Clean Boats, Clean Waters: Working Together to Preserve Wisconsin's Waters

Educating boaters and anglers at boat landings through watercraft inspection has been a vital part of Wisconsin’s aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention efforts since 2004. Watercraft inspection is a cost-effective prevention strategy (Leueng et al. 2002), and boaters and anglers report understanding and following the AIS prevention steps in areas where inspections are conducted (Connelly et al. 2014, Hammond et al. 2019, Rothlisberger et al. 2010). With so many waterbodies and so few state resources, the success and continuation of our watercraft inspection program has been very reliant upon our enthusiastic, highly motivated inspectors. Since the creation of the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program in 2004, thousands of people have been trained on how to initiate boater education efforts at their local boat landings. Multiple studies have shown how effective trained, experienced inspectors can be at removing AIS from watercraft (Rothlisberger et al. 2010, Campbell et al. 2020). These inspectors have educational conversations with boaters and anglers about how to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and assist them in taking AIS prevention measures, while also collecting valuable data. By engaging communities and local governments, providing education to boaters and anglers, and accumulating valuable data, watercraft inspections are a beneficial tool in preventing and containing the spread of aquatic invasives.

Primary Presenter: Erin McFarlane, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (erin.mcfarlane@uwsp.edu)

Authors:

Erin McFarlane, Extension Lakes  (erin.mcfarlane@uwsp.edu)