MADISON, Wis. -- Mother Nature made it a perfect day to be out on Wisconsin's waterways this holiday weekend.

The state Department of Natural Resources also took advantage of the crowds by heading to area boat landings as part of the department's stepped-up enforcement to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, WISC-TV reported.

Madison's picturesque Lake Monona is a destination many people want to conserve.

"My folks live on a lake up north, on Lake Tainter, near Menomonie and Eau Claire, and their lake is terrible. I mean, come this time of year. It's almost like paint," said boater Joseph Muenich. "So, we always do our part to keep the lakes as good as they can be."

Muenich said he does his part by clearing off aquatic vegetation and draining water from his boat before taking off.

DNR officials said not everyone is doing the same. They said it's non-compliance that could lead to invasive species spreading in area lakes.

"These are two of the main threats that were looking for when we inspect boats and we want people to be inspecting for when they leave the water," said DNR Deputy Warden Mac Hannon.

To prevent the spread, the DNR is increasing enforcement and stopping suspected violators. Hannon stopped a man who entered the lake with vegetation attached to his trailer. The warden issued the man one of the lower fines at more than $180.

The DNR said boaters can avoid a citation by draining water and clearing boats and trailers of aquatic vegetation.

"We're just going to take a quick walk around before we leave the landing and make sure all vegetation is removed from the boat, the trailer and the motor," said DNR Fisheries biologist Kurt Welke.

The fines for entering a body of water with aquatic vegetation on a boat or trailer start at $154, failure to drain all water before leaving is $228 and transporting live fish from one body of water to another will cost at least $329, according to the DNR.