A new volunteer effort is underway to establish boat disinfection stations at state boat launch sites to help slow the spread of a deadly fish disease, the Department of Natural Resources said today.

The effort will establish disinfection stations at boat launches around the state to slow the spread of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) in Michigan waters. The citizen volunteer initiative is being led by Jack Hartmann of Eagle Harbor and the Michigan Lakes and Streams Associations.

"In order to be effective in reducing the risk from VHS, we need the public involved, and these stations are an excellent way to engage our boaters and anglers," said DNR Director Rebecca Humphries.

The effort, guided by DNR staff, has led to the development of a clear set of instructions on how to establish disinfection stations away from boat launch ramps, the availability of an excellent disinfectant, and instructions for boaters on how to properly disinfect their vessels. All of this information will be available on the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association Web site (http://www.mlswa.org/) and allow lake associations, boat launch operators and other interested members of the public to get boat disinfection stations established.

While the disinfection stations will not completely safeguard waters from being infected by new fish diseases or invasion species, they will help in the effort and will engage the public as partners in slowing and preventing the spread of fish diseases and invasive species.

"A system of boat disinfection stations is another positive step in partnering with the public to stem the spread of serious fish diseases and invasive species in the state's waters." said Kelley Smith, chief of the DNR Fisheries Division. "We encourage lake associations and other interested groups to help establish these voluntary stations around the state."

Interested parties that wish to establish disinfection stations at boat launching ramps are reminded that they will need to get a permit from the entity that owns or operates the facility and that it is the responsibility of the volunteer groups to maintain the station and the equipment.

"It is very important that all of the proper permits are obtained before moving forward with the disinfection stations. The review process may take several weeks to determine the feasibility for each site and to ensure proper locations for installation are identified," said Jason Fleming of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division.

If the boat launching facility is a DNR-operated facility, then the local DNR administrating unit should be contacted for initiating the permit process, Fleming said. All other public administered boat launch facilities, whether they be community, county, or federal, will require approval from those agencies for setting up a disinfection station.