Compared with other states, North Dakota has yet to see a big invasion of aquatic nuisance species. But officials are not letting their guard down, and to protect regional lakes, they ask boaters to pitch in with key cleaning steps.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department says because of its location, North Dakota has largely been shielded from nonnative plants, insects and other organisms infesting its waterways as they have in coastal areas and the Great Lakes region.

Ben Holen, the department's aquatic nuisance species or ANS coordinator, said the southeastern part of the state has seen activity, namely with zebra mussels.

"Zebra mussels, they're manipulators of the ecosystem. They completely cover docks," he explained. "They clog water intakes. They push nutrients to the bottom, which increases vegetation growth out there."

That's bad news for native species, as well as economic activity from water recreation. As North Dakotans prepare their boats for the summer, they're asked to memorize key steps for each outing. Those include cleaning, draining and drying all equipment after every use, with a focus on removing all plants or animals from the watercraft prior to leaving the site. Doing so means these tiny creatures won't find their way to the next lake.

While his department does its mitigation work, Holen said, boat owners are being given tools to aid in their responsibility. Each year, boat-cleaning stations are being set up at access points to various North Dakota lakes.

"We've been looking to provide more and more each year for boaters, so it's never been easier for boaters to get cleaned, drained, dry at the boating access," he continued.

Holen said if boaters are not eager to help out, they could feel an economic pinch later through tax increases and higher water bills if state and local agencies have to clean or replace infrastructure damaged by an infestation.


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North Dakota is facing growing opposition to two massive dairy operations planned near the Red River. Environmental advocates say the projects could harm water quality locally and in downstream communities - including Lake Winnipeg in Canada.

Madeline Luke, a volunteer with the Dakota Resource Council, said farms proposed in Trail County and Abercrombie would accommodate more than 37,000 animals. She said she believes the massive operations would generate waste on a scale the state has never seen.

"These dairies are situated within a mile and a half of the Red River," she said. "Any water pollution that occurs will go straight into the river and end up in Lake Winnipeg. Lake Winnipeg has been labeled the most endangered lake in the world."

North Dakota's anti-corporate farming law, which once limited large-scale livestock operations, was weakened in 2021, opening the door to more industrial agriculture across the state.

James Beddome, executive director of the Manitoba Eco-Network, said cross-border collaboration is essential, since manure runoff from North Dakota could feed algae blooms in one of Canada's largest lakes.

"Sixty football fields worth of manure slurry, and both of these operations are within one and a half miles of the Red River," he said. "The Red River then connects to Lake Winnipeg. What they're doing there is going to have impacts to us downstream here in Manitoba."

Opponents have argued that the mega-dairies threaten local water, public health and small farms, warning that decisions made in North Dakota could have international consequences. Groups on both sides of the border are urging stricter oversight before permits are finalized.

The Mississippi River tops a new list of America's most endangered rivers, in part because federal officials propose shifting flood disaster costs to states.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's acting chief advocates moving recovery responsibilities to state governments.

Eileen Shader, senior director of flood plain restoration for the advocacy group American Rivers, which issued the report, warned it could destabilize flood protections for communities along the Mississippi.

"The Trump administration has called for FEMA to be dramatically changed, if not eliminated," Shader pointed out. "We thought it was really important to highlight the importance of FEMA and the federal role in managing disasters like flooding to our local communities."

The 2025 Most Endangered Rivers report noted it is the Mississippi's 13th appearance on the list, citing the river's history of "catastrophic floods," which have shaped national disaster policies.

FEMA has historically followed what can be described as a "locally executed, state-managed, federally supported" disaster model. Shader argued the partnership is critical for multistate crises.

"Especially we see really catastrophic events, we see national disasters declared, which opens up a lot of federal funding which can then flow to states and local communities to help them to recover and to become more resilient in the future," Shader emphasized. "It's a shared responsibility."

About 20 million people depend on the Mississippi River for drinking water, agriculture and wildlife habitat, which advocates say are all at risk if FEMA reduces flood response support this summer.


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Memorial Day weekend is the start of recreational boating season in Minnesota. State officials are encouraged by recent trends in keeping people safe on the lakes, and they hope pending permit requirements spur more awareness.

If you plan to take your watercraft out this weekend, the Department of Natural Resources reminds you to have enough life jackets on board and make sure everyone is wearing them. Be mindful of the wakes your boat creates, so paddlers and swimmers aren't overtaken by them.

Lisa Dugan, the DNR's recreation safety outreach coordinator, said boating-related fatalities have been historically low the past two seasons.

"Hopefully," she said, "it's a sign that just the safety behavior on boats is becoming more common."

Dugan said now is also a good time to get ready for a new state law that begins July 1. It'll require both adults and youths who operate motorboats to have a valid watercraft operator's permit. There are some exemptions, but in addition to a fee, the law includes a boater safety course and exam. More details are on the DNR's website.

A lot of sunshine is forecast for Minnesota this weekend, but Dugan warned that because the state is coming off a cool and rainy period, lake temperatures haven't caught up yet.

"Making safety part of your planning before you go out, and dressing in layers," she said. "Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature, with the cold water."

While coasting along a lake or river, Dugan also warned boaters to look out for debris left by recent rainstorms. She noted water levels could be a little higher, leading to faster currents. Not only does that make it harder to steer the watercraft in certain situations, but it's also harder to see any hazards below the surface.



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