Invasive species law aims to educate boaters

Invasive species law aims to educate boaters

    SCHUYLER COUNTY—The Schuyler County Legislature has approved a law to slow the spread of invasive species into Seneca Lake.
    The law makes it a violation for any individual to enter or leave a boat launch facility in Schuyler County while their watercraft is contaminated by aquatic invasive species. Sheriff Bill Yessman said the intent of the law is not to go around giving people fines (which the department can do), but spread more awareness about invasive species. Yessman said if an officer sees a boat come out of a launch with plants hanging off of it, the officer will tell the boat owner to remove the plants away from the lake.
    Yessman said plants like the hydrilla can spread fast and easily. He explained a boat’s propeller just needs to cut a hydrilla plant into pieces and each part is capable of growing into a new plant, even when transported to another lake. Hydrilla can grow an estimated six to eight inches per day. While the law concerns all invasive species, hydrilla is a current problem. It was located in the Cayuga Lake inlet.
    “It’s not just a local concern,” said Yessman.
    He said after Florida did nothing about hydrilla, the state now spends over $30 million a year on the invasive species. He added Tompkins County will need to spend $1 million a year for eight years in order to try and remove the hydrilla from Cayuga Lake.
    “It’s an expensive local burden. The only way to get that is raise taxes,” said Yessman.
    That is why the new Schuyler County law was created. Yessman explained the law is meant primarily to inform people about the threat of invasive species. Signs will be put up at the boat launches within the county telling people to check their boats for plants hanging off of the vessel. Yessman said officers will be on the look out for just that and give verbal warnings to remove any plants.
    Yessman said if a person is blatantly ignoring the officer, argumentative, or a repeat offender, there are fines ranging from $500 to $5,000. He added in the extreme case, there is a possibility of 15 days in jail. He said if someone does get a fine, they will receive a summons for the violation. Yessman compared to a speeding ticket.
    He added that boating is popular among the Finger Lakes and could lead to the spread of any invasive species, not just hydrilla. Yessman said boaters jump from lake to lake in weekend fishing tournaments and are just some of the people who need to check their boats for plants. He added recreational boaters and sportsmen want to protect the lakes, so should comply with the law.
    “I hope other counties surrounding Schuyler adopt similar laws,” said Yessman.