Clean Boats Campaign
You Can Help Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers
By visiting this page, you
are already part of the solution. It only takes
a few minutes to inspect and clean your boat
and other equipment each time you leave the
water. Knowing how to do this properly will
save time and ensure that your efforts protect
our waters from plants and animals that don’t
belong. This site will teach you everything you
need to know to protect your lakes and streams
from harmful aquatic hitchhikers.
Clean Boats Mean Healthy
Waters
The connection between cleaning
your boat and protecting your waters is clear.
Aquatic
invasives are plants and animals that
don’t belong in our waters and cause a lot of
damage. Many invasives arrive via international
shipping or the pet trade, and are then
unknowingly spread by boaters and anglers
between waterways.
Safe from the predators and diseases of their native habitat, they reproduce uncontrolled. Once established, aquatic invasives can cause many problems. They can:
- Reduce game fish and other native wildlife populations
- Ruin boat engines and jam steering equipment
- Make lakes and rivers unusable by boaters and swimmers
- Increase the operating costs of drinking water and power plants
- Affect human health
- Reduce property values
Overall, non-native species cost the U.S. $127 billion each year.
In most cases, the best way to manage aquatic invasives is to halt their spread into new areas. That’s why cleaning your equipment every time you leave the water is so important.
How to Clean All
Recreational Equipment Properly
With a
few simple steps, you can protect your
favorite fishing and boating spots from an
unwanted invasion.
Clean Boats Campaign Radio
PSA
Download and listen to our radio
Public Service Announcement.
The Izaak Walton League of
America
Founded in 1922, the Izaak
Walton League is one of the nation's oldest and
most respected conservation organizations. With
a powerful grassroots network of 40,000 members
and nearly 300 local chapters nationwide, the
League takes a common-sense approach toward
protecting our country's natural heritage and
improving outdoor recreation opportunities for
all Americans. We invite you to learn about our
work and to join us in supporting important
conservation initiatives in your
community. For more information about our
efforts to restore the Great Lakes, please
click Restore
Our Great Lakes.
For more information about keeping your boats clean, click How to Clean Boat Equipment.
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