The week of June 27 to July 4 will be Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week in Michigan. That’s when boaters will be reminded of things they can do to help prevent the spread of invasive species. Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy aquatic biologist Kevin Walters tells WSJM News boaters are asked to Clean, Drain, and Dry.
“Wee tell boaters to make sure that they clean their boats, trailers and equipment after they’re done using them before they leave the launch ramp,” Walters said. “That’s basically means taking a 360 degree walk around your boat and trailer and removing things that aren’t supposed to be there. That includes things like mud, plants, other debris. The drain step is pulling drain plugs and removing all the water that’s in your boat or trailer before transporting it to the next location.”
And the last step is to let the boat dry, either by toweling it off or just letting it sit. Walters says common aquatic invasive species in Michigan include sea lampreys and zebra mussels. They’re harmful to the environment, and can be spread by boaters who don’t clean, drain, and dry their boats before taking them to another location. We have a link to more information on how to spot invasive species at WSJM.com.
