As a kid I loved fishing on Lake Minnetonka, but my favorite memories were going up to my great aunt and uncle’s home on Lake Mille Lacs. With a cigar in his mouth, my great uncle and I caught jumbo perch, eel pout, and walleyes a plenty. Rarely did a day of fishing not end with a fish fry. Fast forward 30+ years. Many things have changed.

The home once owned by my great aunt and uncle is now owned by my mother. My great aunt and uncle have passed and are sorely missed. The home has had an addition to account for the growing number of grandchildren who love nothing more than visiting grandma and grandpa and going swimming and fishing. 

Invasive Species Impact on Minnesota’s Lakes

The passing of time was to be expected, but the compounding impacts of aquatic invasive species were not. We love Mille Lacs, but grieve for the negative impacts zebra mussels and spiny water fleas have had on the lake and on our community. Gone are the days of soft sand beaches, fish fries, and our favorite restaurants around the lake. When aquatic invasive species eat 60% of plankton, the effect cascades throughout the ecosystem and the local economy. Add to this that my kids can’t set foot in the water without worrying about cutting their feet on zebra mussels.

But the water is cleaner you say? Maybe, but it is a desert void of the food once available for the fish we love to catch. While we cannot stop the passage of time, we can slow and/or stop the spread of invasive species that wreak havoc on the waterbodies we love.

But it’s those darn ducks and turtles that move invasive species, right? No, they do not. We do. We all do, inadvertently, when we move our boats, trailers, docks, and lifts. Please clean, drain, dry and wait 30 days to install your docks and lifts to help protect your “Mille Lacs.” Follow all the invasive species prevention tips for motor boats from PlayCleanGo.

Technology to Stop Aquatic Invasive Species

These stories and memories are in part the reason behind CD3, General Benefit Corporation. As avid fishermen and water enthusiasts, my business partner and I knew there was truly a need for endorsing what we preach — to stop aquatic hitchhikers, you must clean, drain, dry and dispose. And the idea of the CD3​ station emerged.

“By Boaters, for Boaters” is more than our tag line. We understand what it’s like to be tired at the end of a long day of boating. We all just want to go home. This is why we’ve worked hard to make CD3 Waterless Cleaning Systems as quick, easy, and intuitive as possible to help boaters prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. 

It is our quest to maintain open access for all waterbodies while keeping them free of aquatic invasive species . CD3 Waterless Cleaning Systems are beautifully designed and inspire boaters to want to use them, not to feel required. We’ve provided everything, so you don’t have to, because: EVERYBODY LIKES A CLEAN BOAT.

Written by Edgar Rudberg

As the third generation of his family in the boating industry, Dr. Rudberg has a passion for outdoor recreation and conservation. His Ph.D. in Natural Resources Science and Management blended communication and psychological theory to catalyze individuals’ adoption of conservation behaviors on lakes. As an entrepreneur of over a decade, he has developed numerous conservation focused products which grew to national distribution. He is formally trained in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, project management, and various behavioral metrics. He is an avid angler, bow fisherman, hunter and boater.