Boulder Reservoir

Aquatic Nuisance Species

Boater information including ANS protocol

Please help us protect our water resources from the spread of harmful plants, animals and other organisms by properly cleaning and de-contaminating your boat, trailer and other personal gear prior to arriving at the Boulder Reservoir (and before using your equipment in other waterways).

Invasive, non-native species of aquatic plants, animals and organisms are increasingly being transported between bodies of water in Colorado and across the U.S. by unsuspecting boaters and other waterway users. Many of these "aquatic hitchhikers" are serious impacts on our fisheries, eco-systems and water supplies.

These aquatic nuisance species can hitch a ride on our clothing,
boats and items used in the water. When we go to another lake or stream, the nuisance species can be released. And, if the conditions are right, these introduced species can become established, creating undesirable consequences.

These hitchhikers can reduce game fish populations, ruin boat engines and jam steering equipment, make lakes/rivers unusable by boaters and swimmers, dramatically impact the operations of drinking water plants, power plants and dams and reduce native species, degrade ecosystems, affect human health and reduce property values.

It's essential that everyone who enjoys boating, fishing and other types of water recreation, take proper care in cleaning all equipment and disposing of all live bait and aquatic pets. Here are some important guidelines to follow.

Prevention Procedures for Stopping Aquatic Hitchhikers

By following a set of basic cleaning procedures every time your equipment comes in contact with a body of water, you can help prevent the spread of harmful aquatic species.
There are hundreds of harmful aquatic species ranging from plants, fish, amphibians, crustaceans, mollusks, diseases or pathogens. Some organisms are so small you may not realize they are hitching a ride with you.

To help prevent the spread of aquatic hitchhikers, follow these cleaning procedures for your boat, trailer and other equipment every time you leave a body of water:

• Remove all visible mud, plants and fish/animals.
• Do not transport any potential hitchhiker, even back to your home.
• Remove and leave them at the site.
  *The larvae (immature form) of an animal can be so tiny that you cannot see it. However, it can live in mud, dirt, sand, and on plant fragments.
• Eliminate water from all equipment before transporting anywhere.
• Remove water from motors, jet drives, live wells, boat hulls, scuba tanks and regulators, footwear, waders, bait buckets, seaplane floats and swimming floats.

Cleaning Instructions

Once water is eliminated, follow these cleaning instructions:

• Clean/dry anything that came in contact with the water.
  (boats, trailers, equipment, dogs, footwear, clothing, etc.).
• Use hot (< 40° C or 104° F) or salt water to clean your equipment.
• Wash your dog with soap and warm water and brush his/her coat.
  The following recipes are recommended for cleaning hard-to-treat equipment that cannot be exposed to hot water:
• Dipping equipment into 100% vinegar for 20 minutes will kill harmful aquatic hitchhiker species.
• A 1 percent table salt solution for 24 hours can replace the vinegar dip.
  Correct mixtures for the 1percent salt solution in water:

If hot water is not available, spray equipment such as boats, motors,
trailers, anchors, decoys, floats and nets, with high-pressure water and let equipment DRY COMPLETELY. Allow at least 10 days of drying time before entering new waters.

Do not release or discard plants, fish or animals into a body of water.

Aquarium and Aquatic Pets: Do not release anything from a personal aquarium (water, plants, fish or animals) into or near a body of water or storm drain. Explain to your children how this could harm streams and lakes around the country and potentially kill other fish and animals that already live in the water. If you cannot find a home for the critters in your aquarium, bury them and dispose of the water either in your toilet or yard, far away from storm drains.
Do not release them into storm drains, because many storm drains lead to water bodies or wetlands.

Live Bait: Whether you have obtained bait at a store or from another body of water, do not release unused bait into any body of water. If you do not plan to use the bait in the future, dump the bait in a trashcan or bury it on land, at least several hundred feet away from any body of water or storm drain. Also, be aware of any bait regulations, because in some waters, it is illegal to use live bait.

More Information

• Monitoring finds Quagga Mussels in Lake Granby (Colorado Division of Wildlife)
• Information on Zebra and Quagga Mussels (Colorado Division of Wildlife)
• 100th Meridian Initiative (US Fish and Wildlife Service and University of Texas)
• Protect Your Waters (US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Coast Guard)
• Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force
• Habitatitude News
• Aquatic Invasive Species Education and Outreach Materials (Portland State University)

Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 August 2009 08:54