REVIEW OF BOAT WASHING STATIONS FOR PREVENTING SPREAD

REVIEW OF BOAT WASHING STATIONS FOR PREVENTING SPREAD OF ANS Summary prepared by: Douglas A. Jensen Exotic Species Information Center Coordinator University of Minnesota Sea Grant Program 2305 East Fifth Street Duluth, MN 55812 -1445 Phone: 218/726 -8712 Email: djensen 1@d. umn. edu April 30, 2002

Risks of Watercraft Pathways 4 Low/Moderate: Movement of contaminated water in bait buckets & livewells (veligers only) 4 Moderate/High: Overland transport by day users (on plants; veligers) 4 High Risk: Moored/stored boats in infested waters for >1 day, then moved to other waters (adults) Doug Jensen, Mn. SG

Boat Washing Versus Inspection Two approaches: 4 Permanent vs temporary (portable) 4 Inspection: Mandatory and voluntary Doug Jensen, Mn. SG

Case 1: Permanent Owasco Lake, Auburn, NY 4 Municipal water source 4 Mandatory boat cleaning 4 Initial opposition from boaters 4 Not 100% coverage (only one of several accesses on lake) 4 Infested in 1997 4 Delayed infestation? Maybe. 4 Did it hurt? No. Doug Jensen, Mn. SG

Case 2: Permanent Lake Minnetonka, MN 4 Municipal Doug Jensen, Mn. SG water source 4 Mandatory boat cleaning 4 Not 100% coverage (same as Owasco) 4 Expensive to staff 4 Hardly ever used - mostly discontinued 4 Not infested as of 2000

Case 3: Portable OFAH, Peterborough, ONT 4 Voluntary boat cleaning 4 Used as educational tool 4 Expensive to staff 4 Discontinued about 1996 Doug Jensen, Mn. SG

Case 4: Portable (Feasibility Study) 4 Mn. DNR conducted at 6 access sites in 1995 4 Free voluntary washing 4 Used portable cold-water pressure washer, 200 gal. tank, and 50’ hose 4 Surveyed boaters to gauge participation, logistics, efficacy and potential cost recovery Doug Jensen

Mn. DNR Watercraft Washing: Case Study Results (cont. ) 4215 boats inspected & washed 440% boaters refused wash 460% boaters had boat washed 4 Of those washed, 30% not willing to pay for wash 4 Of those willing to pay, 63% agree washing should be mandatory (37% voluntary) Doug Jensen, Mn. SG

Mn. DNR Watercraft Washing: Case Study Results (cont. ) 4 Of those willing to pay, 93% would pay $1 -4 4 Of those willing to pay, 95% would spend 10 min or less Doug Jensen, Mn. SG

Boat Washing Summary Doug Jensen, Mn. SG Support in principal, but not all applications 4 Stations needed at all accesses for 100% coverage 4 Stations may help prevent spread from infested areas 4 Permanent stations not advised at public accesses, but are advised at private marinas (see next slide) 4 Portable stations could have value as: - public I&E tool - use unit for high travel accesses like boating/fishing tourneys regattas, and other events

Boat Washing Conclusions Doug Jensen, Mn. SG Limitations: 4 Boat washing stations, especially permanents, are relatively costly to build and operate 4 Not 100% coverage unless at all accesses 4 Not 100% effective for removing aquatic plants 4 Survey suggests many would refuse washing, washing takes too long, most not willing to pay, thus voluntary stations won’t work 4 Public water accesses not designed (for space and traffic) for boat washing stations 4 Impractical for jurisdictions without state or local ordinances to make washing mandatory 4 Boat washing stations a poor substitute for a program teaching inspection and removal