Boaters are Critical to Preventing Introduction and Spread of Invasive Species

Published: Saturday, December 19, 2020
By: Kevin Walters, Aquatic Biologist, Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)

Invasive species can cause harm to the environment, the economy, and in rare cases, human health. Many invasive species can hitchhike from one waterbody to another by the movement of boats, trailers, and gear. Fortunately, there are simple steps boaters can take to prevent the introduction and spread of harmful aquatic invasive species regardless of whether your recreational boating has you traveling on the Great Lakes or simply enjoying the thousands of inland lakes and rivers in the region.

In Michigan, the following are required by law prior to transporting any watercraft over land:

Removing all drain plugs from bilges, ballast tanks, and live wells.
Draining all water from any live wells and bilges.
Ensuring the watercraft, trailer, and any conveyance used to transport the watercraft or trailer are free of aquatic organisms, including plants.

This means after trailering boats and before getting on the road, boaters must pull plugs, drain water, and remove plants and debris from all watercraft and trailers.

“Many invasive species move from one location to another with the help of human transportation,” said Kevin Walters, an aquatic biologist with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. “Plants like Eurasian watermilfoil can travel from lake to lake on boats and trailers. Just one plant fragment can start a new population.”

Draining boats and cleaning trailers can also limit the spread of invasive animals such as zebra and quagga mussels, which are common in parts of the Great Lakes. Fish diseases also can be spread to new locations when water carrying parasites or infection is transferred via bilges, live wells, or ballast tanks.

When you’re boating the Great Lakes, and specifically in Michigan waters, follow these simple rules of thumb: