Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Thursday, July 24, 2008
Do something about ocean ships bringing invasive species
A recent study shows that the 57 invasive species that have been dumped in the Great Lakes by oceangoing ships has cost the United States about $2 billion every 10 years.
And that number does not even include whatever economic damage Canada has faced, nor does it include any damage to inland lakes.
While the most well known of the invasive species is the zebra mussel, which has attached itself in large numbers to boats and locks and dams in the Mississippi River, there are plenty of other species that have entered the Great Lakes and eventually inland lakes and rivers.
It’s a real crisis, and something needs to be done about it.
There are several options.
The most drastic would be to ban oceangoing vessels in the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway, which is jointly owned by the United States and Canada.
U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., has suggested a total ban if nothing else is done.
“These shippers should know that we’ll do what it takes to protect the Great Lakes, and nothing should be completely taken off the table.”
Since the species enter the Great Lakes when the large ships empty their ballast tanks, it makes sense to have new laws that require shippers to flush those tanks with sea water before entering the St. Lawrence Seaway. That’s a recommendation of the St. Lawrence Seaway Develop-ment Corp.
Unfortunately, bills that would require ballast flushing have not been able to pass in Congress. They should.
Another option, supported by Feingold, would be to require oceangoing ship operators to install treatment systems to kill unwanted organisms in their ballast tanks.
Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has a series of proposals to increase enforcement on these issues. Those include proposed new requirements to drain all water from boats, boat trailers, equipment and containers on their removal from the water, along with restrictions on transport of boats, trailers and equipment with aquatic plants or animals attached.
A series of hearings around the state will address those issues. The La Crosse area hearing is at 1 p.m. Aug. 19 in Rooms B19 and B20 of the State Office Building, 3550 Mormon Coulee Road, La Crosse.
Whatever happens — at whatever level of government — this is a crucial issue that needs to be addressed, preferably by Congress.
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