OutdoorNebraska

OutdoorNebraska.gov | 27 • If washing the boat away from the water body you are leaving, do not allow runoff to enter a drainage. Control your runoff. • Dry boat and all equipment for at least five days. Use a towel to speed up the process. • AIS inspectors are present at several Nebraska water bodies from May to October to ensure compliance with Game and Parks regulations. • Visit stopaquatichitchhikers.org for more information on procedures and AIS on watercraft. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING ... REPORT THESE OFFENDERS! EURASIAN WATERMILFOIL Eurasian watermilfoil is an invasive aquatic plant that reproduces primarily through fragmentation, meaning only a tiny piece of the plant is needed to grow an entirely new plant. It is spread through boaters not following Clean, Drain, and Dry procedures between water bodies. This plant outcompetes other plants, resulting in near total lake coverage. Eurasian watermilfoil looks like our native species, with four leaves around a single stem, but contains 12-plus leaflets per side on each leaf. It is unlawful to transport aquatic vegetation between water bodies. If you encounter Eurasian watermilfoil at any location not listed below, contact the Game and Parks Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager immediately. List of Water Bodies That Contain Eurasian Watermilfoil – Populations of Eurasian watermilfoil are present in these Nebraska waters: Louisville No. 2, Louisville No. 2A, Louisville No. 3, Prairie Queen, Wagon Train, Flanagan, Walnut Creek, Two Rivers No. 5, Smith Lake WMA, Walgren Lake, Carter Lake, Cottonwood, Swanson Reservoir, Rock Creek Lake, Box Butte, Bassway Strip, Birdwood, Crystal (Lincoln County), Hershey WMA, North Platte I-80, East Hershey, Lewis and Clark, Lake Yankton, Cottonmill, and Bufflehead. WHITE PERCH White perch are native to the East Coast and look very similar to white bass. Once established, this species has the ability to overwhelm an entire fishery, often resulting in the need to eliminate the entire fish population in an infested lake. White perch also consume eggs of several fish species, including white bass and walleye. Because white perch look similar to white bass, anglers have mistaken the species and moved them to other water bodies around the state. Never release any aquatic organism into a water body where it did not originate. It is illegal to possess or transport any live white perch. List of Water Bodies That Contain White Perch – Populations of white perch are present in these Nebraska waters: Rockford, Branched Oak, Pawnee, Holmes, Bowling, Wildwood, Prairie Queen, Zorinsky, Bluestem, Neligh Park Pond (West Point), Fremont Lakes SRA, and various Platte River sandpits.

• Cover