Protect Our Waters

Help Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

By Erik Reardon

As paddling, boating and fishing season kicks into high gear, New York residents and seasonal visitors look forward to a summer season on the water, spending quality time with family and friends pursuing the elusive trophy-sized trout or salmon on Lake Ontario, enjoying a quiet paddle in the Adirondacks, navigating the scenic Hudson River, and everything in between. With over 7,000 lakes and ponds and some 70,000 miles of rivers and streams, New York’s freshwater ecosystems offer seemingly endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, but also support a diversity of wildlife, provide drinking water for nearby towns, and figure prominently within the region’s sense of place. 

To protect these waters for generations to come, it is critically important to guard against the threat of Aquatic Invasive Species. Invasive species are plants, animals, and pathogens that are non-native to a particular ecosystem and have been demonstrated to cause harm to the environment, economy or human health. Invasive species can negatively impact ecosystems in a number of ways: they divert resources from native species, alter habitats, impact water quality, and interfere with recreational activities. In addition to these and other ecological impacts, invasive species negatively affect communities that rely on fishing, boating, and other forms of outdoor recreation that often support economic development.

Initial aquatic invasive species introductions to North America historically occurred through trans-Atlantic cargo ships releasing ballast water in the Great Lakes. From there, people can unintentionally introduce non-native or invasive species during overland transport of boats, trailers, and other recreational watercraft and equipment. Other common pathways for invasive species expansion include bait bucket transfer, fishing equipment, aquarium dumping, and connected waterways and canals. Fragments of invasive plants like Eurasian watermilfoil or hydrilla can hitchhike on boats and trailers and once introduced to a waterbody, establish a new infestation that requires significant time and money to manage, control or eradicate.

To address the challenge of aquatic hitchhikers on kayaks, canoes and SUPs – one of the more common pathways for introduction and expansion of invasive species – NYS DEC, the Adirondack Watershed Institute, and the Lake Champlain Basin Program, fund and administer a network of Boat Launch Stewards that inspect watercraft, offer free hot water, high pressure decontamination services, and help educate the public about how they can help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. This message emphasizes spread prevention by following Clean, Drain, Dry protocols for all recreational equipment that come into contact with the water.

• Clean any visible mud, plants, fish or animals before transporting equipment.

• Drain all water holding compartments including ballast tanks, live wells and bilge areas.

• Dry boats, trailers and all equipment before use in another waterbody. The most effective way to ensure that no invasive species or fish diseases are transported to a new body of water is to completely dry your boating and fishing equipment, compartments including ballast tanks, live wells and bilge areas.

Surveys organized by the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program and Vermont Invasive Patroller Program, indicate that 75% of lakes in the Adirondacks and 80% of lakes in Vermont are currently free of aquatic invasive species. By following Clean, Drain, Dry practices and taking advantage of a free inspection or decontamination offered by a Boat Launch Steward, we can all ensure these waters continue to support native biodiversity and attract and inspire new generations of anglers, paddlers and boaters.

To learn more about best practices associated with Clean, Drain, Dry, visit: stopaquatichitchhikers.org.

Lastly, the recent arrival of round goby to the Hudson River has brought renewed attention to the economic and ecological disruptions that accompany new introductions of aquatic invasive species by bait bucket transfer and unassisted expansion of invasive fish movement through waterways. The goby is a voracious eater and prolific reproducer. Females can lay eggs every 20 days during spawning season, from April to September. This incredible reproductive rate enables the goby to outcompete native benthic species of fish like sculpin and darter, which inevitably reduces biodiversity on the bottom of lakes, ponds, rivers, and other freshwater ecosystems.

In addition, research scientists have documented round goby consuming the eggs of important game fish including bass, land-locked salmon, lake trout and walleye. Stakeholder groups and state agencies – including the NYS DEC and the NYS Canal Corporation – are currently investing significant time and resources to explore proactive strategies that will mitigate the goby from advancing up the Champlain Canal, while also raising awareness about existing bait fishing regulations, ensuring anglers are able to positively identify round goby, and avoid unintentionally introducing them into a new waterbody. For more information about New York’s bait fishing regulations, visit: dec.ny.gov/outdoor/124974.html.

Ultimately, aquatic invasive species spread prevention requires a collective effort and shared sense of responsibility between state agencies, environmental organizations, recreational user groups, and the general public. This culture of shared stewardship, relevant across a whole host of environmental conservation challenges, offers the best path forward for the region’s freshwater ecosystems and the communities that visit and enjoy them.

Erik Reardon is an Aquatic Invasive Species Outreach Specialist with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and Lake Champlain Basin Program: erik.reardon@dec.ny.gov.