The Chute Pond Clean Boats, Clean Waters volunteer team will be in action over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Volunteers and aquatic invasive species experts will educate boaters and conduct free boat checks at boat landings on Chute Pond so boaters do not accidentally spread Eurasian water-milfoil, curly leaf pond weed and other aquatic invasive species (AIS).
Through the sixth annual statewide Landing Blitz, inspectors stationed at high-use boat landings from July 3-6 will help boaters understand Wisconsin’s invasive species laws and what steps to follow to avoid spreading invasive species. Inspectors will demonstrate the required prevention steps boaters must take, provide educational prompts to remind boaters of these steps and talk about Wisconsin invasive species and viral hemorrhagic septicemia laws. Boaters found already practicing the prevention steps can be rewarded with a free boating towel.
During last year’s Fourth of July holiday, inspectors statewide contacted 37,000 people and inspected more than 15,000 boats at 290 lakes and rivers in 53 counties. Inspectors included citizen volunteers, state and local AIS staff, wardens and water guards and numerous lake associations, organized by the Department of Natural Resources and the University of Wisconsin-Extension’s Clean Boats, Clean Waters program.
Boaters, anglers and others enjoying Wisconsin waters are required to inspect boats, trailers and equipment; remove all attached aquatic plants and animals; drain all water from boats, vehicles and equipment; and never move plants or live fish away from a body of water.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Dan Guendert at 414-627-9866 or dguendert@tds.net.
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