The 1854 Treaty Authority has joined the "Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers" caimpaign to help prevent the spread of invasives into the 1854 ceded territory.

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are non-native plants, animals and pathogens that live primarily in water, thrive in their new environment and can cause economic loss, environmental damage, and possible harm to human health. 

Many AIS were unintentionally released, arriving in ballast water and through a variety of other human activities.  Freed from predators and other competitors from their native place of origin, AIS can out-compete native species with their typically high rates of reproduction, survival and spread.  Eradicating is usually very costly and in most cases often not effective.

Public awareness and actions are essential to preventing AIS spread. 

Several simple rules can help prevent their spread:

Inspect all watercraft, trailers, and water-related equipment.  Remove any visible aquatic plants, animals and debris

Drain Water from boat, livewell, bilge, impellor, bait containers, and other equipment holding water before leaving the water access.  If you want to keep your live bait after draining bait containers, you must replace water in the container with tap or spring water.

Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.  It is illegal to release live bait into a waterbody or to release aquatic from one waterbody to another.

  

 Infested waterbodies within the 1854 Ceded Territory

Eurasian Milfoil:  Chub Lake, Sturgeon Lake, Gilbert Pit Lake and Horseshoe Lake

New Zealand Mud Snail:   St. Louis River, downstream of the Fond du Lac Dam, Lake Superior

Round Goby:  St. Louis River, downstream of the Fond du Lac Dam, Lake Superior and tributaries to Lake Superior

Ruffe:  St. Louis River, downstream of the Fond du Lac Dam, Lake Superior and tributaries to Lake Superior

Spiny Water Flea:  Caribou Lake, Devil Track Lake, Flour Lake, Greenwood Lake, Gunflint Lake, Little John Lake, McFarland Lake, North Fowl Lake, Pine Lake, Pigeon River downstream of South Fowl Lake, Royal Lake, Royal River between Little John and North Fowl Lakes, Lake Saganaga, South Fowl Lake, Ash River downstream of section line of Section 8, Township 68 North, Range 18 West, Burntside Lake, Burntside River between Burntside Lake and Shagawa Lake, Crane Lake, Dead River, East Twin Lake, Fish Lake, Island Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Lac La Croix, Little Vermillion Lake, Loon Lake, Namakan Lake, Rainy Lake, Sand Point Lake, West Twin Lake, Lake Superior, Cloquet River from Island Lake to the St. Louis River, St. Louis River downstream of the Cloquet River.

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS):  St. Louis River downstream of Fond du Lac dam, Lake Superior and tributaries to Lake Superior

White Perch:  St. Louis River, downstream of the Fond du Lac Dam, Lake Superior and tributaries to Lake Superior

Zebra Mussels:  Pike Lake, Mud Lake, White Pine River, St. Louis River, downstream of White Pine River, Lake Superior and tributaries to Lake Superior