It's the Law: Control Aquatic Pests

Attention Boaters—Don't Pick Up Hitchhikers!

You can prevent destruction of fish habitat and loss of boating opportunities by helping to eliminate the spread of nuisance aquatic weeds, quagga mussels, and other unwanted aquatic pests.

What can you do? Inspect your boat!

Inspecting: Thoroughly inspect your boat's hull, out drive, trim plates, trolling plates, prop guards, transducers, and trailer. If you see any "hitchhikers," remove them. Remove aquatic plants and plant fragments clinging to the trailer frame, axles, wheels, hitch, motor's lower unit, and interior boat spaces. Spray down your boat and trailer before leaving any lake or stream or at home before setting out for a new boating location.

Draining: Drain all bilge water, live wells, and bait buckets before leaving any waterway. Leftover bait should not be released or transported.

Remove and dispose of plants on dry land

Stop the spread of aquatic pests!

Giant salvinia, quagga mussels, crayfish, and mud snails most often spread between waterways by hitching a ride on vessels and trailers. When transplanted into new waters, these organisms proliferate, displacing native species and damaging the water resource and your vessel.