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4.2H – Operation and Maintenance – Aquatic Invasive Species Control

Management Measure

Prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Management Practices

For Boaters

  • To prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species, after leaving the water, inspect your boat and boat accessories. For personal watercraft, impeller areas can contain quagga and zebra mussels and aquatic plants. Once upon the trailer, run the engine for five to 10 seconds to blow out excess water, mussels and plants. Before leaving water access, inspect and remove any mussels or plants from intake, steering nozzle, hull, and trailer.
  • Clean your boat with a high pressure wash of hot water. This is especially important if the vessel has been moored for more than a day.
  • Remove aquatic plants from boat, motor and trailer. Check all underwater fittings and equipment, such as rollers, axle, bilge and trailer, and above water equipment, such as anchors, live wells, and docks. Place aquatic plants in trash if possible.
  • Drain any lake or river water from equipment including the motor, bilges, live wells, bait buckets, and coolers. Ensure all drained areas are dry. Ensure the watercraft’s lower outboard unit is drained and dry.
  • Dispose of unwanted live bait in trash.
  • Be aware that transferring a boat that has been in infested waters will allow the spread of quagga mussels, or the closely related zebra mussels. Physically inspect all exposed surfaces. The presence of quagga mussels will feel like sandpaper to the touch. Report presence of quagga mussels to California Department of Fish and Game, hotline at (866) 440-9530, open from 8 am to 5 pm PST.
  • Any vessel traveling from Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, Lake Havasu, the Colorado River, or lakes that receive water from the Colorado Aqueduct, including: Lake Skinner (Riverside County), Lake Mathews (Riverside County), San Vicente Reservoir (San Diego County), Dixon Lake (San Diego County), Lower Otay Reservoir (San Diego County), and Lake Murray (San Diego County) should remain dry and out of water for five days.
  • Exercise patience at Department of Fish and Game vehicle checkpoints and Department of Food and Agriculture border inspection stations.

Programs

  • California Department of Fish and Game, Quagga Hotline , this invasive freshwater mussel has been positively identified in California, according to the Department of Fish and Game. This fact sheet describes what boaters can do to prevent the spread of this invasive aquatic species.
  • Department of Boating and Waterways, Aquatic Pest Control Program is focused on invasive species that limit navigability, those include Egeria Densa (Brazilian Elodea) and Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia Crassipes).

Information Resources

  • Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers: Protect Your Waters addresses ways to help stop aquatic nuisance species from spreading during recreational water use. The site includes information on common nuisance species, procedures to prevent their spread, and reasons why it is important to take precautions to prevent their spread. Additionally, the site includes information on ways to become involved with links to campaign material, as well as current news releases.
  • California Department of Boating and Waterways, Boater Alert: Hydrilla this fact sheet provides background information on hydrilla, an invasive species, and gives tips on how to avoid spreading this aquatic pest from one waterway to another.
  • San Francisco Estuary Institute, Guide to the Exotic Species of San Francisco Bay this guide is intended to help familiarize readers with the exotic marine species found in the San Francisco Bay area. Images of the exotic species can be found in the species gallery along with information such as the scientific and common names of the species, species description, and how the species was introduced to and distributed throughout the San Francisco Bay area.
  • USDA, National Agriculture Library has cataloged information on invasive aquatic species.
  • Western Regional Panel, Threats to the West this brochure includes information on how aquatic non-native species are affecting western North America and what is being done to prevent further invasions. It includes drawings and maps showing the worst invasive aquatic plants and animals and their distribution.

References

USEPA. 2001. National Management Measures Guidance to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Marinas and Recreational Boating. EPA 841-B-01-005. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. Retrieved on March 16, 2008 from http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/mmsp/index.html

 

(Updated 9/4/08)