INVASIVE PLANTS!

Invasive plants are infiltrating Adirondack waters, crowding out local vegetation and destroying wilderness ecosystems!
That was a bit overdramatic, according the the Adirondack Mountain Club website: "Two out of every three waters surveyed in the Adirondacks are free of invasive species." But that does not mean that Adirondack enthusiasts should rest easy. Over the last two years there has been a problem in the Adirondack Park of invasive species clinging to motorboats, which are then put into Adirondack waters for recreational use.  These invasive plants, which include the spiny water flea and microscopic zooplankton, are easy to miss for any boater that does not make regular checks of his/her hull. The surge in invasive species has  caused officials in lake George to implement mandatory inspections of all trailered boats before they are allowed in the water. Local governments and many other organizations in the park want to see these inspections spread to all bodies of water within the blue line. While damages to ecosystems may be the most obvious consequences of the appearance of invasive species, many Adirondackers see another potential hazard in allowing boats to go unregulated.
Fred Monroe, a Warren County Supervisor, states that one of the most damaging effects of these plants is the decline that they could cause in tourism. In a surprisingly pessimistic quote to the Adirondack Almanack, Monroe stated "What were once the mainstays of the Adirondack economy, such as forestry and mining, are either gone or disappearing. What's left is tourism, which is so clearly tied to the health of the waters. If we lose the waters, we have nothing." While I hopefully believe that these invasive species would not completely decimate tourism in the Adirondacks, Monroe's quote does prompt Adirondack enthusiasts to be more aware of what is being transported into the park's waters. These plants pose a real threat both to the health of Adirondack waters and to tourism, which is why mandatory boat checks should be implemented throughout the entire Park.