Deer Lake Station
If you have family or invited or paying guests who will bring boats or recreational gear to Deer Lake this season, please ask them to decontaminate their boat and gear prior to launch in Deer Lake. Do you move your boat from Deer Lake to other lakes for fishing or recreation? Please decontaminate your boat at Deer Lake Station prior to re-launch in Deer Lake. It takes only a few minutes to protect Deer Lake. And it’s free!
Simply take your boat, or ask your family and guests to take their boat, to the Deer Lake public boat launch, rather than to a private or other launch, even your own. Our trained inspectors will determine whether the boat and gear needs decontamination, and then, if necessary, use the facilities at Deer Lake Station to perform the decontamination. It’s safe and effective and only takes a few minutes.
Almost always, new lakes and rivers are infested unwittingly. Aquatic invasives (AIS) are not moved by waterfowl or other wildlife. AIS are moved by us. We move AIS from one lake or river to another via boats, trailers, bilge, live-well, bait-container, fishing gear, docks, lifts, swim-rafts, float planes, and recreational gear. We all have a prevention role … property owners, recreational boaters, anglers, guests, visitors, and the businesses that service us, including lake service providers, marine dealers, resorts, camps, campgrounds, bait-shops, rental shops, and other similar businesses.
Thank you for your help keeping Deer Lake free from aquatic invasives.
| Help prevent spread of aquatic invasives! Deer Lake Station is a free service funded by the Deer Lake Association (DLA) and the Itasca AIS Program. The Station provides self-service tools to help boaters accomplish Clean, Drain, Dispose, and Dry as required by law. Deer Lake Station is located at the Deer Lake public access. Use the available self-service well-water and hand-tools to help clean mud, weeds, and flush standing water from boats, trailers, and recreational gear that transport zebra mussels, starry stonewort, and other aquatic invasives (AIS) from one lake or river to another. The Station includes access to cold exchange water for bait and lights to enable boaters to perform clean, drain, dispose, and dry after dark. Deer Lake Station also includes tools available only for use by Itasca AIS Program and other authorized DNR-certified professionals, including access to low-flow and high-pressure up to 140 degree decontaminating hot water. Hot-water decontaminations kill aquatic invasives and will not harm your boat. DLA is grateful to Itasca County, the Itasca AIS Program, Fideldy Bros Well Drilling, S&S Excavating, Pokegama Electric, Deer River Plumbing & Heating, and Lake County Power for their help in designing and constructing the Station. Station powered by wind energy! Please consider making a donation to help keep Station operational. Contact beautifuldeerlake@gmail.com |
