By Staff
Our area draws many who come to enjoy our many bodies of water for fishing, swimming and other recreation.
Unfortunately, our waterways and beautiful shorelines are being threatened by invasive species.
In Cass County, one individual has taken it upon herself to help raise awareness of this potential tragedy.
Ginger Luxenberger of Cassopolis, a Diamond Lake resident, has attended meeting after meeting throughout the past few years, encouraging governmental bodies to do everything in their power to not let the lakes be lost.
Like Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who declared May 22-28, Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week, Luxenberger knows we all must join the fight.
To help boaters know to not bring weeds and other invaders into different waters, Luxenberger secured money to purchase signs to be posted at boat launchings in Cass County.
We applaud her singular efforts and are glad her cry is finally being heard.
A new invader, hydrilla, an invasive aquatic plant, was found last year only 50 miles from the Michigan-Indiana border.
This plant creates dense, thick mats impenetrable to boaters and swimmers and is extremely costly and difficult to control.
The Great Lakes are also threatened by non-native fish, such as the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus.
Though it doesn't harm humans, other fish are dying where it has been found.
Those who take their boats and recreational water vehicles from one lake to another need to be careful.
All watercrafts should be inspected before leaving a lake for vegetation which may have been attached.
Live wells should be drained, unused bait disposed of in the trash and areas which hold water cleaned.
Also, you can volunteer to join Luxenberger and other volunteers who physically pull up invasive weeds and dispose of them properly.