Boaters, Anglers Urged To Help Stop Spread Of Invasive Species — CLEAN BOATS CHALLENGE

ALEXANDRIA, Va. The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has joined the Izaak Walton League of America’s campaign to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species and is urging all recreational boaters who trailer their vessels to take the League’s “Clean Boats Challenge.”

The challenge is a quiz at <http://www.CleanBoats.org> that educates boaters and anglers on how to inspect and clean their boats to ensure that lakes and streams are protected from non-native, aquatic hitchhikers.

“Taking the Clean Boats Challenge will give boaters and anglers the information they need to make personal choices that can help stop the spread of invasive species,” said BoatU.S. Foundation Director of Clean Water Programs Susan Shingledecker.

In addition to the short and easy-to-complete Clean Water Challenge, the Web site also includes information on how to clean a boat properly and some tips for trailer boaters. For example, it is recommended that a boat and motor be drained and inspected for mud or plant life before departing the launch ramp. It then should be allowed to dry completely for five days before launching into a different body of water.

The Web site has links to a clean boat video demonstration, maps identifying the locations and spread of invasive species, and an educator’s resource guide are also available at the Web site. Boaters can even take an online “Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers Pledge.”

The Izaak Walton League is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected conservation organizations with a grass-roots network of over 40,000 members and over 300 local chapters across the U.S.

The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national 501(c)(3) educational and research organization that operates more than a dozen programs including the only accredited, free, online general boating safety course, a low-cost EPIRB rental program, the “Help Stop the Drops” national clean fueling campaign, a free kid’s Life Jacket Loaner Program, and has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for nonprofit groups for boating safety and environmental projects.