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HACKENSACK - Vowing to continue the fight against aquatic invasive species (AIS), such as zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil, by public awareness and education, the Association of Cass Country Lakes (ACCL) held its annual meeting Oct. 8 at the Hackensack Senior Center. ACCL is a coalition of 37 lakes associations in the county or sharing lakes in adjacent counties.

Members reviewed group programs, including distribution of anti-AIS information cards to bait shops, resorts and retailers that sell fishing licenses in 2010, and set goals for 2011. These include assisting forming of new lake associations and facilitating water quality testing programs. Membership this year, at 37 lake groups, is at an all-time high, up from 29 three years ago.

Officers re-elected at the annual meeting were president, Jerry Lerom (Long Lake); vice president, Al Griggs (Ten Mile Lake); secretary, John Bogard (Thunder Lake); and treasurer, Stan Kumpula (Child Lake). Elected to three-year terms on the board were Thomas Buss (Mule Lake), Gary Larson (Smokey Hollow Lake) and Allan Zahn (Mule Lake), who was re-elected.

One ACCL program in progress is developing a kit for resorts, to help combat invasive species in their lakes, and a curriculum for AIS workshops for boat and dock service handlers. Six informational meetings are held by ACCL throughout summer months, with expert speakers and panels on lake topics.

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