LANSING — State Rep. Rachel Hood (D-Grand Rapids) introduced House Resolution 136 today to declare June 30 through July 7, 2019 as Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week in the state of Michigan. Though the state has taken significant steps to protect lakes and rivers from invasive species, over 180 nonindigenous aquatic species have taken residence in the Great Lakes basin, displacing native species, disrupting habitats and costing millions of dollars in control efforts annually. The resolution passed unanimously.
“Our state and its economy are defined by the Great Lakes and depend on its great abundance of fresh water for manufacturing, fishing, clean drinking water, agriculture and more,” said Hood. “Preventing the introduction of aquatic invasive species ultimately benefits Michigan by eliminating the need for costly methods to control and manage them. This resolution provides us an opportunity to join with business, industry, environmental groups, community organizations and citizens to protect our most precious natural resource.”
In recent years, the state has taken efforts to block the introduction of aquatic invasive species by placing a number of restrictions on the most common means of entry including ballast water, canals and waterways, trade, boating and angling. Hood hopes that her resolution will encourage everyone to learn more about what they can do to stop the spread of invasive species and lead to a concerted effort to preserve Michigan’s lakes and rivers for generations to come.
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