11-24-2009, 01:35 AM
These "keep 'em out" solutions, with their good intentions, are just prolonging the inevitable. It only takes one, or a very few, "infected" boats to introduce the monsters.
At the Gorge, nearly all the boats launched are not inspected. Just put the little form in the windshield. The purpose of that little form is more to educate than enforce. It makes the less-informed more aware. I mean, if someone knows and doesn't care, they'll just lie on the form and go on from there anyway.
ALL the money and time and research should be going into finding answers about how to deal with them once they're in our waters. (and I believe that some states and agencies have or are planning to do this). Stickers and forms in windows are NOT the answer to anything though, just a delay tactic.
Like Joni said, its up to US to slow/prevent the spread. Wash your stuff! Everything.
The only other answer is something similar to what they're doing in Colorado: Closing Waters Completely unless inspectors are available. Most Colorado lakes now require a physical inspection. We don't want that (at least I don't), and it still won't keep the things out forever.
[signature]
At the Gorge, nearly all the boats launched are not inspected. Just put the little form in the windshield. The purpose of that little form is more to educate than enforce. It makes the less-informed more aware. I mean, if someone knows and doesn't care, they'll just lie on the form and go on from there anyway.
ALL the money and time and research should be going into finding answers about how to deal with them once they're in our waters. (and I believe that some states and agencies have or are planning to do this). Stickers and forms in windows are NOT the answer to anything though, just a delay tactic.
Like Joni said, its up to US to slow/prevent the spread. Wash your stuff! Everything.
The only other answer is something similar to what they're doing in Colorado: Closing Waters Completely unless inspectors are available. Most Colorado lakes now require a physical inspection. We don't want that (at least I don't), and it still won't keep the things out forever.
[signature]