Aaron Anderson is Hubbard County’s new aquatic invasive species (AIS) coordinator.
In this role, Anderson is looking forward to “building on Hubbard County’s strong foundation of AIS public outreach.”
“The clean lakes and rivers of the county support our local communities and are resources we cannot allow ourselves to take for granted,” he said.
“I grew up on a small farm in west-central Minnesota, where it seems most of my time was spent baling hay, trapping pocket gophers and getting chased by cattle,” Anderson explained. “After high school, I traveled north to become more acquainted with pine trees and walleyes. In my free time, I went to Bemidji State University, where in 2012, I received a Bachelor of Science degree in aquatic biology, with a wetland ecology minor.”
Anderson previously worked in the private sector, both in retail and as a sales associate at Land O’ Lakes Wood Preserving, where he managed the inventory, performed sales and networked with local sawmills.
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“Eager to make use of my degree,” Anderson joined the Minnesota DNR as a Level 2 watercraft inspector, based out of the Bemidji region. “If you have had the habit of making the trip to Upper Red Lake, we may have already been introduced,” he said.
As it was in his case, Anderson noted that “folks from across the Midwest make the trip north to enjoy the slice of heaven all of us are fortunate enough to call home. Unfortunately, invasive species pose a direct threat to our aquatic resources, fundamentally changing the ways our lakes and rivers function. Perhaps what is even more unfortunate is how these AIS have been proven to spread – by the very means by which we enjoy these resources.”
One of his goals as county AIS coordinator is “to reinforce the fact that it takes all of us to slow the spread of AIS,” he said. “We cannot hope to legislate AIS away from our lakes. Nor can we afford to turn a blind eye. We must all work to become our own private ‘boat inspectors.’ Perhaps you harbor some skepticism as to whether AIS can be stopped, but one thing is a certainty: You can stop AIS from spreading on your watch.”
He can be reached at 218-732-3890, ext. 2360 or
aaron.anderson@co.hubbard.mn.us
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