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Governor Jennifer Granholm has proclaimed June 7-13, 2004, as the second
annual Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week in Michigan to encourage people
to find ways to prevent the spread and introduction of aquatic invasive species
in our waters. The Department of Environmental Quality's Office of the
Great Lakes (OGL) is sponsoring Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness with
collaborative efforts from other state and federal agencies as well as private
and nonprofit organizations.
A special focus of this year's AIS Awareness Week is the potential threat
to our waters posed by hydrilla, an aggressive, aquatic plant. So
far, biologists have found no evidence of hydrilla in Michigan's shallow Great
Lakes bays or 11,000 inland lakes and thousands of miles of streams.
However, the level of concern for ecological damage and economic harm to
Michigan's water resources has increased due to the fact that hydrilla is now
known to exist in two Great Lakes states, Pennsylvania and New York. You
can find out how to join the hydrilla hunt by visiting www.miseagrant.umich.edu/ans.
For more information about AIS week check out www.michigan.gov/deqaquaticinvasives
or contact the Office of the Great Lakes at 517-335-4056.
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