Stop the Spread of Nuisance Species

Follow these steps every time you come in contact with any body of water. By doing so, you can protect your waters from harmful aquatic hitchhikers.

• Before leaving a launch area, do a full inspection, removing all visible mud, plants, and fish/animals.
  • Examine all your gear, boats, trailers, clothing, buckets, etc.
  • Remove any visible plants (even plant fragments), fish, or animals.
  • Leave any potential hitchhiker at the area you visited.
• Eliminate water from all equipment while at the area you visited.
  • Remove the drain plug, and drain bilges and live wells away from the body of water.
  • Remove water from motors, jet drives, holds, boat hulls, scuba tanks and regulators, boots, waders, bait buckets, and floats.
  • Once water is eliminated, clean all items.
• Clean and dry anything that came in contact with the water.
  • Use hot water to clean your boats, motors, trailers, anchors, decoys, floats, and nets.
  • Where available, pressure wash the hull, motor, and any gear exposed to the water.
  • Be sure to clean the propeller area and bottom of the hull.
  • Dry thoroughly. If possible, allow five days of drying time before entering new waters.
• Do not release plants, fish, or animals into a body of water unless they came out of that body of water.

For more information, visit the WDFW Aquatic Invasive Species website.