Invasives

Invasive anything gets the mind conjuring what these things really look like and maybe later, what impact will they have on the ecosystem.
Years ago; probably the mid 1950's, growing up in Grand Haven then Spring Lake, I used to fish off the south shore pier in Grand Hasven for perch.
One year, the catch was really off. Anglers blamed it on the "alewives." In the spring we used to see thousands of them washed up on the beach of what is now called Grand Haven State Park.
At the time it was felt these creatures were destroying the sport fishing industry. Remember, salmon fishing had yet to make it's hay-day.
If we fast forward we have found that salmon will readily eat alewives. Today, with the alewive population down in Lake Huron, the salmon fishery is down as well.
That's not to say invasives are a good thing. But there are a few good stories that have come from the introuction of invasives.
But fish aren't the only form of invasive trouble. There is also vegetation in many forms that left alone will take over ponds, lakes and rivers in short order.
And what about those pesky zebra mussels and gobie's we all have had to deal with and now make their home in our inland lakes? Is there any good to come from these critters?
These and other questions, especially how we deal with the problem is very complex and will take more than electroshocking or canal closing to control. Stay tuned as they say!