Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Protect New Hampshire’s Waterways

Aquatic nuisance species are a serious threat to New Hampshire’s waterways. Introducing harmful non-native organisms into a lake, river, or bay can lead to environmental degradation and millions of dollars in control and clean-up costs—all of which affects boaters. The Marine Patrol hopes this page will help boaters learn what they can do to protect their favorite waterways from aquatic nuisance species. As a general practice, following the checklist shown on the right after each use of your boat will prevent the spread of most aquatic nuisance species.

Zebra Mussels

Zebra mussels are about the size of a human fingernail. Yet these little creatures are expected to cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage across the United States and already pose a serious threat to supplies, industrial processing, transportation, and recreation. It is suspected that zebra mussel larvae were first carried to the U.S. in the mid-1980s in the ballast water of ships coming from Europe. Since then, the mussels’ rapid growth rate, high tolerance of environmental changes, and near absence of natural enemies in U.S. waters have enabled their explosive infestation of our nation’s waterways.

The freshwater zebra mussel has invaded the waterways of North America causing major problems in power plants, in water treatment facilities, and in the cooling systems of vessel engines. A female zebra mussel can produce one million eggs per year. It’s critical that boaters help prevent the spread of zebra mussels.

Eurasian Watermilfoil

Eurasian watermilfoil is a prolific aquatic plant found in many inland lakes in New Hampshire. It interferes with boating, fishing, and swimming, and displaces native plants. It is easily spread when plant fragments are caught and moved on boat trailers, propellers, anchors, and other equipment, or in live wells. In nutrient-rich lakes, watermilfoil can form thick underwater stands of tangled stems and vast mats of vegetation at the water’s surface.

A key factor in the plant’s spread is its ability to reproduce through stem fragmentation and underground runners. A single fragment of stem or leaves can take root and form a new colony. It’s important that boaters inspect their boats and trailers for these plant fragments and remove them before leaving the waterway.

Nuisance Species Prevention Checklist

Here’s what you can do to prevent spreading aquatic nuisance species.

• Inspect your boat and trailer, removing any nuisance species (including zebra mussels and eurasian watermilfoil) you see before leaving the area.
• Drain your motor, live well, and bilge on land before leaving the area.
• Empty your bait bucket on land before leaving the area.
• Never release live bait into a body of water or release aquatic animals from one body of water into another.
• Rinse your boat, trailer, and equipment. It is best to use high-pressure, hot water. A garden hose will work if no other option is available.
• Air dry your boat and equipment for as long as possible. Five days is optimal.
• Flush the engine’s cooling system with hot water.
• Apply antifouling materials such as paint and films to boat hulls, trim tabs, water ports, transducers, and swimming platforms to discourage zebra mussel attachment.

What is New Hampshire doing to combat exotic aquatic plants?

The Lake Host Program was developed to prevent new infestations of exotic aquatic plants in New Hampshire’s lakes and ponds. Volunteers conduct quick and friendly inspections of your boat, trailer and other recreational gear for exotic plants that may have become attached.

Weed Watchers is another program made up of volunteers that patrol lakes and ponds monthly to inspect the depths for new or suspicious growths of plants. Weed Watchers strive to detect these new growths before the plants become a problem.

For more information about exotic species or to become a Weed Watcher, call the NH DES at 603-271-2248 or visit www.des.state.nh.us/wmb/exoticspecies.

Commonly Confused Look-Alike Aquatic Plants

Infested Waterbodies in New Hampshire

1. Lake Winnipesaukee (Several Areas) 2. Lees Pond, Moultonboro 3. Lake Ossipee, Freedom 4. Lake Waukewan, Meredith 5. Opecheee Bay, Laconia 6. Lake Winnisquam, Belmont/Meredith 7. Silver Lake, Tilton 8. Crescent Lake, Wolfeboro 9. Lake Wentworth, Wolfeboro 10. Lake Mascoma, Enfield 11. Sunrise Lake, Middleton 12. Locke Lake, Barnstead 13. Lower Suncook Lake, Barnstead 14. St. Paul’s School Pond, Concord 15. Little Turkey Pond, Concord 16. Big Turkey Pond, Concord 17. Bixby Pond, Epsom 18. Nothwood Lake, Northwood 19. Lake Massabesic, Auburn 20. Phillips Pond, Sandown 21. Big Island Pond, Derry 22. Arlington Mill Reservoir, North Salem 23. Cobbetts Pond, Windham 24. Captain Pond, Salem 25. Flints Pond, Hollis 26. Cheshire Pond, Jaffrey 27. Contoocook Lake, Jaffrey 28. Pearly Pond, Rindge 29. Forest Lake, Winchester 30. Connecticut River, Charlestown 31. Lake Massasecum, Bradford 32. Lake Monomonac,Rindge 33. Hopkinton Lake, Hopkinton 34. Nashua River, Nashua 35. Powder Mill Pond, Hancock 36. Ashuelot River, Winchester 37. Little Suncook River, Epsom/Northwood 38. Mine Falls Pond, Nashua 39. Winnipesaukee River, Tilton 40. Cocheco River, Rochester 41. Robinson Pond, Hudson 42. Squam River, Ashland 43. Little Squam Lake, Holderness/Ashland 44. Horseshoe Pond, Merrimack 45. Gorham Pond, Dunbarton 46. Belleau Lake, Wakefield 47. Danforth Pond, Freedom 48. Rock Pond, Gilmanton 49. Dublin Lake, Dublin 50. Lake Sunapee, Sunapee 51. Nutts Pond, Manchester 52. Contoocook River, Jaffrey 53. Turtle Pond, Concord 54. Balch Lake, Wakefield 55. Brindle Pond, Barnstead 56. Potanipo Lake, Brookline 57. Melendy Pond, Brookline 58. Jones Pond Dam, New Durham