One of the biggest threats to lakes and ponds is the introduction of invasive species. An invasive species is one that is not native to an ecosystem and causes harm to the environment, economy, or human health. There are hundreds of non-native aquatic species in North America. Invasive species spread from one waterbody to another through a variety of mechanisms, such as wildlife, rivers, and boats. Boats are responsible for most new introductions of an invasive species and therefore it’s up to boaters to prevent their spread. There are three simple steps you can take to prevent the spread of invasive species and help protect your favorite lake or pond; clean, drain, dry.

1. Clean

Before you pull away from the boat ramp or load your canoe onto the roof of your car, make sure to clean your boat, trail, and other gear of all visible aquatic plants, animals, and mud. This should include cleaning all of your fishing gear and tackle. A quick pass through your gear to make sure it is all clean only takes a few minutes. If you are fishing from land this is also a good practice. Keeping your boats and gear clean is the easiest step you can take to prevent the spread of invasive species.

2. Drain

Next, make sure you fully drain your bilge, motor, live well, and other compartments before leaving the launch. If you are canoeing or kayaking this also applies, be sure to empty your boat of any water before leaving. It is easy for invasive species to survive a few days in the bilge or live well of a boat. In fact, one of the major routes for invasive species entering North America is through the bilge and ballast water of ocean-going freighters entering the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes.

3. Dry

Finally, allow your boat and gear to dry for five days or completely wipe it down with a towel before heading out again. Some invasive species are too small to see with the naked eye, making it challenging to be sure that your boat and gear are invasive-free. Allowing your boat and gear to dry will ensure that if any invasive species made it past the clean and draining steps that they die before your boat goes into a new lake or pond. If you want to go one step further and be really sure your boat is invasive free you can look to see if free boat wash or decontamination stations are available in your area.

Extra Steps For Anglers

If you are fishing there are a few extra steps you can take to prevent the introduction of invasive species. The first, and most important, is to dispose of any unused bait, worms, and fish parts in the trash. If you are keeping live bait do not release them into the waterbody you are fishing at the end of the day and be sure to clean, drain, and dry your bait containers as well.

View a map of where people have pledged to follow the Clean, Drain, Dry principles.