasty water got injested or was allowed to contact open wounds and scratches. Didn’t sound like swimmer’s itch. I wonder who will be to blame for this now? Its seems that every time something falls off the norm the blame gets shuffled to the anglers of the state, but stuff like this near always have a problem that starts on the shoreline….maybe someone has a leaking septic system? Maybe a leaking serwer line? Maybe too much fertilizer too close to the water? Nah….those residents don’t do anything wrong. Gotta be the zeebs or the milfoil and we all know who brought them there. Damn ducks.

I may be wrong but I believe wildlife(birds) are to blame just as much as anglers are… Yes we can do our part to slow the process but I don’t believe there is any stopping it!! We will just have to live with the fact that regs will continue to press us to do more and more. If we are sportsman and would like future generations to enjoy just as we have we will do what we have too. And I am a firm believer that some people that own lakeshore property are more of an invasive species that all the others.. Just my opinion.

They said it was due to e-coli, which is from but not limited to human waste, primarily, or other sewage wastes… people need to use the restrooms before going out on the water. All was explained it on that news report… They also suggested to shower before going into the water, not doing your business in the water, and/or if you’re sick, to not go into the water.

I heard the eColi levels were found highest near Big Island where a lot of big boats pull up on shore or over night. I would think a lot of those boats have sewage systems that get dumped. Can you imagine what that bay was like after the 4th of July?

Yep. Rich people dont get rich by spending their money on frivolous things like proper sewage disposal. Good to hear they are now swimming in their own filth.

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I may be wrong but I believe wildlife(birds) are to blame just as much as anglers are…

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I disagree with this. Not to say it can’t happen, but in general this is a small impact in most cases. My argument is, why would all the most popular lakes have AIS before all others almost every time?

I do agree stopping it is near impossible.

Many of the smaller lakes are infected…. nobody cares other than the shoreline owner, so you don’t hear it… that’s why. Thousands flock to the “big” lakes you speak of, so guess what the story is about

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Many of the smaller lakes are infected…. nobody cares other than the shoreline owner, so you don’t hear it… that’s why. Thousands flock to the “big” lakes you speak of, so guess what the story is about

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I’ve watched the infected lakes section of the regs grow for ten years. That is simply not true. Look over the list for spiny water flea. It can’t be a coincidence that 95% of the lakes on there are the most popular lakes in the state.

Infected lakes

Minnetonka
It’s a great place to visit, but don’t drink the water

So you are saying, they test every lake every year ? Hardly.

And Mille Lacs is the only lake in the county with Eurasion Milfoil….

I have to disagree Matt (of course, right?). Looks like a lot of small creeks and ditches.

That being said, they spread both ways. And they will continue to spread both ways whether they demonize fishermen or not.