Boater surveys show progress on invasive species front

More boaters taking prevention steps

MADISON -- State and volunteer efforts to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species in Wisconsin waters are making progress, according to four years of surveys at boat landings that show more people cleaning their boats and other equipment to avoid accidentally spreading Eurasian water-milfoil and other invaders that can displace native species, disrupt ecosystems and hamper recreation.

The surveys of more than 143,000 boaters and inspections of 67,000 boats at landings statewide since summer 2003 reveal that 72 percent of boat owners said they took steps to clean their boats and prevent spreading invasive species, and that about 5 percent of boats were arriving at the landings with plants attached.

“The numbers show that most boaters are aware of the threat and taking the prevention steps on a fairly regular basis,” says Ron Martin, who coordinates invasive species efforts for the Department of Natural Resources. “That’s important progress since the early 1990s, before Wisconsin really had an aquatic invasive species program. Boater survey results from a 1994 study showed only 39 percent of boaters said they took steps to avoid spreading invasive species.”

Aquatic invasive species spread when they cling to a boat or trailer or a plant attached to either, or are transported in bilge water or a bait pail, from boaters leaving a water infested with invaders. A 5-year-old state law makes it illegal for people to launch a boat or boating equipment with an aquatic plant attached.

Aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels and Eurasian water-milfoil, two of the most common and problematic in Wisconsin, can displace native species, reduce the food supply for fish, set the stage for excessive growth of blue-green algae and other aquatic plants, and hamper recreation. The degree to which these impacts occur, and to which the aquatic invasive species takes over a lake, can vary significantly by waterbody, however.

Starting in 2000, Wisconsin lawmakers allocated more money and staff to address invasive species. Gov. Jim Doyle created the Wisconsin Council on Invasive Species to better coordinate efforts aimed at invasive species across the board, not just aquatic species.

DNR has increased information and education efforts, hired a small staff of watercraft inspectors, and started a program that has grown to provide more than $1.5 million a year in grants to communities to prevent and control the spread of invasive aquatic species. The department has joined with University of Wisconsin-Extension and the Wisconsin Association of Lakes to offer the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program (exit DNR) to train volunteers that educate boaters at landings about invasive species and the steps boaters need to take to clean their boats and equipment.

Volunteers conduct 75 percent of all statewide watercraft inspection efforts, with hundreds of them spending many of their spring, summer and fall weekends inspecting boats and educating boat owners about invasive species.

Boater surveys conducted by the volunteers and a small corps of DNR watercraft inspectors also showed that 70 percent of boaters contacted at the launches were aware of the law prohibiting launching a boat with plants attached. While 17 percent of the boats leaving a launch had plants attached, 5 percent of boats arriving at a launch had plants attached, the most important concern.

“Those figures show there is still room for improvement,” Martin says. “Ideally, we’d like to see a zero for the number of boats arriving at launches with plants attached.”

He is encouraged, however, that survey results seem to indicate that even if people leave a launch site with plants attached to their boat, many of them are cleaning off their boats before they launch again, following the prevention steps.

“We want all boaters to clean their boat off every time, regardless of where they are boating and whether they are on a waterbody that is already infested with an invasive species,” he says. “With 37 percent of all launching boats arriving from an infested waterbody, it just makes sense to take the time to clean your boat. It’s the best way to protect your favorite lake.”

Laura Felda-Marquardt, who coordinates the Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program, says the information from the surveys will help shape and drive invasive species education in the future. Here’s more of the survey results:

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Martin - (608) 266-9270 or Laura Felda-Marquardt – (715) 365-2659