The Lake Panorama Association’s Water Safety Committee is considering new boating regulations for the 2014 season to help protect the lake from getting infested with invasive species that could cause problems for boaters.

General Manager John Rutledge says the lake currently doesn’t have any problem with zebra mussels, but the specie has already spread to several lakes in Iowa, including Clear Lake, and he doesn’t want to see them in Panorama.

“One of the things we want to do is make people aware that if they take their boats to a lake that has zebra mussels, it’s possible for them to transport them back to Lake Panorama and we want to prevent that.  The main way we’re doing that is just through awareness.  They (zebra mussels) overpopulate lakes and they create a lot of problems that we just don’t want.”

Rutledge says he doesn’t see boating regulations changing for members because the majority of residents don’t trailer their boats to other lakes.  However, guest boaters and summer timeshare vacationers may face stricter regulations to prove that they’re not bringing any zebra mussels or other invasive species into Lake Panorama.

Rutledge says any new regulations would simply be in an effort to continue improving the water quality of the lake for current and future residents.

“We try very hard, although we have to understand that a lot of it is out of our control.  We are part of the Middle Raccoon River System, but we try to be an advocate for good water quality and we do what we can to lead the way.”

Anyone with questions about the possible new boating regulations for 2014 can contact the LPA Office at 641-755-2301.